The Opioid Epidemic Was Even Worse Than You Were Told
The Opioid Epidemic Was Even Worse Than You Were Told
"A lot of cases during COVID got blamed on COVID that we know, for a fact, were overdose cases."
This week, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Kristin Martin, an accomplished osteopathic physician with extensive experience in emergency medicine, family medicine, and (more importantly for our purposes) addiction medicine.
We covered a lot of ground (watch the whole thing, here), but I wanted to share a few things that really stood out to me.
When talking about the stigma associated with drug usage, Dr. Martin told me that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of overdose cases were intentionally misdiagnosed as COVID-19 deaths…
I can totally understand why a family member would prefer for their loved one to be officially classified as having died from COVID, as opposed to a drug overdose (or fentanyl poisoning). There shouldn’t be a stigma… but there is.
But consider the ramifications.
This practice (which, no doubt, was common across America) didn’t just mess up our perception regarding the lethality of COVID, it also skewed our sense of how dangerous opioids are.
Granted, we have long known that opioids are a serious problem. But policy decisions (such as funding) are usually determined by data. And when coroners mislabel the cause of death — even for ostensibly noble reasons — they guarantee that policy makers are getting a distorted view of reality.
It’s possible that some people have died from opioids who might have been saved if we had fully realized the severity of the opioid epidemic. This is very serious.
… Dr. Martin also shared this story about the dangers of fentanyl poisoning, via vaping:
Note: As was the case with transdermal exposure (fentanyl poisoning, via contact with skin), there are credible voices on both sides of this issue. You can find, for example, people who say that the notion that vaping has led to fentanyl poisoning is a myth.
I’m going to keep trying to get to the bottom of these disputes. Regardless, my best advice is to exercise caution and err on the side of safety.
Lastly, I wanted to end with this positive story from Dr. Martin:
… I just love that quote: “Don’t give up before the miracle happens.”
News Roundup …
MISSISSIPPI: AG Fitch Sues TikTok for Targeting Children with Its “Addiction Machine”
ASSOCIATED PRESS: Walmart reaches settlement deal for shareholder lawsuits over its handling of opioids
BLOOMBERG: A Fentanyl Vaccine Is a Long Shot That Just Might Work
NEW YORK: Need Narcan? Onondaga County will mail its residents a box for free
NPR: Ozempic shows promise for treating alcohol and drug abuse, study finds
STUDY: Narcan Use by Laypersons Rose 43% from 2020 to 2022, Study Finds
TEXAS: 'It could save someone’s life': UTA's Narcan Cabinets Provide Free, Accessible Naloxone
AJMC: The Opioid Epidemic Continues While Effective Medication Is Underutilized
ARIZONA: American Woman Saved (Using Narcan) by Border Authorities Amid Opioid Overdose
WASHINGTON: The newest weapon in fight against fentanyl has four legs and a snout
GEORGIA: Suspected Fentanyl-Laced Pills Disguised As Oxycodone Delivered to GA Home
OHIO: Ohio State Study Shows Narcan Use Up But Could Be Better
COLORADO: Colorado's Naloxone Fund Is Drying Up, Even As Opioid Settlement Money Rolls In
WEST VIRGINIA: White Hall Police Get New Fentanyl-Detecting Police K-9
CALIFORNIA: 2 Charged in Fentanyl Death of Toddler
ALABAMA: Man Sentenced for Poisoning Auburn Teenager with Fentanyl in 2021
NEW YORK: Man Whose Fentanyl Stash Killed Child at DayCare Gets 45-Year Sentence
UTAH: With a Record Number of Utahns Dying from Overdoses, State Announces New Fentanyl Task Force
NEW JERSEY: County Puts Free 'Narcan' Kiosks in Woodbridge, New Brunswick
Appalachians continue to lose the war on drugs
Back in July, I wrote an op-ed for West Virginia newspapers, titled: “Don’t Squander Opportunity With Opioid Settlement Funds.”
Sadly, according to Tasha Withrow, co-founder of Project Mayday, some communities in West Virginia are doing just that. As she notes:
The opioid settlement money was supposed to be used for substance use treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or supporting law enforcement in anti-drug measures. However, a look at recent city council and county commission meetings is showing us that the funds are not always going where they should.
In Jackson County, West Virginia, for example, the county commission voted to spend $566,000 for a law enforcement training center, which included $300,000 for a new shooting range. Is law enforcement planning to use force against people who use drugs in Jackson County? Why else would they need a new shooting range? What does this have to do with the overdose crisis?
Furthermore, in Wheeling, the city council approved $584,000 for law enforcement — including the purchase of ATVs to better hunt down unhoused people who use drugs. Neither Jackson or Ohio County has approved that level of funding for recovery or prevention efforts yet seeing as how Jackson County gave a measly $35,000 to the local Quick Response Team…
It makes sense that cash-strapped communities would want to take the settlement money and use it to plug holes in their budget, or to simply fund different (in some cases, worthy) projects.
But settlement money should largely be going toward things like education, treatment, prevention, saving lives, etc.
Make no mistake: This is not unique to West Virginia. States all across America will receive opioid settlement money, and many have (or will be) prone to the same temptation. It’s vital that we keep a close eye on this.
Lastly …
I’ve got some great podcast guests lined up, so pleas stay tuned. In the meantime, check out past episodes of the podcast, including conversations with:
Journalist Ben Westhoff, the author of 'Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic.'
Tony Mattivi, Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), shares his insights and experience.
Rolling Stone senior writer Paul Solotaroff who authored a piece called “Inside Snapchat's Teen Opioid Crisis.”
Former Army Intelligence officer Dale King, who uses CrossFit to treat addicts.
Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple. And please tell a friend.
Together, we can stop the poisoning!