Interview with Emily Walden, December 11, 2018

Interview Summary

Emily Walden talks about her son TJ and the progression of his addiction to Opana, a powerful opioid. Emily discusses how after her son's death from an overdose, she began to investigate Endo Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Opana, and their relationship with the FDA. She tells the story of how she contacted Andy Beshear with her findings and asked him to investigate. Emily also talks about how she began to travel to Washington, D.C. every year to meet with elected officials to try to change FDA policies, and how she eventually testified before the FDA calling for the removal of a reformulated version of Opana. The FDA agreed and pulled the drug from the market.

Interview Keyword

Louisville, Kentucky Oxycontin Opana Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Louisville (Ky.) Endo Pharmaceuticals Drug overdose Family Oxymorphone Narcotics Opioids Mitch McConnell Andy Beshear Politics Pharmaceutical industry

Interview LC Subject

Opioid abuse Substance abuse--Treatment Drug abuse Medication abuse. Opioid use Substance abuse Drug addiction and recovery Drugs--Prescribing

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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