Cover2 Resources

As Beth Macy’s book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America” unfolds, we meet many families, community leaders and healthcare providers that were directly impacted by the opioid epidemic in Virginia. As the crisis emerged, families didn’t know where to turn for help. On today’s podcast, Janine Underwood shares the story of her son, Bobby Baylis’, 7 year battle with opioid dependence and her efforts to transform how people find help in their community. Bobby was prescribed OxyContin after surgery to repair his ACL following a snowboarding accident. For the next few years, he struggled with opioids and even ended up in prison. This episode features the story of his struggles to recover and his family’s ground breaking work to help others avoid their same fate through the Roanoke Valley Hope Initiative. Hear how this community came together to develop a special program that has helped hundreds of people find recovery from SUD.

Improbable Players is a collection of touring theater troupes with a powerful message. Forming in Boston, the organization formed in 1984 and is a form of evidence-based prevention education. They use workshops and performances to address and educate the audience on addiction, opioids and alcoholism. The workshops give students the tools to combat social pressures and find coping strategies that work best for them. The shows are performed by real people in recovery and share true stories of those who have battled addiction. The podcast today features Karen Snyder, the Cleveland Regional Director, as well as Chris Everett Hussey and Andy Short. They are the Co-Directors of the Boston troupe. Typically, after each performance, the actors get an opportunity to engage with the audience and have a talk. During this time the actors will share their stories and open up about their experiences and where they’ve come from. Each show is suitable for young audiences in 6th grade and up. Hear more about the ways that t

This is the fifth and final episode of our podcast series on Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and The Drug Company That Addicted America. So far, we have discussed what made the Appalachia region of the United States so vulnerable to the opioid epidemic and the marketing methods of Purdue Pharma. In this episode we will hear the story of Kristi Fernandez, the mother of a gifted athlete from Strasburg, Virginia and her search for answers in the overdose death of her son, Jessie. Jesse was a former high school football star who died of a heroin overdose at the age of 19. The small town where they lived was ravaged by the epidemic, going from a handful of known heroin users to more than a hundred seemingly overnight. Kristi asked author Beth Macy to help her get to the bottom of how Jesse became a casualty of the opioid epidemic in their community. Hear the whole story on today’s podcast.

In part four of our five-part “Dopesick” series, we have an extensive conversation with Sister Beth Davies. With the help of Dr. Art Van Zee, the two established a community coalition which laid the groundwork to file the first lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. A Staten Island native, Sister Beth is a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame. She has served as an advocate to the exploited, addicted and impoverished for more than forty years. Through her efforts, Sister Beth has developed a network of medical clinics, worked for environmental protections and built numerous substance abuse and addiction programs. After years of dedicated service, she has helped transform the Virginia criminal justice system to improve treatment for inmates. Hear more about these pivotal programs and the many causes she has taken up that have helped combat the epidemic in the Appalachia region.

This is part three of our “Dopesick” podcast series. In parts one and two, we sat down with New York Times writer and bestselling author Beth Macy and discussed what made Appalachia so vulnerable to the opioid crisis. We touched on Purdue Pharma’s marketing efforts and the impact they had on OxyContin sales, which devastated the region. Today we talk to Dr. Stephen Loyd and Dr. Robert Pack about the transformation of their community, which helped establish OverMountain Recovery. This is an outpatient treatment program in the heart of Appalachia that provides counseling and treatment for those battling addiction. We begin today’s podcast with an introduction from Macy.

Part one of our Dopesick podcast, we discussed the effects that the opioid epidemic had on Appalachia and why the region was so vulnerable. In part two, we will discuss Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin marketing efforts and the enormous impact it had on the region. In 1996, Purdue Pharma more than doubled the size of their salesforce and handpicked physicians who would be extremely susceptible to their marketing. Using data that they bought from IMS Health, they targeted which doctors prescribed the most competing painkillers. 4 years later, these representatives had influenced 94,000 physicians to push OxyContin and sales had increased almost tenfold. Continuing the conversation with Beth Macey, she shares how OxyContin affected her hometown and how surrounding communities were ravaged with crime after the epidemic took off. Greg also talks with Dr. Art Van Zee about the deceptive marketing practices of Purdue Pharma and how these physicians were influenced. Hear more of the story on today’s podcast.

“Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America” is a look into the opioid crisis as it emerged in, bestselling author Beth Macy’s hometown of Roanoke Virginia. It’s an account that profiles the twenty plus year history of the epidemic and the story of how Appalachia was ravaged by this crisis. Macy began reporting on the events of the epidemic back in 2012 and after five years of research, “Dopesick” was born. This is part one of a multi-part series on Dopesick. Greg sits down with bestselling author Beth Macy and the two examine how America’s worst health crisis emerged from this economically vulnerable area. We will also talk to families, doctors, community leaders and healthcare providers who discuss the birth of the epidemic in our country, as well as the drug company that exploited the hardships of an entire generation. Listen to today’s podcast for more on “Dopesick.”

