Parents of Greenwich Teen Who Died of Heroin Overdose Sue Drug Manufacturer

A Greenwich couple, Larry and Michelle Allen, whose son Brad died in 2014 of heroin toxicity, is suing drug manufacturer Indivor for $100 million. Indivor are the makers of Suboxone, a narcotic used to treat pain as well as addiction to narcotic pain relievers.

According to a report on WGCH 1490 am on Tuesday morning, Brad Allen was prescribed Suboxone after becoming addicted to pain medication following a car accident. Tony Savino said that according to the law suit, Brad was prescribed Suboxone to wean him from his addiction to painkillers, but instead he became addicted to the Suboxone. Then, according to Savino, after Brad returned home from drug rehab, he injected himself with heroin and accidentally overdosed.

At a recent legislative breakfast organized by Communities 4 Action at UConn Stamford, the epidemic in opioid addiction in Connecticut was discussed by police and experts in mental health, addiction and recovery. During the discussion, State Senator Scott Frantz (R) said that that as many die from opioid abuse as from car accidents, and that it was ironic that just a few blocks away, a Stamford-based company makes opioids. (In Stamford, Purdue Pharama makes Oxy-Contin, its brand name for oxycodone pills.)

According to the State medical examiner’s office, Bradley was one of many who in Connecticut died from heroin toxicity in 2014. (Opiate deaths in CT 2014 – Google Fusion Tables)

The Allens – Laurence is a financial advisor employed by ACP Investment Group in Greenwich and Michelle is a home maker – have a son, Brad’s twin brother Tyler, and a daughter, Lauren.

At the time of his death in the family home, Brad was enrolled at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. He had an investment banking internship at NYPPEX, a private equity advisory firm.

In 2016, the Allen family established the Allen Research Endowment in Brad’s memory.

The tax exempt non profit focuses on developing new medical technologies, education and treatment primarily for Complex and Orphan diseases.

Specifically the endowment funds research in four areas, one of which is non-addictive pain treatments.

The website notes that according to the CDC, in 2016, over 28,000 deaths in the US were caused by opioid overdoses. Of those, more than 50% involved prescription opioids.

“Opioid related deaths are an epidemic in the U.S., yet pharmaceutical companies and doctors continue to prescribe opioids for pain treatment,” the website states.

The website’s instructions to make a donation note that the goal of the endowment is to save lives through the development of new medical technologies, education and treatment of Complex and Orphan diseases. “The life you save may be yours,” the website says.

See obituary: Obituary: J. Bradley Allen, 19, of Greenwich

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