Cover2 Resources

In June of 2016, we sat down with Dr. Tom Gilson, the nationally known medical examiner from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Hoping it might inform and help others, Dr. Gilson reviewed Sam McNeil’s report from the medical examiner of Palm Beach County. Today, we revisit that discussion and uncover how some communities, such as the Baltimore Department of Health, are studying overdose victims to discover new prevention strategies to impede the opioid epidemic. Also joining us today is Brittney Spencer, the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Coordinator for the Maryland Department of Health. Ms. Spencer and her team have been fighting the opioid epidemic since 2014, researching the autopsy reports, treatment admission reports, police reports, and medical records of overdose victims to identify missed opportunities for prevention. This research helps the OFR collaborate with stakeholders to develop new programs for overdose prevention. These programs save lives and prevent substance use disorder in the future. The O

In our three-part series with American Overdose author, Chris McGreal, we took an in-depth look at some of the policies and practices of the FDA that helped lead to our nation’s worst health crisis in history. During the series, I spoke with the former chair of the FDA advisory committee, who’s role is to review and advise on drugs under consideration for approval by the FDA. I was surprised by his responses to my questions, rejecting the notion that mistakes were made, despite the number of deaths the opioids approved during his tenure caused. My take away from this interview was that the FDA is stuck in an inflexible mindset, and has made no attempt to rectify the impact the opioid crisis has had on our country over the last twenty years. Unsettled, I decided to dig a little deeper to find out if my impressions were representative of the today’s FDA. To help me answer that question is Dr. Raeford Brown, who for the last five years has been the chair of the FDA’s anesthetic and analgesic drug products advi

When award-winning author Chris McGreal sat down to write American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts, he wanted to answer two questions. The first: How could the opioid crisis go on for nearly 20 years before it reached public awareness? The second: Why did the opioid crisis happen in America, and nowhere else in the world? We uncover the answers to these questions and more, as we conclude our series on American Overdose. Joining us today alongside author Chris McGreal are Congressman Hal Rodgers, and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Tom Frieden. Congressmen Rogers introduces us to Operation UNITE, Kentucky’s response to the opioid epidemic and Dr. Frieden reveals how the CDC sounded the alarm over the opioid crisis, while the rest of our government neglected to act. What does this mean for the future of America, it’s policies and politics? How can we reform the medical industry? Is the end of the opioid crisis in sight? Listen to today’s podcast for the

To many, how and why the opioid epidemic came about remains a mystery. How did these dangerous and addictive substances earn approval for distribution? Why were these drugs approved if they were clearly so addictive and dangerous? Why has our legal system taken so long to react to a crisis that began in the early 2000s? We continue uncovering the answers to those questions in the second episode in our three-part series on American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts, with award-winning author Chris McGreal. Together, we uncover the extent of the pharmaceutical industry’s influence over the FDA, the drug approval process, and Congress. With special commentary from the former chair of the FDA advisory committee, Dr. Nathaniel Katz, former California Congresswoman Mary Bono, the former attorney general of West Virginia Judge Darrell McGraw, and Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers, we walkthrough congress’ early actions against deceptive pharmaceutical practices, as our nation’s worst health crisis emerged.

The Opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history, claiming over 350,000 lives since 1999. While many people have an idea of what caused the opioid crisis, few understand the why and how. For example, how did a tragedy that started 20 years ago, only start gaining attention in 2017? How was the greatest drug crisis in American history allowed to go virtually unchecked for nearly two decades? Why is there still no end in sight? To help answer these questions and more, today we’re joined by the award-winning author of American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts, Chris McGreal. Together, in our first episode of a three-part series, we discuss the origin of the opioid epidemic, the negligent policies that allowed Big Pharma to profit from the suffering of patients, and new evidence on the FDA’s complicity in driving the mass over-prescription of opioids. Listen to today’s podcast for Part 1 of our American Overdose discussion, with bestselling author Chris McGreal. To follow along

