What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a drug prescribed for those suffering from opioid withdrawal while recovering from dependence. According to American Addiction Centers, Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, which is administered via a dissolvable strip placed under the tongue.
While this drug can be effective at reducing the symptoms experienced by those in withdrawal, it can also lead to various dental health problems.
These issues may be caused by its acidic nature, combined with the fact that it can take several minutes to fully dissolve in the mouth. In its warning about the drug, the FDA suggests rinsing your mouth with water after the strip is completely dissolved and then waiting an hour to brush your teeth.
Types of Defective Product Cases
Defective product cases may depend on three different kinds of defects: design, manufacturing, and warning defects, each of which requires different types of evidence to prove. Understanding the differences between these kinds of defects is essential for consumers who have been injured by products:
These defects are inherent to the product’s design, such as the acidic nature of the chemicals in Suboxone. Many mass tort injury lawsuits arising from Suboxone rely on proving that the drug is defective by design and that the manufacturers should have known about the health risks associated with it.
These defects are introduced during manufacturing. For example, if a contaminant gets into a drug in the manufacturing facility, that would be a manufacturing defect. However, the lawsuits arising from Suboxone use do not allege defective manufacturing because the harmful chemicals are in the product by design.
These defects apply to the product’s warning labels and marketing. In many Suboxone mass tort injury lawsuits, victims allege that the manufacturers knew of the potential health risks but failed to inform consumers about them.
What Are the Risks of Suboxone Use?
The primary risks of Suboxone use relate to dental health. However, as any dentist will tell you, good dental health is essential to overall health. If your dental health deteriorates, it can lead to various other health conditions that affect other parts of your body, including your heart.
Individuals who regularly use Suboxone are at increased risk of the following dental health problems:
- Cavities
- Tooth loss
- Tooth fractures
- Tooth decay
- Oral infections
- Tongue injuries
- Gum injuries
If you used Suboxone and were later diagnosed with any of these dental health issues, you may be able to recover compensation through a mass tort injury lawsuit. Complete our questionnaire to determine your eligibility and to learn more about how our law firm can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Evidence Required to Qualify for a Suboxone Mass Tort Injury Lawsuit
To recover compensation through a mass tort injury lawsuit for Suboxone use, you’ll need to provide evidence, including:
You need to have documentation showing your Suboxone use before your dental health issue diagnosis. Your doctor or pharmacy should have records of your prescription, including dosage and how long you were taking the drug, that you can use as evidence.
You should have dental health records from before your Suboxone use that show your dental health conditions weren’t pre-existing. The manufacturer’s attorneys may attempt to say that your health issues were pre-existing conditions if you don’t have this evidence.
You must be diagnosed with a dental health issue related to Suboxone use. Your dental records will serve as this evidence, and your dentist can testify on your behalf or provide a statement.
You must have records of treatments you underwent to manage or fix your dental health issues.
Finally, you must have records showing the financial impact of your dental health issues. For example, you may have medical bills related to your treatment, or you may have records documenting the wages you lost while out of work receiving treatment.
An experienced attorney can gather the evidence listed above. When choosing an attorney, you should look for one with experience handling similar mass tort injury lawsuits.
Compensation Available to Victims of Suboxone
Victims of Suboxone injuries can seek various types of compensation through their mass tort injury lawsuit. Some of the most common compensation sought through lawsuits for Suboxone injuries includes money for:
- Medical Expenses – Compensation for surgeries, medical treatments, and prescription medications necessary for treating your dental condition.
- Lost Wages – Compensation for the wages you lost while out of work during your recovery. If your injuries are severe enough to impact your ability to work in the future, you can also seek compensation for loss of future earning potential.
- Pain and Suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries.
- Scarring and Disfigurement – If your condition leaves you scarred or disfigured, you may be able to seek additional compensation for emotional damage.
- Permanent Disability – If your condition leaves you permanently disabled, you may be able to seek additional compensation that you need to accommodate your disability.
Take Our Questionnaire to Find if You Qualify to File a Lawsuit
Did you suffer dental health issues after using Suboxone to treat opioid dependency in New Mexico? If so, fill out our questionnaire to learn whether you’re eligible to seek compensation through a mass tort injury lawsuit. At Ron Bell Law, we’re prepared to file a mass tort injury lawsuit for you if you qualify.