ANDREOZZI + FOOTE
OPIOID ADDICTION TREATMENT SEXUAL ABUSE ATTORNEYS
Reviewed by:
Benjamin D. Andreozzi, Esq.
- Last Updated: November 14, 2025
On This Page
- What Opioid Addiction Treatment Involves
- Sexual Abuse By Doctors in Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs
- Legal Rights for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs
- How Our Firm Helps Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment
- Taking the First Step Toward Justice After Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment
The opioid crisis has left millions of Americans dependent on drug treatment programs designed to help them heal and regain control of their lives. These programs, which involve medications such as Suboxone, Methadone, or other forms of medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, require deep trust between patient and provider. Some health care professionals abuse this trust, exploiting patients in their most vulnerable moments for sexual gratification or a feeling of control. This form of health care sexual abuse is unethical and violates medical and legal boundaries.
If you or someone you love was pressured, coerced, or manipulated into sexual acts by an opioid addiction treatment doctor, you are not alone, and you have legal rights.
What Opioid Addiction Treatment Involves
Opioid addiction treatment is designed to help people safely manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and rebuild their lives after dependency. Many patients rely on MAT programs, which combine counseling and the use of serious pain-relieving prescription medications, including Methadone, Suboxone, and Buprenorphine.
Patients depend on medical professionals for continued access to these controlled substances, leaving room for a significant power imbalance. Doctors and clinic staff hold authority over whether a patient receives medication, and this dynamic may foster exploitation, especially when a provider uses their position of power to demand or coerce sexual acts in exchange for treatment.
Sexual Abuse By Doctors in Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs
How Doctors Exploit Patients
In opioid addiction treatment settings, patients often rely on their doctors for continued prescriptions of medications. Some providers abuse that authority, coercing vulnerable individuals into unwanted sexual acts.
Common forms of exploitation include:
- Exchanging medication for sexual favors
- Threats of ending treatment or withholding medication for refusing sexual demands
- Grooming and manipulation in medical settings, normalizing abusive behavior
If you were harmed by your treatment provider, a skilled doctor sexual abuse lawyer can help you pursue justice and hold both the provider and the treatment facility accountable for the harm they caused.
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Opioid Treatment Centers
Recognizing the early signs of exploitation can protect patients from further harm. Warning signs that may indicate sexual abuse in an opioid treatment program include:
- A doctor requesting sexual favors or physical contact outside of medical necessity
- A patient’s fears of losing access to life-saving medication if they refuse to comply with a doctor’s sexual demands
- A recurring pattern of harassment, coercion, or inappropriate communication
These are clear violations of patient trust and professional conduct. Opioid addiction treatment sexual abuse survivors have legal rights and can seek an attorney’s help confidentially.
The following are recent cases of alleged sexual abuse involving opioid treatment:
- Dr. Ritesh Kalra: Charged with distributing opioids in exchange for sexual favors and defrauding New Jersey Medicaid.
- Dr. Christopher Davis: A York County doctor accused of coercing methadone patients into sexual acts in exchange for prescriptions. As attorney Ben Andreozzi stated, “Dr. Davis abused this position of trust to exploit vulnerable patients who depended on him for life-sustaining treatment.”
- Dr. Joseph Santiamo: Accused of soliciting sexual favors from young patients in exchange for illegal oxycodone prescriptions.
- Dr. Ricardo Cruciani: Used his power to prescribe or withhold opioids to sexually abuse female patients under his care.
Legal Rights for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs
Every patient has the right to receive safe, ethical medical care free from sexual exploitation. When an addiction treatment doctor violates that trust, the abuse is not only unethical, it’s illegal. Sexual abuse by a health care provider can be both a criminal offense and the basis for a civil lawsuit seeking financial compensation and justice.
Survivors may be able to sue individual doctors who engaged in sexual abuse, coercion, or harassment. They also may pursue claims against clinics, treatment centers, or health care systems that ignored red flags, failed to supervise staff, or enabled abuse through negligence.
Andreozzi + Foote helps abuse survivors nationwide hold both doctors and the institutions behind them accountable for their misconduct. Our opioid addiction treatment sexual abuse lawyers work tirelessly to uncover the truth, expose negligence, and pursue justice through trauma-informed legal advocacy.
How Our Firm Helps Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment
At Andreozzi + Foote, our firm has represented survivors of sexual abuse by doctors, therapists, clergy, and other trusted professionals for decades. Our firm is focused exclusively on sexual abuse litigation, handling every case with compassion and professionalism.
Our attorneys understand how vulnerable patients in opioid treatment programs can be when their recovery depends on continued access to medication. We hold medical professionals and institutions accountable when they exploit that power for personal gain. Through confidential consultations, trauma-informed representation, and relentless pursuit of justice, we work to ensure every survivor’s voice is heard and respected.
Opioid Lawsuit Attorneys Fighting for Survivors Nationwide
Andreozzi + Foote’s attorneys are among the few in the nation with extensive experience handling opioid-related sexual abuse lawsuits. Our attorneys investigate how treatment programs and health care systems failed to protect patients and pursue claims that expose those systemic failures.
These lawsuits can prompt:
- Justice against doctors and treatment providers who violated their professional oaths
- Compensation for survivors to help support healing, therapy, and recovery
- Systemic change within addiction treatment centers to prevent future exploitation
With our firm’s experience and dedication, survivors can move forward knowing they have a team that believes and stands beside them, fighting tirelessly for accountability and change.
Taking the First Step Toward Justice After Sexual Abuse in Opioid Addiction Treatment
Seeking help after abuse in an opioid treatment program can feel overwhelming. However, you don’t have to face it alone. At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys provide a safe, confidential space for survivors to share their stories and move toward healing and accountability.
Our firm offers free, no-obligation consultations, and you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. We have spent decades representing opioid treatment sexual abuse survivors and their families against those who have caused them harm. By taking legal action, you not only seek justice for yourself, but you also protect others from suffering similar violations.
Contact us for a free consultation or call us at (866) 311-8640. Now is the time to stand up for your rights.
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Empowering Survivors and Delivering Justice Nationwide
We understand the courage it takes to reach out for help, and we are here to listen. At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate, confidential support every step of the way. With extensive experience in advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where your voice is heard and your rights are fiercely protected. Contact us today for a free, in-depth consultation and take the first step toward justice.