But Purdue Pharma claimed that OxyContin, twice as potent as morphine, was minimally addictive when prescribed for pain. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that up to 29 per cent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain eventually misuse them. That same year, Mundipharma’s operation in Italy released the results of a study proclaiming nearly half of Italians suffer chronic pain. He texted the Italy Mundipharma executives: “Good news, position paper against addiction, supporting opioids signed by me,” prosecutors allege. Fanelli retorted that “GF,” his initials, should be on a Mundipharma executive’s bank account because he’d helped the company make millions off drugs.

Source: National Post May 29, 2019 04:07 UTC