Salem-News.com Articles written by Marianne Skolek

Orrin Hatch`s Legacy Reveals Shameful Protection of Pharmaceutical Industry

Orrin Hatch, retired US Senator (UT) legacy will be as the evilest purveyor of addiction and death in the U.S.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - Mr. Hatch, as a US Senator from Utah and the Chairman of the US Senate Finance Committee, you sealed a report investigating the opioid epidemic killing and addicting in the hundreds of thousands.

That will be your legacy for your family to live with -- as a disgraced elected official and Mormon.

Was Massachusetts AG Healey Blind-sided by Grief Predators?

"Grief Predators" profit in bankruptcy against Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - A committee of unsecured creditors is calling for all money to be put into a fund for having all their lawsuits resolved.

The committee would support pausing litigation against members of the Sackler family (who own Purdue) in exchange for a $200 million fund from the company to help fight the opioid crisis. Why only $200 million from a company worth in the ballpark of $34 billion?

Are Harm Reduction Promoters in the Opioid/Drug Epidemic Dangerous?

Unconditional love does not mean the acceptance of bad behavior.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - I have been researching the agendas of some self-proclaimed "harm reduction promoters" in the raging opioid/drug epidemic destroying families in the hundreds of thousands.

Harm reduction promoters are not focusing on prevention, education or treatment, but rather the insanity of giving those addicted safe places to shoot up illegal drugs.

Greed Fuels Drug Addiction Recovery Efforts

Is "Harm Reduction" actually "Harm Promotion" in the opioid/drug epidemic?

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - Anyone questioning how the U.S. has become a killing field in the opioid/drug epidemic going back randomly to 1999? Let me break it down for you, taken from the National Register:

In 1995, the amount of kilos of oxycodone approved for sale in the U.S. was 4,794,000. In 2013, the amount of kilos of oxycodone approved for sale in the U.S. was 153,750,000 (32x's the 1995 volume).

Was the Opioid Epidemic Allowed to Become an Intentional Killing Field?

The opioid epidemic is evident in 2000 and clearly peaks in 2013.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - On July 16, "The Washington Post" published a "breaking" article on 76 billion opioid pills unmasking the epidemic. Further they stated that in the many lawsuits filed across the country against the pharmaceutical industry, "plaintiffs have long accused drug manufacturers and wholesales of fueling the opioid epidemic by producing and distributing billions of pain pills while making billions of dollars.

The drug companies, along with the DEA and the Justice Department, have fought furiously against the public release of the database. Until now, the litigation has proceeded in unusual secrecy.

Portenoy Profits from Testifying in Pharma Lawsuits

Portenoy once said that opioids needed to be denationalized with virtually no concern about their addiction and abuse calling it a “medical myth.”

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - I determined that Russell Portenoy, MD was going to be an "expert" testifying for states suing the pharmaceutical industry.

Some of those pharmaceutical companies are Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, Endo, Teva, Janssen -- the same pharmas promoting the use of opioids while minimizing the dangers and addictive qualities of the drugs -- with the encouragement of Dr. Portenoy.

Is Scott M. Fishman, MD Responsible for Opioid Addictions and Deaths?

His "guide" aimed at State Medical Boards around the country became the holy grail to physicians in minimizing the dangers of addiction and death from prescribed opioids such as OxyContin.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - Dr. Fishman has been relatively quiet since being named in a now sealed US Senate Finance Committee investigation as well as being sued throughout the country for his part in the opioid epidemic.

The complaint states that Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, drafted and sponsored "Responsible Opioid Prescribing", a clinician guidebook produced by the Federation of State Medical Board (FSMB) and written by Scott M. Fishman, MD.

Someone`s Child:
My Addict as written by a Forever Broken Mom

This speaks to every parent who has lost a loved one to the opioid/heroin epidemic, or is fighting for the life of a loved one

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - All day -- every day so many of these faces come over to me. We are losing a generation of beautiful, young people. Do you think it is time to stop idolizing the "wannabe rock star advocates" and work on prevention, education and treatment like your child's life depends on it? (Because it does)

Can a focus be put on "harm elimination" rather than "harm reduction?" Can the word "stigma" be unspoken and the word "outrage" be shouted that financial profit has overtaken saving human life?

Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family were exposed in 2007. Why was it ignored?

Why has it taken 12 years for attention to be given to Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers when I begged for it in 2007?

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - Consider how many lives could have been saved if those responsible for the prescription opioid epidemic had been charged under RICO. Why should they have been charged and what exactly is RICO? Here is a simplified definition for those not familiar.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or
RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

The Legacy of Scott Gottlieb, MD, Commissioner of FDA: Watchdog or Lapdog?

"the root cause of this epidemic is the FDA's illegal approval of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain."-Ed Thompson

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - After a stint of less than two years as Commissioner of the FDA, Scott Gottlieb, MD has announced his resignation to "spend more time with his family."

On February 24, CBS 60 Minutes aired a segment on the opioid epidemic featuring a high-ranking executive from the pharmaceutical industry, Ed Thompson. Thompson has many years experience in the industry and, in fact, produces opioids for pharma and bravely accused the FDA of opening the floodgates on the opioid epidemic.