Many people that view addiction from the outside don’t understand the struggle addicts go through and can’t appreciate how addiction impacts their families. To educate people from that perspective, the new documentary, Heroin’s Grip, features the families of Frederick County Maryland, whose lives were transformed by addiction and the opioid epidemic. Joining us today for a prerelease, behind the scenes, look at his film, is Heroin’s Grip director Conrad Weaver. A filmmaker by trade, Conrad was touched by the stories he experienced surrounding the opioid crisis in his community and was inspired to act. His documentary exposes the real, emotional stories, of several families whose lives have been forever altered by opioid addiction. Due to cultural stigma, we often push away people who are struggling with addiction when we should be offering support. Conrad hopes to use Heroin’s Grip as an educational tool and a rallying cry for communities across the country, that addiction isn’t someone else’s problem, it’

In March of 2019 the Center on Addiction, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting families struggling with substance use and addiction, published Uncovering Coverage Gaps II: A Review of Addiction Benefits in ACA Plans. A follow up to their 2016 report of the same name, this new report reviews and compares the addiction benefits in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans for all 50 states. This most recent report was an eye-opener, both for what coverage was available through the state plans, but even more so, what was omitted. Here to further our understanding of the 2019 report, is the Center on Addiction health law and policy director, Lindsey Vuolo. Lindsey is the research lead on the adequacy of SUD benefits offered in the ACA health plans, an expert on federal and state responses to the opioid crisis, and author of (Ending the Opioid Crisis: A Practical Guide for State Policymakers). Drawing on her extensive experience in legal, regulatory, and policy work related to addiction prevention and t

The opioid epidemic has taken a deep toll on families throughout Appalachia. In Tennessee alone, over 1,631 people, (more than five per day), died from a drug overdose in 2016. To respond to such a massive loss of life, Tennessee state leaders developed a special program to unite faith-based communities and take coordinated action against substance abuse. Faith communities have a long history in the struggle against substance abuse. By working together and building a Faith-Based Recovery Network, not only can the state of Tennessee provide educated, welcoming, and supportive places for individuals struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), but also, they can increase outreach, and build more pathways to recovery. Dr. Monty Burks, is the leader of Tennessee’s Faith-Based Recovery Network, and State Director of Special Projects and Faith-Based Initiatives. Fresh off his speech from the National Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, Dr. Burks shares his insight into this program’s collaboration with Faith-based commu

While there are many high-quality treatment centers, organizations, and programs for people struggling with opioid addiction, their families often lack the same resources. Opioid use changes the lives of the addict’s family as well as the addict, and many families don’t know what to do when a loved one is faced with opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is a battle for everyone involved, and without proper guidance, adjusting to this change can be its own challenge. To help families become a positive force in their loved one’s struggle with opioid addiction, joining us today is Roy Poillon. Founder of R~House Alzheimer’s Family Learning Center and Families Impacted by Opioids, his mission is to empower families in their journey to support a loved one struggling with substance use disorder. This May 4th, through his Addiction Family Empowerment Conference, Roy is channeling his veteran experience in aiding families with Alzheimer’s, to empower the families of Opioid addicts by providing them with the therapy,

On March 26, 2019, the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, a high-profile figure in the Opioid Epidemic, agreed to a $270 Million Opioid Settlement with the State of Oklahoma. The money from this settlement will fund a national addiction research and treatment center in Oklahoma. This is a unique case for several reasons. First, Oklahoma Attorney general Mike Hunter had originally sought $20 Billion in damages. Second, this is the first of more than 1,600 cases against Purdue to settle. Third, the settlement occurred one day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Purdue’s request to delay the trial from its May 28th start date, and the judge had ruled that the trial could be televised. There’s a lot of subtext in a case like this, and it can be difficult to understand the intent behind each parties’ actions. With the help of legal authority Andrew Pollis, Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, we unravel the deeper meaning behind this key settlement in our struggle against the op

