Report Uncovers Bloomberg’s Helpful PR Role When Billionaire Sackler Family Was Under Fire For Opioid Crisis

ProPublica: When The Billionaire Family Behind The Opioid Crisis Needed PR Help, They Turned To Mike Bloomberg
Long celebrated as civic-minded philanthropists, the Sacklers were becoming pariahs. The billionaire family whose company created and pushed the addictive painkiller OxyContin had managed to escape connection with the opioid crisis for years, but now two magazine pieces were portraying them as pain profiteers. Museums that had sought their donations were being asked about giving the money back. Mortimer D.A. Sackler — son of a co-founder of the company, Purdue Pharma, and a member of its board — was openly furious. (Dreier, 2/28)

The Associated Press: US Supervised Injection Site Put On Hold Amid Opposition
Plans to open what could be the nation’s first medically supervised injection site in Philadelphia were put on hold Thursday night amid strenuous opposition from a federal prosecutor and residents of the neighborhood where it would have been located. Mayor Jim Kenney said that Safehouse agreed to push back its opening date so it can meet with members of the community and hear their concerns. Meanwhile, the owner of the medical complex in south Philadelphia where Safehouse planned to operate its first injection site abruptly pulled out, leaving the project in limbo. (2/27)

The Wall Street Journal: First Sanctioned Supervised Drug Site In U.S. Hits Another Snag
“Now that the landlord has decided to not go forward with the lease, we need to do a little regrouping and assess our options,” she said. Just a day earlier, a favorable court ruling led Safehouse to announce plans to open its first location next week. The nonprofit has been battling in court with the local U.S. attorney’s office, but a federal judge sided with Safehouse’s argument that its operation wouldn’t violate the law. The U.S. attorney has launched an appeal. (Kamp, 2/27)