The Opioid Epidemic: A Pain For The Masses

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined by Dr. Ryan Marino (medical toxicologist, ER doc, and addiction specialist) to discuss the opioid crisis. We kick things off with some statistics on opioid use and overdoses and the array of health and social problems caused by the high prevalence of opioid use disorder. We take a step back to discuss the biochemistry of opioids, starting with the history of the oldest known drug, the opium poppy. We discuss the mechanism of action and some key differences between different opiates. We chat about the different waves of opioid overdose deaths and the factors that influenced them. We don't shy away from controversy (we never do!) and discuss the erosion of trust in regulatory and industry agencies that the opioid epidemic has caused. We describe the multiple factors, missteps, and failures that have brought us to this point and some of the ways that we might be able to combat this issue. You don't want to miss this important discussion!

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PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

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Resources

• Dr. Ryan Marino: Twitter/X at @ryanmarino and YouTube at @RyanMD

• Opioid crisis: addiction, overprescription, and insufficient primary prevention

• WHO: Opioid overdose

• How FDA Failures Contributed to the Opioid Crisis

• The history of the poppy and of opium and their expansion in antiquity in the eastern Mediterranean area

• Medicinal aspects of opium as described in Avicenna's Canon of Medicine

• In the arms of morpheus: the development of morphine for postoperative pain relief

• History of opium poppy and morphine

• Opioids for Nonmalignant Chronic Pain

• What led to the opioid crisis—and how to fix it

• The Promotion and Marketing of OxyContin: Commercial Triumph, Public Health Tragedy

• The Opioid Epidemic: It’s Time to Place Blame Where It Belongs

• The Burden of Drug Use Disorders

• Responding to the opioid crisis in North America and beyond: recommendations of the Stanford–Lancet Commission

• Fentanyl panic goes viral: The spread of misinformation about overdose risk from casual contact with fentanyl in mainstream and social media