Suffolk County Grand Jury Addresses Prescription Painkiller Abuse
The panel has offered several solutions and recommendations to address the epidemic after hearing testimony from 38 witnesses and considering 123 exhibits.
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The panel has offered several solutions and recommendations to address the epidemic after hearing testimony from 38 witnesses and considering 123 exhibits.
Major pharmaceutical companies saw dollar signs when they first began to push doctors to freely prescribe powerful opiate-based painkillers for just about anything, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported. Now there is a major public health crisis.
Maria Basmas just experienced her first Mother's Day without her son Christopher. He died in October after overdosing on prescription painkillers. He was only 29-years-old.
Recovering painkiller addict Michel Green told WCBS 880's Irene Cornell he was shocked when, after experiencing knee pain, a doctor offered him another addictive painkiller.
"The sales for these medications continue to skyrocket, to a point at which the U.S. is now consuming more than 80 percent of the entire world's opioid supply," Dr. Andrew Kolodny told WCBS 880's Irene Cornell.
It usually takes a celebrity death to grab the headlines, but there have been 100,000 fatal overdoses in this country in the past 10 years because to narcotic painkillers, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
Narcotic painkillers and the doctors who prescribe them illegally have become a new focus for law enforcement, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
He lost his dream job with the Boston Celtics and nearly lost his life to Oxycontin and heroin, but now he's a man on a mission, traveling the country telling his powerful story to vulnerable kids, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
At 21-years-old, Chris Herren was a huge talent in professional basketball, but his drug addiction proved to be even bigger.
Highly addictive opiate based painkillers are with us because they do have legitimate uses. But things can go very wrong, as Gregg Dworkin, now an ex-addict, found out, reported WCBS 880's Irene Cornell.
Veteran narcotics detectives, accustomed to shutting down heroin mills and tracking cocaine cartels, have had to learn some new tricks and drug overdose deaths rival those from car crashes, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 Americans a day die from prescription drug abuse -- more than heroin and cocaine combined.
An Oxycodone epidemic is running rampant through New York State, according to State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
A U.S. senator is warning that a new batch of super painkillers now under review could lead to violent robberies.
Dr. Frank Telang was arrested at his home in Port Jefferson Station at 8:15 a.m., according to federal authorities.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the counterfeit prescriptions were filled in 20 counties throughout the state.
His attorney, James McElhone, says Dr. Frank Telang is a "widely respected doctor" and has "absolutely" done nothing wrong.
Burglaries are on the rise all across North Jersey, and the source is in the sky.
DA Kathleen Rice said Dr. Martin Roginsky sold painkillers like oxycodone and roxycodone to anyone who walked into his Rockville Centre, Long Island office.
The DEA is taking action against what it calls an epidemic, hosting the first ever nationwide prescription drug take-back program in hopes of stemming teen prescription drug abuse.
There's more evidence Friday that a common over-the-counter medication may be linked to both asthma and eczema in children.
A Harlem doctor once known for her work with drug addicts was accused on Thursday of writing phony prescriptions for about 11,000 painkiller pills.
The FBI says nine people, including a doctor, are charged with running a Manhattan drug ring.
A limited edition shoe drop at a Vans store in Midtown Manhattan sparked chaos Thursday and landed two people in handcuffs.
The longtime president of Bard College announced his retirement, months after it was revealed that he had a much deeper relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously known.
The Yankees beat the Orioles 7-2 on Friday night for their 11th victory in 13 games, overcoming a home run by Pete Alonso in his return to New York.
A cool weekend is ahead for the New York City area before warmer weather returns.
A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking the mailing of mifepristone.
A limited edition shoe drop at a Vans store in Midtown Manhattan sparked chaos Thursday and landed two people in handcuffs.
A cool weekend is ahead for the New York City area before warmer weather returns.
Between the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations, there's a lot going on in New York City this summer, and security will be tight.
The NYPD has released harrowing bodycam video of a deadly police shooting of a man with a machete who had slashed three people at Grand Central Station.
Thousands rallied on International Workers' Day across the five boroughs, including on Wall Street, where hundreds blocked the New York Stock Exchange.
A cool weekend is ahead for the New York City area before warmer weather returns.
Some residual showers may linger into early Sunday morning, but the majority of the rainfall should be over by sunrise.
Amtrak announced Thursday it is suing Metro-North for allegedly blocking nonrevenue trains on a portion of the busy Northeast Corridor for over two months.
The Tri-State Area has the dirtiest air in the U.S. east of Texas, according to The American Lung Association's newly released "State of the Air" report.
Colder weather returns to the New York City area this week with sub-freezing temperatures in the suburbs.
A cool weekend is ahead for the New York City area before warmer weather returns.
