(Listening live, but the recorded version will be available later today.)
The CDC’s New Guidelines On Prescribing Opioid Painkillers
The Centers for Disease Control this week issued the first national guidelines on prescribing opioids. Abuse of these powerfully addictive painkillers has become a public health crisis. More than 40 Americans die every day from overdoses related to prescription opioids. And the drugs have fueled a nationwide heroin epidemic. Congress and some states are attempting to address the crisis through legislation. The non-binding CDC guidelines were welcomed by many in the medical community as a step in the right direction. But addiction specialists say more needs to be done. Join our discussion on efforts to stem the abuse of prescription painkillers.
Guests
Dr. Debbie Dowell senior medical officer, special adviser Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention (DUIP), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control; lead author on the CDC's opioid guidelines
Dr. Andrew Kolodny chief medical officer, Phoenix House Foundation; senior scientist, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University; executive director, Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
Peggy Compton professor and associate dean for research, evaluation and graduate programs at Georgetown University's School of Nursing and Health Studies
Karoun Demirjian reporter, The Washington Post