America’s silent killer: the opioid addiction crisis (ex-congressman Patrick Kennedy) E982

On this episode of Going Underground we speak to Patrick Kennedy, a former Congressman who is a nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy. He discusses the US opioid & drug-addiction crisis, how the coronavirus stole the number one priority spot that took years for the opioid addiction crisis to attain, why Donald Trump did little to alleviate the opioid crisis despite much fanfare during his presidency, why the public health infrastructure built after the pandemic must also be able to deal with mental health and addiction problems, how the administration of President Joe Biden will approach the crisis, and much more!

We contacted the US Food and Drug Administration about the allegations in this show and they sent us this on-the-record response:

“Addressing the opioid crisis is an issue of great concern for our nation and remains a top public health priority for the FDA. The agency continues to take new steps to confront this crisis, while also giving careful consideration to patients who need access to pain management therapies who will use those therapies appropriately. Above all, our goal has been to ensure product approval and removal decisions are science-based. The agency’s benefit-risk framework considers not only the outcomes of prescription opioids when used as prescribed but also the public health effects of inappropriate use.  By applying the available science and using available regulatory authorities, the FDA has continuously worked to warn healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders about the risks associated with the inappropriate prescribing and use of analgesic medications, including opioid analgesics.”

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