Pfizer Warns Opioid Users Risk Addiction

In an agreement with the City of Chicago, Pfizer has signed on to a written standard for the marketing of opioids, providing hope the move will set a standard for narcotics manufacturers and curb the abuse of addictive painkillers. The company will now disclose the fact that narcotic painkillers come with a severe risk of addiction in its marketing materials. The world’s second-largest drug company also agreed not to promote the drugs for “off-label” uses like for treatment of long-term pain. Two years ago, Chicago officials sued several opioid manufacturers over alleged misleading marketing. Stephen R. Patton, an attorney, said Pfizer was, “a company that has agreed to embrace what we think are the common-sense proscriptions that we are seeking as part of our lawsuit. We hope that this trailblazing agreement... will set the bar for others in this industry.”