In 2017, it was recorded that Dayton, OH had one of the highest rates of overdoses in the entire country. By November of last year, Montgomery County Ohio, which is anchored by Dayton had already seen 548 overdose deaths. However, in 2018 there have only been 250 total deaths which is a reduction of 54% from last year. To determine what caused these numbers to drop so drastically, the New York Times spent several days investigating Dayton. They conducted interviews with public health officials, police, doctors, nurses and other treatment providers to see what Dayton has done to cut their overdose rate in half. The New York Times profiled many of these success stories in their article. Today’s episode features some of these programs that have made a difference in Dayton. Greg spoke with Dr. Mary Huber who helped found Conversations for Change. This is an event held every other month which provides people with a meal and an opportunity to meet with treatment providers. Hear more of this and other game-changin

The author of Dreamland, Sam Quinones, stated in a blog post “The Purdue Pharma company instructional materials pushed salespeople to ‘expand the physician’s definition of the appropriate patient’ to which opioids might be prescribed, and to develop a ‘specific plan for systematically moving physicians to the next level of prescribing.’” Over the past twenty years, other companies have adopted the same deceptive, sales tactics from Purdue Pharma, including INSYS Therapeutics. Today Greg is joined by Evan Hughes, author and writer for GQ, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Hughes recently composed an article for The New York Times entitled The Pain Hustlers. This article profiled the case of INSYS Therapeutics and how they paid millions to physicians through their “Speaker Program” to recommend and prescribe their bestselling, highly addictive, fentanyl product to treat terminal cancer pain: Subsys. Hear this story and how others in the industry have adopted these deceptive sales

In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. However, there is no right to counsel in civil matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone without legal representation. It’s estimated that 71% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the last year, including problems with health care, housing conditions, disability access, veterans’ benefits, and domestic violence. Left unaddressed, these issues represent a significant hurdle to overcome for those in recovery. In October of 2017, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland sought to address the legal barriers that negatively impact an individual’s health. They launched a medical/ legal partnership after receiving support from various local organizations, such as the Jones Day Foundation and Mount Sinai Healthcare Foundation to name a few. For today’s podcast, Greg met with Legal Aid attorneys Michael Russell and Jennifer Kinsley, as well as Dr. Albana Dreshaj Medical Director of St. Vincent Charity P

On October 24, 2018, President Trump signed The Support for Patients and Communities Act or H.R.6. into law. This podcast is the second part of our series on this historic piece of legislation. H.R.6 includes support for three successful programs we have featured on earlier podcasts in our series. On today’s show, we’ll revisit our ALTO, Lily’s Place and AnchorED programs to highlight how each of these successful programs got started and how they are making a difference in the opioid epidemic. On today’s podcast, you’ll hear how H.R.6 promotes the ALTO program, that’s alternatives to opioids, a program developed at St. Joseph Healthcare in Patterson New Jersey. 75% of patients at St. Joseph Healthcare have said their pain has been managed effectively without the use of opioids. Listen to excerpts from that episode on today’s podcast or go to the original podcast on ALTO with Dr. Rosenberg from December 2016 to hear more. We will also revisit our show on neonatal abstinence syndrome and Lily’s Place , an

On Tuesday, November 6th Ohio voters will decide State Issue 1, a ballot initiative that would reduce drug possession offenses to misdemeanors, so they’re no longer classified as felonies with harsher penalties. By most accounts, proponents and opponents are locked in a dead heat on this important issue. So, we decided to revisit our Issue 1 podcast (Ep. 211), stay tuned to the end of this podcast as Senator Portman weighs in on this important issue. One of the many issues that voters will be deciding on this fall is Ohio Issue 1. This issue reduces drug possession to a misdemeanor. Currently classified as a felony, this would significantly reduce sentencing and eliminate jail time in some instances. Some say this could keep 10,000 people out of Ohio prisons but opponents of Issue 1 say it would actually be close to half of that. Out-of-state billionaires are actually backing Issue 1, including Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. If Issue 1 passes, it will convert felony 4 and felony 5 drug posse

Ohio continues to have one of the largest death rates due to overdoses in all the US. Just last year, Franklin County had a 47% increase due to opioid abuse. This caused community leaders to come together and form the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance. Their research uncovered some shocking results. It concluded that most people are aware of the opioid epidemic but underestimate the risk to their families. Many parents have the “not my kid” mentality. Only 19% believe it can impact their family directly. This is one of the main reasons that people overlook preventative measures. Today Greg is joined by Chad Jester, President of Nationwide Insurance Foundation and Shawn Holt, President & CEO of Maryhaven, who together with other members of the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance developed a public awareness campaign to expose a common “not in my town” mindset that can devastate a community. By making people aware of how they can take action to make a difference in the opioid epidemic, these powerful PSAs created by

Recently, President Trump signed an opioid package into law called H.R.6. Today’s podcast will discuss what this means and will be the first episode of a two-part series that will break down H.R.6. Greg met with Jay Ruais, Chief of Staff and VP of Federal and National Initiatives for the Addiction Policy Forum and Braeden Kelly, Director of External Affairs. The two discuss what H.R.6 will do and how this can help combat the opioid crisis. One of the key points that H.R.6 will do is expand treatment capacity. Roughly 20 million people suffer from substance use disorders and about 10% of them will receive treatment. H.R.6 will help to establish evidence-based treatment centers to help those suffering. In addition to treatment capacity expansion, this bill will also allow Medicaid to cover up to 30 days of treatment as well as expand telehealth services. Listen for more initiatives this legislation will add and how it can help curb the opioid epidemic and ensure victims of the disease get the support and trea

