CVS, Walgreens and Walmart ordered by federal judge to pay $650M to Lake and Trumbull Counties

Last week, Cleveland federal Judge Dan Polster ruled that three of the country's biggest pharmacy chains, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, would have to pay Lake and Trumbull counties 650 million dollars in damages for playing a part in fueling the opioid epidemic. 

Polster's ruling comes after a jury verdict in November that found the pharmacies had continued to dispense mass quantities of prescription opioids over the years, despite red flags that the pills were being abused. The case is being called historic, in part because it's the first time that pharmacy companies have gone through with a trial to defend themselves in the decades-long opioid crisis. 

All three of the companies have said they'll appeal the ruling. Joining the "Sound of Ideas" this hour to tell us more about this historic trial is NPR's addiction correspondent, Brian Mann, who has been covering this trial.

Then, we'll talk about hearing aids becoming available over the counter. And, we'll learn about this weekend's One World Festival, happening this Sunday at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. 

-Brian Mann, Addiction Correspondent, NPR
-Brigid Whitford, MD, Director of Hearing Services, The Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center
-Dan Hanson, Marketing Committe Chair, One World Day