A federal judge is pushing for a solution for the plethora of lawsuits being leveled against opioid manufacturers. According to the judge, a legal deal should be reached that will provide a way to escape the opioid crisis that is affecting the United States from coast to coast.   The discussions as to how this might feasibly be accomplished using a legal framework began on Wednesday, January 31, in a federal courthouse located in Cleveland, Ohio. Attorneys for local governments across the United States, drug distributors, and drug manufacturers are being brought together to open the conversation on a possible settlement for the lawsuits leveled against opioid manufacturers and distributors.   Because the goal of the conversation is to agree upon a settlement, the judge has closed the courtroom to the public.   As reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 42,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses during 2016, and the number who died from similar causes in 2017 is believed to be even higher. Opioids are a class of drugs that include illicit substances like heroin, as well as prescription pills like oxycodone. The potent and dangerous fentanyl, which is sometimes manufactured legally and sometimes illegally synthesized in home laboratories domestically and abroad, is also included in this class.   Many city, county, and state governments have brought lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Judge Dan Polster, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, has…

Drug addiction is a dangerous illness that can have lasting or permanent consequences. In addition to the dire health consequences that can come from habitual drug use, the legal consequences can also be extreme. Even when an individual is found guilty of a drug-related crime and no violent offense, addicts can still find themselves serving long sentences in prison as a result of their addiction. When addicts refuse to seek help from an addiction recovery program, their chances of landing a significant prison sentence are greatly increased. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the non-violent offenses drug addicts may be charged with that can lead to years or even decades behind bars.   Drug Possession   This is the most common charge and the easiest to prosecute. When you are in possession of a controlled substance, you can be charged with drug possession. In 2014, according to DrugPolicy.org, 83% of all drug-related arrests were for possession only. The sentence can range anywhere from a few days to a decade or more, and may carry thousands of dollars in fines. The duration of these sentences may vary from state to state, and are dependent on the type of drug and amount possessed, as well as any existing criminal background.   Drug Conspiracy   A drug-related conspiracy is an agreement between two individuals to violate federal drug laws. FederalDrugCharges.net defines this as an agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or possession with intent…