Jeffrey Bratberg, Pharm.D., BCPS - Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Rhode Island talks with us about the opioid overdose crisis - it's causes and potential solutions.
Key Lessons
- The causes of the opioid overdose crisis are multifactorial but rooted in hopeless and despair
- Illicitly obtained synthetic opioids are very potent and the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths today
- Opioid use disorder is a brain disease and all patients deserve compassionate care
- The response to the opioid overdose crisis (to date) has been anemic due to societal stigma and unconscious bias
- Supply-side solutions (e.g. prescription drug monitoring programs) to the problem may seem helpful but have unintended consequences
- Naloxone should be widely available and all health professionals should carry it
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