The Heat: U.S. Opioid Epidemic

The Heat

Featured Video Play Icon

The U.S. is still in a battle against the coronavirus pandemic, but a different medical crisis is capturing headlines this week. More than 100-thousand Americans died of drug overdoses between May of 2020 and April 2021… marking the first time that drug-related deaths surpassed six figures in a 12-month period.

Opioids have garnered a lot of attention over the last couple of years. The question is how can the U.S. overcome this deadly situation?

CGTN’s Owen Fairclough takes a look.

Joining the discussion:

  • Keith Humphreys is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Section Director for Mental Health Policy at Stanford University.
  • David Gastfriend is the chief medical officer of DynamiCare Health.
  • Mike Vigil is the former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug.
  • Georges C. Benjamin is the executive director of the American Public Health Association.