Improving Lives and Communities Affected by the Opioid Crisis
Opioid overdose deaths have risen steadily for two decades, and now are a leading cause of death in the United States. Stunningly, 42% of American adults know someone who died from an overdose. In the face of an unrelenting epidemic, this presentation will directly address grief, and how to make our work meaningful.
The presentation will briefly trace the origins, social determinants, and long-term projections of the crisis, separating fact from fiction. Then, the presentation will highlight innovative approaches to addressing the challenges. In particular, it will focus on what Prof. Dasgupta’s team has learned from monitoring the nation’s drug supply. The lab has analyzed over 4500 illicit street drug samples over the last two years, creating a comprehensive and timely view of the rapidly changing drug supply. The session will demonstrate how the lab links chemical analyses to medical and public health practice, providing timely information to practitioners and the public. This approach has uncovered surprising new discoveries about how opioids work in the brain and emerging drugs of concern.
Emphasis will be placed on the role that individuals have in the public health response. While governments have a role to play in setting policy and funding, findings suggest that empowerment of individuals and the private sector needs to be at the core of future responses.