15.6 Overdosed: SOLUTIONS to the current epidemic

Renegade Psych

Thanks for listening. I recommend watching this entire series on my YouTube channel so you can see several charts/graphics you won't be able to see otherwise; search 'Renegade Psych' on YouTube to find the page. All future episodes will be live video recordings, but we'll still produce an audio-only version as well, so view on YouTube, listen on other platforms, or don't do either, Life is full of choices!

I recorded this series solo on a topic I consider myself very well-versed in, the drug/opioid epidemic, which has taken the lives of millions of Americans, caused medical and psychological complications for hundreds of millions more, and has led to heartbreak in so many others caring for those with substance use disorders, in the last 25 years. While the official overdose fatality figures hover above 100,000 annually as of 2022, there are likely significant numbers of fatal overdoses that get logged as other deaths. The 1st episode of the series emphasized the severity and under-representation of the magnitude of the drug epidemic problem, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th episodes traced the evolution from an increase in opiate marketing and prescribing, primarily initially Oxycontin, to a black-tar heroin epidemic once the US government introduced regulations restricting opiate prescribing domestically, and a massive increase in the number of people injecting drugs, carrying a host of other potential fatal and non-fatal complications, followed by the 3rd wave of fentanyl contamination into the entirety of the US drug supply, causing an even bigger surge of overdose deaths and non-fatal complications related to illicit drug use. Then, we looked at more non-fatal consequences and complications in the 5th installment.

In this 6th installment, I talk about SOLUTIONS to the problem. Some solutions are obvious and we simply need to overcome the stigma and demonization of this population to implement them on a more widespread national level, while others are less proven but have substantial evidence that they would be helpful. We talk about harm reduction, including MAT and Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone), and potentially even legalizing and regulating the entirety of the drug supply. If nothing else, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT because WHAT WE ARE DOING IS NOT WORKING.

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Disclaimer, this podcast is for informational purposes only. The information provided in this podcast and related materials are meant only to educate. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. While I am a medical doctor and many of my guests have extensive medical training and experience, nothing stated in this podcast nor materials related to this podcast, including recommended websites, texts, graphics, images, or any other materials should be treated as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment. All listeners should consult with a medical professional, licensed mental health provider or other healthcare provider if seeking medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.