Pharmaceutical companies spend billions annually on influencing physicians and other pharmaceutical providers, to write more prescriptions for their products. For most companies, the majority of their marketing budget is dedicated to direct contact with doctors, offering token gifts and free lunches, in tandem with information on their products. Many aspiring medical practitioners and physicians are unaware of the impact this can have on their practice and their patients, with recent studies revealing the full extent of this influence. Fortunately, there are those dedicated to preparing today’s students on where to draw the line when pharmaceutical reps come calling. Today, we talk with Dr. Elizabeth Gundersen, the Director of Ethics at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. An expert on physicians’ vulnerability to the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Gundersen’s ethics class helps prepare students for ethical challenges they face as future as practicing physicians. Listen to today’s podcast for

Each year, thousands of people from across the country go to Florida seeking treatment for drug addiction. Some find help and recover, but the vast majority relapse and continue to struggle with the disease, even after going through treatment many times. This population is vulnerable to insurance fraud through cooked treatment centers partnering with “body brokers” and operations of “sober homes” to find patients with good health insurance. Brokers and sober home owners offer those trying to get clean, free rent and grocery store gift cards, cigarettes and cell phones in exchange for going to a specific treatment center, which pays kickbacks for each client. Today, we’ll talk with Filmmaker Pat McGee, the Producer of “American Relapse,” a story about two people fighting to make a difference against the devastating heroin epidemic that’s spawning a billion-dollar treatment industry. Against the odds, two recovering addicts spend their lives pulling needles out of the arms of addicts and assist in placing them

Over 130 people die each day after overdosing on opioids in America. The abuse of and addiction to opioids is a national crisis that has touched the lives of more families than any other health crisis in our history. Today, more families are finding the courage to speak out in support of prevention and recovery than ever before. But that hasn’t always been the case. Ten years ago, speaking out about a family member’s struggles with heroin addiction was almost unheard of. On this episode, we’ll talk to a school counselor from Texas who did just that. Beginning 10 years ago, Dr. Kendall Young’s life took a dramatic turn both personally and professionally. In this podcast, the Tivy High School Counselor, from Kerrville, Texas joins us to share how her life changed in an instant when she learned a former student lost his life in a deadly confrontation with police officers in 2009. Next, still reeling from the loss of a former student, she learns her son is battling heroin addiction. We’ll talk about how the adve

It’s estimated that one hundred and seventy-five people die from opioid overdoses daily in our country. Naloxone can save lives, if there when needed, but the window of time is very short. Brain damage is likely if help doesn’t arrive within four to six minutes of an overdose; and most victims do not survive more than ten minutes. A recent review of EMS records from 485 agencies across the United States showed average response times of seven-minutes in urban settings compared to 14 minutes in rural settings. On today’s show, we’ll talk about combining three programs to make naloxone more readily available as a community initiative to help those who have overdosed. Most of our listeners are probably aware of Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone). We introduced Project DAWN to our listeners in episode 10. The Program, which launched 2013 in Ohio, provides Naloxone Training and DAWN Kits containing a free sample of Naloxone and instructions to anyone in the community who attends the 30-minute training. W

In our last episode of this series, we learned how passage of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act took away the DEA’s most effective diversion control enforcement tool, the immediate suspension order. The bill was shaped in large part by a former DEA lawyer. On this episode, you’ll hear more stories about Congressman and high ranking government agency officials who have played key roles in deciding the fate of drug bills and policies; and weeks later went to work in the pharmaceutical industry. 24 years ago, the medical director for the FDA played a key role in approving OxyContin without clinical trials and shortly thereafter, left to go to work for Purdue Pharma. In this podcast you’ll hear a clip from “The Sentence that Helped Set Off the Opioid Crisis” a podcast by Caitlin Esch and Krissy Clark in their “Uncertain Marketplace” series that frames a key reason why OxyContin was approved by the FDA and the people involved in that decision. Back in 2007, a member of Congress led

