2016 was an unprecedented year for opioid overdoses nationwide. Since 1999, opioid overdoses and the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. have quadrupled, creating an epidemic that spans all ages, communities, and demographics.
Ohio can be considered the "ground zero" of this epidemic. The number of fatal overdoses have quadrupled in the past decade. Southwest Ohio has been particularly hit hard; in Montgomery County, the coroner’s office is now requesting space from funeral homes to help temporarily store bodies.
Northeast Ohio is no exception. According to the medical examiner’s office, in 2016, there were more than 500 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County. For the first six weeks of 2017, 70 overdose deathshave been recorded. How can we stop this?
Panelists include:
Aaron David Marks, Recovery Advocate
Joan Papp, M.D., FACEP, The MetroHealth System
Mark I. Singer, Ph.D., Leonard W. Mayo Professor in Family and Child Welfare, Case Western Reserve University
John Tharp, Sheriff, Lucas County
This conversation is moderated by ideastream® Managing Producer of Health Kay Colby.
