One of the pharmaceutical companies often blamed for hiding the addictive nature of its painkillers is now sponsoring a trial of an app aimed at curbing opioid abuse.
Purdue Pharma is partnering on a trial with Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, recruiting hundreds of patients for a yearlong study. According to BuzzFeed, chronic pain patients will be asked to log their symptoms on devices like iPhones and Apple Watches, with the idea that their physicians can use the info to increase, decrease or eliminate medications that could potentially become addiction.
It's a controversial choice, as Purdue is the manufacturer of OxyContin, an opioid painkiller that has been subject of congressional investigations and peddling amongst drug rings as opioid abuse has been on the rise nationwide.
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.