Understanding Opiates: A Deep Dive with Drs. Olsen and Sharfstein
It's time to stop thinking about addiction as a moral failure and start addressing it as a chronic medical disease of the brain. When you do that, there is very much reason for hope.
Imagine facing a crisis that affects millions but is still shrouded in myths and misconceptions. That's the reality of the opiate epidemic. In this episode of 'The Beyond Addiction Show', host Dr. Josh King teams up with experts Drs. Yngvild Olsen and Josh Sharfstein to clear the fog around opiates and addiction. Dr. Olsen and Dr.
Sharfstein, authors of 'The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know', bring their vast knowledge to the table, discussing everything from the origins of the crisis to practical solutions for treatment and recovery. They emphasize that addiction is a chronic medical condition, not a moral failing, and highlight the effectiveness of FDA-approved medications in treating opiate addiction. The conversation also delves into how the criminal justice system can better handle addiction cases, aiming to reduce harm and save lives.
The takeaway? Hope and recovery are very much within reach when we approach addiction with compassion and science. Tune in to gain a clearer understanding of opiates and learn how we can collectively tackle this pressing issue.