Johnson & Johnson faces $2 billion lawsuit over opioids

Governor Andrew Cuomo says the pharmaceutical giant downplayed the risks of addictive painkillers.

• Sep 17, 2020

"The less of a conscience you had, the better"

60 Minutes investigates the playbook of sales practices that triggered an explosion of prescriptions, Sunday.

• Jun 18, 2020
• 00:33

Pharma exec becomes VP after bribery talk

"He wanted me to pay doctors to prescribe Subsys. I could do that. I've done it before, I can do it again," says former salesman Alec Burlakoff about being hired by pharmaceutical CEO John Kapoor to bribe doctors to prescribe powerful opioids.

• Jun 21, 2020
• 00:49

Burlakoff on difficulties of closing doctors

Alec Burlakoff elaborates on the challenges of finding doctors “agreeing to be bribed”

• Jun 21, 2020
• 00:55

Insys exec explains sales mentality

“To be in sales you have to understand the defense mechanism of rationalization”

• Jun 21, 2020
• 00:57

Burlakoff explains his career shift to sales

Alec Burlakoff explains his career jump from guidance counselor to pharmaceutical sales rep.

• Jun 21, 2020
• 01:10

ICYMI: A look back at Sunday's 60 Minutes

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo on George Floyd's killing, policies during protests and reform for his department; And, pharmaceutical executives face prison time for racketeering, after breaking FDA laws, enticing doctors to boost opioid sales

• Jun 22, 2020

The opioid epidemic: Who is to blame?

Doctors, distributors, drug lobbyists, the FDA — who is responsible for the scourge of opioid addictions? 60 Minutes has spent three years investigating.

• Jun 21, 2020

The rise and fall of a pharmaceutical opioid sales executive

A 60 Minutes investigation into the causes of the American opioid epidemic includes an examination of the tactics of one former top sales executive.

• Jun 21, 2020

Pharma execs used strip clubs, broke FDA laws to boost opioid sales

A former sales VP for a pharmaceutical company who was sentenced to prison tells 60 Minutes he bribed doctors to prescribe fentanyl drugs. Bill Whitaker reports.

• Jun 21, 2020

Who’s responsible for the opioid epidemic?

Dr. Barry Schultz is serving 157 years in prison after he prescribed enough opioids for a prosecutor to call him one of South Florida's, "most notorious drug dealers." In his only interview, Schultz says he's a scapegoat. Bill Whitaker reports.

• Sep 30, 2018
• 13:52

Insys sales VP explains targeting doctors

VP of Sales at Insys dives into the process of scouting for a doctor to target

• Jun 21, 2020
• 00:58

Alec Burlakoff on pleading guilty

Burlakoff on the conversation with his lawyer that led him to plead guilty.

• Jun 21, 2020
• 00:36

Former pharma sales exec: "The less of a conscience... the better"

60 Minutes investigates the playbook of sales practices that triggered an explosion of prescriptions, Sunday.

• Jun 18, 2020

Health care professionals misusing opioids

An alarming new report highlights the problem of opioid addiction among health care professionals. The report out Tuesday shows more than 44 million doses of legally prescribed opioids were stolen last year. That’s an increase of 126 percent from 2017. Errol Barnett spoke to a patient and a doctor about the impact of so-called drug diversion.

• May 7, 2019
• 02:46

Report: Doctors stealing more prescriptions

CBS News is the first to report on a new study on the misuse and theft of opioids by doctors, nurses and other health care workers. More than 47 million prescription doses were stolen last year. Errol Barnett reports.

• May 6, 2019
• 02:45

First major opioid crisis trial set to begin

A healthcare giant known for baby lotion and bandages will be the defendant on Tuesday when an opioid-related lawsuit goes to trial. The state of Oklahoma accuses Johnson & Johnson of "falsely downplaying the risk of opioid addiction." It's the first trial out of hundreds of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers. Anna Werner reports.

• May 28, 2019
• 04:27

Opioid trial takes aim at Johnson & Johnson

The state of Oklahoma is suing Johnson and Johnson, claiming the pharmaceutical company "falsely downplayed the risk of opioid addiction." "CBS This Morning" consumer investigative correspondent Anna Werner joins CBSN with more on the case.

• May 28, 2019
• 06:40

Historic opioid trial begins in Oklahoma

Opening statements were made in a landmark trial in Oklahoma. It could determine whether states can hold drugmakers responsible for the opioid crisis. Omar Villafranca reports.

• May 28, 2019
• 02:16

Historic opioid trial gets underway

Oklahoma’s top prosecutor blames corporate greed for what he calls the worst manmade health crisis in U.S. history. In a first-of-its kind trial, the state argues Johnson & Johnson used deceptive practices to fuel an opioid epidemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans in the last two decades. Omar Villafranca reports.

• May 29, 2019
• 02:36

Pharma rep exposes opioid lollipop marketing

A pharmaceutical salesman went undercover to expose his company for illegally marketing an addictive cancer drug. Bruce Boise was tasked with promoting Actiq, a pain-killing lollipop containing the opioid fentanyl, for treatments not approved by the FDA. “Whistleblower” host Alex Ferrer joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss the show’s season finale.

• Jun 28, 2019
• 04:07

Judge orders Johnson and Johnson to pay $572 million

An Oklahoma judge found Johnson and Johnson guilty in fueling the state's opioid crises and ordered the corporation to pay $572 million in a landmark ruling with vast implications. The ruling, in favor of Oklahoma, is one of the biggest monetary awards in U.S. history.

• Aug 26, 2019
• 07:10

Johnson & Johnson fined in opioid lawsuit

In a landmark ruling Monday, an Oklahoma judge ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay the state $572 million for fueling the state's opioid crisis. The case could set the stage for dozens -- maybe hundreds -- of new lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. Omar Villafranca reports.

• Aug 26, 2019
• 02:22

Ruling against Johnson & Johnson in opioid case

In a landmark ruling on Monday, an Oklahoma judge found Johnson and Johnson helped fuel the state's opioid crisis and ordered the company to pay over $500 million. It's the first major pharmaceutical company being held accountable for its role in the widespread abuse of prescription painkillers and could set a precedent for upcoming opioid trials throughout the country. CBS News correspondent Omar Villafranca joined CBSN with the details from Norman, Oklahoma.

• Aug 26, 2019
• 07:07

Authorities seize enough fentanyl to kill 14M

Investigators have busted a massive drug ring spanning three states. Law enforcement officers in Virginia seized enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people as part of what they called "Operation Cookout." Thirty-five suspects were arrested, and four others are still on the run. Chip Reid reports.

• Aug 30, 2019
• 02:16

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