I am back for day #7 of the opioid trial. My previous reporting had said 81 million opioid pills had been shipped to Cabell Co. from 2006-2014, but an expert said by doses it was 127.9 million of all 14 opiates. Cabell has a population under 100k, FWIW. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/nine-cabell-pharmacies-controlled-half-of-opioid-market-expert-says/article_df1e283c-e63e-5697-903d-7e59f7ed2c8d.html

The plaintiffs showed A LOT of charts yesterday. I asked for them, but the defense wants to wait until they have done cross examination for them to be released and Judge Faber sided with them. There are so many numbers and pharmacies it’s hard to keep up with testimony.

Today the defense will cross-examine data analyst McCann and then I expect we will hear from Chris Zimmerman, Senior Vice President of AmerisourceBergen.

The defense is objecting because the plaintiffs are supposed to send them documents they might use for witness examination the night before. The plaintiffs, Paul T. Farrell Jr., sent 300+ documents/pages last night before narrowing it down to about 150+. – bei Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse

Judge told Farrell to give them 20 documents he will be using for sure and then they will deal with more when the issue comes up.

Sorry it was only 130-sum

Farrell said he did not want to give “the bad guys” a narrow look into his strategy by giving them the exact documents.

“I don’t know if they’re the bad guys, yet,” the judge said.

Dr. McCann is continuing his testimony right now with the plaintiffs asking questions

Combined, four Fruth Pharmacies in Cabell County received 14.8 million doses units, or 116 million MME, a way of measuring/comparing/equalizing different potency levels of opiates, over 9 years. AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health accounted for about 98% of the supply.

At its height in 2011, Fruth was receiving about 11 doses units per capita from AmerisourceBergen alone.

This is super helpful in explaining MME, Morphine Milligram Equivalent, which doctors use to compare different drugs into a simplified measurement. Hydrocodone is stronger than morphine, for example.

Four Rite Aid stories revived 8.8 million doses units of opiates and 72.4 million MME. While Rite Aid (as a distributor) sent 63% of the doses, McKesson sent 64% of the MME, meaning by strength McKesson sent larger, stronger amounts of opiates.

Four CVSs received 124.7 million MME, 67% of which came from Cardinal Health.

Family Discount Pharmacy, a single pharmacy in Mingo County, received 15 opiate doses or 121 million MME.

15 million* opioid doses.

Hurley Drug Company Pharmacy in Williamson, WV, was receiving 9.8 million dosage units and 64.4 million MME.

Each of the charts also show pharmacies were receiving opiates at a rate highly disproportionate to that of the US average.

The judge is asking why Logan, Chapmanville, Raleigh County pharmacies are being brought up in this testimony. My take on what the plaintiff attorney said is that it will be all tied together in the coming weeks.

This trial is expected to last at least 12 weeks, if you didn’t know. We are in break now. Plaintiffs still have 45 minutes left with McCann, they said.

@WSAZnews please stop removing the @heralddispatch credit from AP stories on the opioid trial. I work too hard to not get credit.

The defense is now going to start cross examination of McCann. First up is a AmerisourceBergen.