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Current Orleans Parish Sherriffs’ Office deputies Thomya Bryant, 25, and Giona Gibson, 22, were suspended after an internal investigation into the introduction of illegal contraband at the jail that launched in May. The conspiracy, which involves secreting Suboxone strips into hollowed-out pens, also involved a jail inmate.
Bryant is accused of passing an inmate four pens filled with $500 worth of Suboxone strips, film sheets that dissolve in the mouth and are often prescribed to individuals with opioid use disorders to reduce withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings.
OPSO officials said Bryant admitted to bringing the strips into the jail during an interview with internal affairs investigators. She was arrested Monday and booked into the jail on a count each of malfeasance in office and introducing contraband into a correctional facility.
Both Bryant and Gibson will remain suspended from OPSO duties “pending the outcome of the internal investigation,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Opioid Addiction and Suboxone
In the 2010s, opioid addiction practically raged out of control. The addictive medicines included legal drugs, like Oxycontini, and illegal ones, like heroin. Between 2010 and 2015, the national rate of opioid-related inpatient stays increased 34 percent and the national rate of opioid-related emergency department visits increased 74 percent. The challenges of treating addiction to prescription painkillers or to illicit drugs like heroin sometimes seem insurmountable.
So, the Food and Drug Administration quickly approved several drugs, including buprenorphine and naloxone, to treat opioid abuse. These two drugs are the primary ingredients of Suboxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid blocker. People who take this drug don’t get the same high from opioids.
Naloxone, on the other hand, is an opioid antagonist. It blocks the body’s opioid receptors. After being injected into the bloodstream, naloxone counters the action of opioid drugs in the brain, essentially “shutting off” the high. Additionally, since the user feels immediate and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, it deters further opioid misuse.
Taken separately, these drugs are very effective. But when combined, they have unwanted side-effects.
Suboxone Side-Effects
The serious side-effects of opioids are well-chronicled. The serious side-effects of Suboxone are less well known. These side effects include tooth decay and tooth erosion among many others.
These side-effects are especially dangerous if a victim has a pre-existing medical condition or engages in certain activities. For example, if a commercial driver takes Suboxone and experienced blurred vision, the result could be catastrophic.
The Suboxone MDL
Dozens of victims have filed legal actions against Indivor, Suboxone’s manufacturer. Generally, these lawsuits allege that the company failed to properly warn them about serious side-effects. These cases have been consolidated in the Northern District of Ohio at a newly-created multidistrict litigation forum.
MDL lawsuits resemble class-action lawsuits in many ways. However, some key differences exist. First, not all victims have the exact same experience. Second, MDL cases are usually consolidated for pretrial purposes, not for all purposes.
A single federal judge oversees pretrial matters like procedural motions, discovery, and settlement negotiations. The single-judge approach ensures consistent rulings in all these areas.
Settlement negotiation oversight may be an MDL judge’s biggest job. The court must enforce a duty to negotiate in good faith. Both sides have a legal duty to make reasonable offers and, when necessary, compromise to reach an agreement.
Usually, if an MDL case doesn’t settle for some reason, it returns to its home jurisdiction for trial. However, that’s unlikely. Over 90 percent of civil claims settle out of court.
Suboxone treatments for opioid addictions could cause more harm than good. For a consulta gratis with an experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorney, contact Napoli Shkolnik.