News Archive
Professor Terry Comments on Ruling Limiting Opioid Distribution Data
08/03/2018
In an August 2 interview with Indiana Public Media, IU McKinney Law Professor Nicolas Terry said that the ruling by a federal judge that government agencies cannot share federal opioid-distribution data with the public could be a concern to public health researchers.
The data provided by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency included information about pharmaceutical companies that make, distribute and sell the drugs and where prescription opioids were distributed. The ruling means that data can only be used by state and local governments for lawsuits and litigation, the story said.
The data helps governments know which drug companies are responsible for damages in certain areas or if the company is oversupplying specific markets, Professor Terry said.
Professor Terry is Hall Render Professor of Law and Executive Director of the William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health. He is part of an IU McKinney Law research team focused on Legal and Policy Best Practices in Response to the Substance Abuse Crisis as part of the Indiana University Addictions Grand Challenge to prevent, reduce and treat addictions in Indiana.
