Part Two: The Growing Costs of Opioids in the Workplace – An NHL Tragedy

Welcome to our second installment of a three part series discussing Derek Boogaard, a former National Hockey League (NHL) player that died from an accidental drug overdose after leaving rehab. In the first part our series, we discussed Boogaard’s career in the NHL, his tragic death, and the tension that exists as a result of an employee’s prescription drug use and the employer’s oversight of said use. Here, we will discuss the deluge of litigation that occurred as a result of Boogaard’s death, including breach …

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Part One: The Growing Costs of Opioids in the Workplace – An NHL Tragedy

Over the coming weeks we will be delving into the lengthy saga that involves Derek Boogaard, his estate, the National Hockey League (the NHL), and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (the NHLPA).

This first installment of our three part series will lay the foundation of Boogaard’s career in the NHL, his tragic death, and the tension that erupted as a result of an employee’s prescription drug use and the employer’s oversight of said use. The second installment will discuss the deluge of litigation that …

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Proposed Rules Aimed at Addressing Opioid Epidemic and its Impact on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims Continue to Progress

As the opioid epidemic continues to sweep the country, the North Carolina Industrial Commission has taken notice. In February 2017, Chairman Charlton Allen established an Opioid Task Force aimed at finding solutions to address the opioid epidemic and the impact on workers’ compensation claims. Late last year, the Industrial Commission published draft rules for public comment on the utilization of opioids and pain management in workers’ compensation claims.

On January 16, 2018, the Industrial Commission announced that the proposed rules were published in Volume 32, …

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Maryland on High Alert after Declaring State of Emergency

With communities nationwide struggling to address the booming opioid epidemic, Maryland is the first to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to rein in overdoses within its borders. In 2016, the Maryland residents suffered more than 2,700 fatal opioid overdoses; this figure is climbing at an alarming rate. The state of emergency declaration allowed Governor Larry Hogan discretion to allocate $50 million in funding to fight the epidemic without waiting for legislative approval. This funding is in addition to Maryland’s previous and ongoing …

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Opioid Epidemic: Let the Weaning Begin

In the workers’ compensation world, the Board has acknowledged opioid addiction as “a major public health crisis” that “deeply affects” New York’s injured workers. So it comes as no surprise that in that same announcement, the Board re-asserted its opinion that long-term opioid use is rarely recommended and should be done in restricted circumstances with much oversight.

While some claimants’ counsels like to argue that opioid use is not an issue that should be decided upon by a judge and some judge’s may shy away …

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