Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Avi and Julie Israel talk about their son Michael's condition, how he became addicted to the prescribed painkillers and what they learned about addiction. They offer parents advise on how to talk to their kids, and where and when to seek help.

Opioid addiction is a problem that effects all age groups, races, and both sexes. Unlike previous drug crises in the United States, the opioid epidemic impacts rural, city and suburban communities and touches every socioeconomic group.

The crisis of opioid addiction is a relatively new problem in America. Prior to the mid-90s, the use of opioids to treat pain was limited. Pharmaceutical companies began telling physicians that opioid pain relievers were safe, effective and non-addictive. Around the same time, doctors were being pressured to treat patients more aggressively.

Jennifer Weiss-Burke speaks about her son Cameron a high school wrestler who became addicted to painkillers after a sports injury. She gives insight on treatment of addiction, advice on how to talk to your kids, where and when to seek help.

There are small signs of progress in combatting the opioid epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control reports opioid prescribing peaked in 2010 and decreased each year through 2015. Experts say the drop is a sign the culture of over-prescribing is changing. But fewer prescriptions have not resulted in a drop in opioid addiction and death. There are no easy solutions to the opioid epidemic.

Experts from the program give suggestions on how physicians should treat patients to prevent new cases of opioid addiction. They advocate for building stronger doctor and patient relationships to find what is best in managing pain. Experts speak about providing easy access to information to patients, parents and teens on how to prevent addiction.

Dr. Andrew Kolodny gives an overview of the relationship between prescription opioids and heroin abuse. He speaks on the origins of opioids, why opioids are referred to as "heroin pills" and how the path that leads from prescription opioids to heroin addiction is so common.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic combines stories of people and communities impacted by this epidemic along with information from experts and those at the frontlines of dealing with the epidemic. The program traces the history of how the nation got into this situation and provides possible solutions and directions for dealing with the crisis.

Cameron Weiss was a high school student that not only excelled in wrestling, but also loved to rap. Listen as he constructs a freestyle rap about life, social issues and self respect.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic combines stories of people and communities impacted by this epidemic along with information from experts and those at the frontlines of dealing with the epidemic. The program traces the history of how the nation got into this situation and provides possible solutions and directions for dealing with the crisis.