HealthConnections: Opioid Overdose Death Epidemic

The U.S. government does not track overdose death rates for every drug, but it does for opioids. Opioid overdose deaths include prescription opioids, both natural and semi-synthetic opioid drugs, and non-prescription opioids. Examples include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and other drugs. Heroin is a non-prescription opioid. Synthetic opioids include methadone and fentanyl, both available via prescription. A key point is that fentanyl is made and used illegally.
Dr. Carole Myers of the University of Tennessee College of Nursing speaks with Dr. Jennifer Tourville, Executive Director of the SMART Initiative, which provides leadership in mitigating the opioid crisis in Tennessee and is an agency of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.