This is not the first time we've discussed opioid addiction in Tennessee. It won't be the last. The subject gets lots of attention from reporters, elected officials, medical professionals, law enforcement and the public. In this edition of HealthConnections, we zoom out a bit to explore the contours of opioid abuse from a basic level. University of Tennessee College of Nursing professor Dr. Carole Myers interviews Karen Pershing, executive director of the Metro Drug Coalition.
Together, Dr. Myers and Ms. Pershing discuss the recent history of opioid prescriptions, the methods Tennessee has employed to combat the problem, and the effectiveness of policy to address addiction.