When a key member of the government’s legal team went to work for the pharmaceutical industry, the job of diversion control enforcement changed dramatically. In this episode, Mr. Joseph Rannazzisi, who for over a decade, was the front man in the government’s battle against the opioid epidemic, shares a first-hand account of what happened when Congress took the word of an industry attorney over an agency that was actually enforcing the law. Today, in the third part of our 4-part series, you’ll hear more of Mr. Rannazzisi’s unfiltered comments on the passage of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Enforcement Act and the Congressional leaders behind it. “This doesn’t ensure patient access and it doesn’t help drug enforcement at all. What this bill does has nothing to do with the medical process. What this bill does is take away DEA’s ability to go after a pharmacist, a wholesaler, manufacturer or distributor,” he said. “This was a gift. A gift to the industry.” Greg is joined on this episode by guest,

This is the 2nd in our 4 part series with the former head of the Office of Diversion Control for the DEA, Mr. Joseph Rannazzisi. We began this series by talking about the surprisingly candid report released on December 19th, 2018 by the Energy and Commerce Committee titled “Red Flags and Warning Signs Ignored: Opioid Distribution and Enforcement Concerns in West Virginia”. The purpose of the report was to investigate allegations of “opioid dumping” in West Virginia. In today’s podcast with Mr. Rannazzisi, who for over a decade was the front man in the government’s battle against the opioid epidemic, you’ll hear an in-depth conversation about how the diversion controls, that were supposed to be in place to protect the public from “opioid dumping”, failed in epic proportions. He gives a candid account of the friction and distrust that emerged between DEA and the DOJ that resulted in a breakdown in their ability to protect the American public from shipments of mass quantities of opioids, previously flagged as s

On December 19th, 2018, the Energy and Commerce Committee released a long awaited report titled “Red Flags and Warning Signs Ignored: Opioid Distribution and Enforcement Concerns in West Virginia”. The purpose of the report was to investigate allegations of “opioid dumping” in West Virginia. Today, we begin a 4-part series with Joseph Rannazzisi, who for over a decade, was the front man in the government’s battle against the opioid epidemic. Mr. Rannazzisi provides in-depth commentary on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s eye opening report, which, notably, is no longer available on the department’s website. Prior to the passage of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act in 2016, Mr. Rannazzisi warned congress that passage of the bill would cripple their ability to regulate rogue distributors who were dumping millions of opioids across the country. Today, you’ll hear Mr. Rannazzisi’s unfiltered comments on this game-changing piece of legislation. As head of the Office of Diversio

We frame today’s podcast with Palm Beach Post reporters, John Pacenti and Pat Beall with a clip from the Insys Therapeutics rap video on the virtues of persuading doctors to prescribe higher doses of the company’s liquid opioid, Subsys. This week jurors in the Insys racketeering case in Boston heard the following lyrics from the company’s self-produced video; “I love titration. Yeah, it’s not a problem. I got new patients and I got a lot of ‘em”. That may be the most damning evidence against former executives of the company yet. In this second part of our series, we continue our conversation on the deceptive sales practices pioneered by Purdue Pharma more than 20 years ago, and perpetuated by others in the industry. In 2007, Purdue Pharma executives pled guilty to misbranding and deceptive marketing but the charges were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors and they were sentenced to just 300 hours of community service, thanks in part to Rudy Giuliani. In January, the trial began for former executives of Ins

Back in January, the pharmaceutical trial of Insys Therapeutics and company founder, John Kapoor faced charges of racketeering. Allegedly, he and six former sales directors operated a scheme which paid bribes to physicians to prescribe the fentanyl spray SUBSYS, a high-powered opioid pain medication. Between 2012-2016, approximately 908 people overdosed and died due as a result of SUBSYS. Unfortunately, this tale is all too familiar for some. Back in 2007, Perdue Pharma pled guilty to these same sales practices and yet, little has been done to prevent future cases. Many companies, such as Insys Therapeutics are using this same questionable marketing today. Greg recently met with John Pacenti and Pat Beall to discuss more on this story and how years later, many pharmaceutical companies are still using these age-old tactics to push dangerous prescriptions. Hear more on today’s podcast.