A man who was shot inside the Freehold Borough Public Library in New Jersey on Thursday remains in critical condition, officials say.
A suspect in a deadly shooting at a Chick-fil-A in New Jersey has been arrested, police say.
FIFA and NJ Transit said unsanctioned shuttle and bus companies will not be allowed to drop off ticketholders at MetLife Stadium.
A shooting at a library in Freehold, New Jersey, is under investigation.
A suspect is in custody after two people were stabbed to death on Long Island early Friday morning, Nassau County police said.
Suffolk County officials say contamination from a former Grumman Navy site is far worse than previously acknowledged and is still spreading.
The Suffolk County Police Department has converted a seized 2020 Corvette Stingray Coupe into a full-fledged police car, with lights and siren, to raise awareness about driving while under the influence.
Residents said anti-Muslim vandalism was found on at least eight stop signs in the area of Carto Circle in Deer Park.
Rumblings of a possible LIRR strike are putting commuters on edge. The MTA says it's preparing for a potential walkout, while union leaders say they're fighting for a fair deal.
Thousands rallied on International Workers' Day across the five boroughs, including on Wall Street, where hundreds blocked the New York Stock Exchange.
The Trump Administration is once again taking aim at New York City's congestion pricing program.
Negotiations over a $500 million dollar government aid package for Spirit stalled after bondholders balked at the terms.
The New York governor wants confirmation that ICE agent Jonathan Ross was not moved to New York after the Minneapolis killing of Renee Good.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing pressure from opposing sides regarding a housing voucher program. While some want it to expand, others want to curb its growth.
Keyport residents say they're on edge because of dozens of cancer cases over the years in a neighborhood near the former Aeromarine landfill.
The B.R.O. Experience Foundation uses cognitive behavioral therapy, mentorship and creative expression to support men of color navigating identity.
Travelers at Newark Airport may have been exposed to an individual with measles, New Jersey health officials warn.
The Tri-State Area has the dirtiest air in the U.S. east of Texas, according to The American Lung Association's newly released "State of the Air" report.
The 16th Annual Lustgarten Foundation New York City Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research was held Sunday in Battery Park City.
"The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS brought the evolution of rock music into America's living rooms. More than 50 years after Sullivan died, he's getting the ultimate rock 'n' roll honor.
Megan Thee Stallion has decided to end her run with "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" early, the Broadway show announced on Monday.
The woman accusing Harvey Weinstein of raping her at a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 took the stand Monday in the third trial of the disgraced movie mogul.
Ticketmaster will be rereleasing tickets for Harry Styles' upcoming concerts in New York City that were originally purchased by scalpers, the company says.
The upcoming fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes 25 mannequins based on real bodies.
The Yankees beat the Orioles 7-2 on Friday night for their 11th victory in 13 games, overcoming a home run by Pete Alonso in his return to New York.
FIFA and NJ Transit said unsanctioned shuttle and bus companies will not be allowed to drop off ticketholders at MetLife Stadium.
The Knicks had their biggest playoff victory in franchise history, overwhelming and eliminating the Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on Thursday night.
The soccer clinic at the Jamaica YMCA turned into a dream come true when the kids were given free tickets to a World Cup match.
The Nationals beat the Mets 5-4 Thursday, dealing reeling New York its 17th loss in 20 games.
In New York City, where land is at a premium, a stockpile of pristine soil unearthed at construction sites helps lower emissions and support urban farmers.
Have you ever wondered what happens to a restaurant's leftover or unsold food at the end of the day? Food access advocates say it could make a big difference if it were served to the community.
A new report finds a shortage of courts, fields and swimming pools in some New York City neighborhoods.
Residents living near New York City's busiest airports say the noise overhead has escalated from a nuisance to a health concern.
Construction began Tuesday on a major redesign of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.
People dressed in elaborate headgear and paraded up Fifth Avenue for New York City's Easter Sunday tradition.
The Halloween tradition strolled through Manhattan's East Village on Sunday, with furry friends dressed in colorful costumes.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
The annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival was held in Manhattan on April 20, 2025.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
CBS News New York's Lonnie Quinn has your First Alert Forecast for May 1 at 11 p.m.
A limited edition shoe drop at a Vans store in Midtown Manhattan sparked chaos Thursday and landed two people in handcuffs. CBS News New York's Adi Guajardo reports.
On this May 1, demonstrators held rallies across the country and around the globe, marking International Workers' Day, better known as May Day. In New York City, thousands took to the streets, focusing on affordability and workers' rights. CBS News New York's Andrew Ramos reports.
We're expecting to learn more information this weekend about the man accused of stabbing and killing two people in separate incidents in Nassau County. CBS News New York's Naomi Ruchim reports.
It appears Spirit Airlines is on the verge of shutting down. CBS News New York's Dick Brennan reports.
