The Supreme Court of Minnesota held that an injured worker had failed to establish that his long-term use of Endocet—an opioid—was in line with long-term treatment parameters established pursuant to Minn. R. 5221.6110 (2019). Accordingly,... Read More

Over the past two decades, prescription drug abuse has been on the rise. The public health dangers associated with this disturbing trend are self-evident. In an ongoing effort to curb this abuse, most states have over the years adopted some form of electronic... Read More

The topic of opioid abuse in workers’ compensation largely focuses on the causes and costs of that abuse to the effectiveness of the state-level reforms that address what some experts identify as a “plague.” Particularly alarming opioid... Read More

The new edition of Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis (LexisNexis) is a veritable cornucopia of expert analysis, provocative commentary, and a 50 state survey of workers’ compensation legislation in 2014 As with last year’s... Read More

Roger Rabb, J.D., Special Correspondent for the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation eNewsletter As physicians continue to prescribe opioids such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and codeine to help patients with chronic pain, there is a growing concern that... Read More

The bad news is that opioid abuse related to treating chronic pain remains a serious problem for every workers’ compensation system participant. The good news is that many workers’ compensation jurisdictions are increasing their efforts to... Read More

By Stuart Colburn, Esq. This is the third part of a three-part series on prescription drug abuse in America. Part One explained “the problem”. Part Two identified the stakeholders involved with this epidemic. Part Three below discusses... Read More

Proof that “a higher use of opioids [among patients with occupational diseases] may … lead to addiction, increased disability or work loss, and even death” prompted the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute to conduct a study... Read More

By John Stahl, Esq. LexisNexis Online Subscribers: Citations below link to Lexis Advance. Bracketed citations link to lexis.com. The numerous ills associated with workers’ compensation claimants (claimants) abusing prescribed opioids is a... Read More

Proof that “a higher use of opioids [among patients with occupational diseases] may … lead to addiction, increased disability or work loss, and even death” prompted the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute to conduct a study... Read More

By Stuart Colburn, Esq. This is the third part of a three-part series on prescription drug abuse in America. Part One explained “the problem”. Part Two identified the stakeholders involved with this epidemic. Part Three below discusses... Read More

This commentary is written in response to the White House report entitled “Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crises,” which states that, “Prescription drug abuse is the Nation’s fastest-growing drug... Read More