Opiates Killed Ten Times As Many Americans In One Year As All Terror Attacks In Last 20 Years

In 2014, the span of a single year, an astounding 29,467 Americans died by overdose of opioid-related drugs, including prescriptions.

Claire Bernish
By Claire Bernish
MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Corporal Mark Hickok, a 23-year-old combat engineer from North Olmstead, Ohio, patrols through a poppy field during a clearing mission April 9. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John M. McCall)

(ANALYSIS) -- Safety of the people and security of the nation should be priority number one for any leader who wishes to have a successful tenure in office, perhaps even multiple terms — and the President of the United States is no exception to this model. So, why, then, has a killer of tens of thousands each year still on the loose inside those

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Big Pharma’s Influence Reaches Guideline Writers, Patient Groups, Even Doctors On Twitter

A series of studies published today documents the vast conflicts of interest in medicine. The way we think about disease “is being subtly distorted” by financial ties, the authors of an editorial write.

Charles Ornstein
By Charles Ornstein
A new investigation revealed that the FDA is using a variety of tactics to sway public opinion of certain products (AP Photo).

(REPORT) --- The long arm of the pharmaceutical industry continues to pervade practically every area of medicine, reaching those who write guidelines that shape doctors' practices, patient advocacy organizations, letter writers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and even oncologists on Twitter, according to a series of papers on

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Obama’s New Appointee To Head The FDA Is A Big Pharma Mega-Lobbyist

While at Duke, Robert M. Califf received millions in funding and salary support from Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, and other drug companies.

Carey Wedler
By Carey Wedler
While at Duke, Robert M. Califf received millions in funding and salary support from Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, and other drug companies.

(ANTIMEDIA) President Obama’s recent nominee to chair the Food and Drug Administration has drawn harsh criticism for his ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The disapproval grew more justified this week as it was revealed that until this year, nominee Dr. Robert Califf was a board member and consultant for a company whose sole purpose is to help

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Why Don’t We Have Single Payer Health Care? Ask Medical Lobbyists

The health care industry was at its most generous in 2009, when there were eight lobbyists for every member of Congress.

MintPress News Desk
By MintPress News Desk
Roberta Crawford, 89, wears a sticker in support of single payer health care

MINNEAPOLIS --- When it comes to lobbying Washington, no single industry can match the lobbying power of the health care industry. The medical field, from pharmaceutical companies to doctors’ associations, has already spent over $120 million on lobbying this year. The influence of the health sector on the U.S. government is not a new one -- the

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Medical Neocolonialism: Big Pharma Outsources Unethical Clinical Trials To South Africa

A new report says that multinational drug companies experiment with the health and even the lives of already-vulnerable South African patients.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi

International pharmaceutical companies experiment with the health and even the lives of South African patients, with clinical tests often conducted in a unethical manner on patients in that country. This is the conclusion of a report on clinical tests by Wemos – a Netherlands-based non-profit organization that advocates the right to health of

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A Combination Of Ignorance And Lobbyists Keep Statehood Out Of Reach For Puerto Rico

Public employees in North Carolina recently — and mistakenly — denied a Puerto Rico-born child U.S. citizenship status.

Trisha Marczak
By Trisha Marczak

A recent birth certificate case in Raleigh, N.C., where public employees were confused over the U.S. citizenship status of a Puerto Rico-born child, has re-sparked the statehood debate as Puerto Ricans continue their quest to persuade Congress to recognize their November vote in favor of the move. Yasenia Pena-Ducos has lived in the U.S. for the

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