The lifestyle of the music industry has proven deadly for so many people over the years. Wikipedia lists the names of over 100 pop artists who have lost their lives to overdose since the 60s. Greg’s guest today knows the story all too well having been the lead guitarist for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts during their hey-day. Ricky Byrd was living the life of a rock star until he almost lost his life and decided it was time to get clean. Today, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inductee Ricky Byrd has been clean and sober for thirty one years. Over the last few years Ricky realized he could combine his music and recovery to create songs that are useful to people struggling with addiction. The result is Clean Getaway, both the name of a 501(c)(3) non-profit Ricky founded to reach addicts through the connective power of music, AND a brand new album of songs related to his experience with addiction and recovery. Ricky talks with Greg about his brush with death, recovery and using his platform to give back and help ot

One of the many issues that voters will be deciding on this fall is Ohio Issue 1. This issue reduces drug possession to a misdemeanor. Currently classified as a felony, this would significantly reduce sentencing and eliminate jail time in some instances. Some say this could keep 10,000 people out of Ohio prisons but opponents of Issue 1 say it would actually be close to half of that. Out-of-state billionaires are actually backing Issue 1, including Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. If Issue 1 passes, it will convert felony 4 and felony 5 drug possession and drug use crimes to only misdemeanors. No jail time will be served for first and second offenders within a 24-month period. It will put the money saved from the lower prison numbers into treatment programs and crime victim programs as well. To help us unpack the many controversies behind Issue 1, we welcome Judge David Matia, Common Pleas Judge from Cleveland, Tom Stuber, CEO of the LCADA Wellness & Recovery Way and Bishara Addison, Senior Ma

There have now been over 1,300 opioid lawsuits filed by states, cities, countries, Native American tribes and labor unions throughout our country. The New York Times said resolving these lawsuits could be the most daunting legal challenge our nation has faced. Last December all the opioid cases filed in federal court across the country were consolidated into what’s called multidistrict litigation or an MDL, to be presided over by a single judge in Cleveland, Ohio and his name is Judge Dan Polster. Today’s podcast features excerpts of community forum where Judge Polster spoke at the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program. He discusses the challenges of assigning responsibility and calculating damages. If cases are not settled under the MDL, they go back to their districts of origin. If a settlement is reached, the money goes towards funding recovery and to help communities offset the millions of dollars expended fighting the opioid crisis across our country. Tune in to this podcast to learn how settlement in these

Stanford University researchers developed a mathematical model that could help public health officials and policymakers decrease the effects of the opioid epidemic, which took the lives of roughly 49,000 Americans in 2017. The model includes data about addictions, prescriptions and overdoses in the United States which can be used for “what if” scenarios similar to those that business leaders run through to project how changing product features or prices affect sales and profits, said Margaret Brandeau, PhD, the Coleman F. Fung Professor in the School of Engineering and a professor of management science and engineering who worked on the study. The paper cites the hard facts of the opioid crisis: Between 1990 and 2010, there was a 400 percent spike in prescriptions for opioid painkillers. Today, roughly 3.5 million Americans suffer from an addiction to opioids as a result of being exposed to opioid pills. Yet, as doctors have begun responding to the crisis by reducing prescriptions, overdose deaths have incr

Treatment for addiction and rehabilitation is currently a $35 billion dollar industry and continues to climb. There are many honest and reputable organizations out there, but some are unfortunately often seeking personal gain from individuals who are in crisis. They exploit those seeking treatment with addiction treatment scams and those suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) when people are most vulnerable. For today’s podcast, Greg met with Dan Sevigny, Mental Health Coach, and Co-Founder of Recovery X. This is an organization dedicated to providing people reliable treatment options and connecting them to the appropriate facilities based on their own specific needs. Recovery X is actually a growing movement of experts, thought leaders and even those in recovery themselves. These individuals are dedicated to providing high-quality resources to those who are fighting addiction and paving the way for a model organization.

The opioid epidemic has devastated our country claiming many loved ones along the way. Back in November of 2017, Bill Sternberg, USA Today editorial page Editor, lost his son Scott to an overdose. Through his grief, Bill decided to share Scott’s story in an attempt to help spread awareness and possibly help others struggling with this disease. Scott was prescribed a 30-day prescription for opioids coming off an emergency surgical procedure. Although it was considered common practice, this is, unfortunately many people’s introduction to opioids and can often start them down the path of addiction. Scott, like many others, lost his battle with opioids shortly after. Greg joins Bill as the two of them discuss many of the obstacles that people face when battling this disease. One of the largest hurdles is to break the stigma behind addiction and avoiding dangerous clichés, such as “hitting rock bottom.” Hear Greg and Bill discuss how the epidemic has evolved and various steps our country has taken to combat th