Main content

Addicted

America is addicted to painkillers and tens of thousands of people are dying of overdoses.

The US opioid epidemic is a major public health crisis that has affected many communities across the United States. We鈥檒l hear from an expert in addiction psychiatry who thinks that doctors bear much of the blame.

Also: What do you do if opioid drugs don't stop the pain? Acupuncture may be the answer; We look at how supervised injection is already saving the lives of heroin users; the Toronto police department launched a social media campaign, reminding people that marijuana is legal in Canada and not a cause for emergency calls; the US and Mexico join forces to crack down on the illicit drug trade; and the story of Steve Hupp's transformation from bank robber to shaman.

(Boston Calling producer Daniel Ofman stands next to a bus stop advertisement of Naloxone, a nasal spray that can counteract and potentially save someone from an opioid overdose. Credit: Diego Lopez/The World)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2018 09:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 22 Dec 2018 22:32GMT
  • Sun 23 Dec 2018 04:32GMT
  • Sun 23 Dec 2018 12:32GMT
  • Christmas Eve 2018 09:32GMT

Free Download

Subscribe to receive every episode automatically

Boston Calling Clips

Big stories, short listens - highlights from Boston Calling

Podcast