International Overdose Awareness Day is Wednesday and Dr. Bonnie Milas, Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine for the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Dr. Patti Anewalt, Director of Pathways Center for Grief & Loss joined us on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to spread awareness of the drug overdose epidemic and provide resources that for victims and families.
More than 107,000 people died of drug overdoses in the U.S. last year
Such programs already operate in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton.
The COVID-19 public health response “just spun everything out of control,” for those at risk of opioid abuse
By Merideth Bucher The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the overdose epidemic, as lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get, experts said.
The ability to charge fines or fees could weed out bad actors and prevent ongoing harm, experts say, but there’s already pushback from the provider industry.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA 
