1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Steffon. 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: Never told your protection of I heartradious house to Parks. 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: Today we're taking on a serious topic, so we wanted 4 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: to put the trigger warnings right at the front um 5 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: because we're talking about the opioid crisis. So drug use, overdose, addiction, 6 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: and death. And this is something that's been on my 7 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: mind a lot lately. UM. I have had two relatives 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: almost die from overdose and a close family member of 9 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: mine is currently in the hospital in a coma from 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: an overdose. UM and today is this his birthday? So yeah, 11 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: it feels weird double damn. Yeah. Yeah. Right before my 12 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: dad died, my mom she lost a packet of oxy 13 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: codon I think, and the nurse said that they would 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: have to be a police investigation because of that. It's 15 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 1: a felony level. Yeah, and she was so so scared 16 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: and so stressed about it. So it is a big 17 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: It's impacting a lot of people I know, and that's 18 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: in fact for me, my experience has come from my 19 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: day job. I've had several deaths among teens due to 20 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: the use of heroin and opiate usage such as like 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: fentonyl um. And statistically the death rate is highest for 22 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: the fifteen age group. UM. I don't mean in general, 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: just like if teenagers are dying, they're dying at the 24 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: ages of fifteen through nineteen. UM And from n sixteen, 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: the increase of team death due to opiate overdose rose 26 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: over three h right, and it's bigger and bigger every year. 27 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: And of course we have the whole conversation of access 28 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: versus costs versus all of the things. And this is 29 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: a lot to do with self medicating, which is a 30 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: whole different conversation in itself. But I've definitely had to 31 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: deal more and more and more with that recently, and 32 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: it's really hard ranking and just traumatic in itself. Yeah, 33 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: and for this episode, we did want to look at 34 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: women in particular and and things that we can do 35 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: about it. UM. I will say for me, I am 36 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: actually allergic to most opoids. I found out when I 37 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: got my wisdom teeth out. Yeah, so I guess lucky me. Um, Yeah, 38 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: I think I think overall after doing this research, lucky. Yeah. 39 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: It's definitely a huge thing. And no, UM, I typically 40 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: don't take those um because with my drugs wing even 41 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: though obviously if you have, you know, a prescription, it 42 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: won't matter. But I do get drug swaen with my 43 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: other job. That stuff UM causes a lot of havoc 44 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: and a lot of questions and a lot of different 45 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: things because people can. Obviously for the reason it's been overused, 46 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: and we'll talk more about that, it's because of the 47 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: level of being prescribed UM. And I know my mom, 48 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: because she has had to deal with back paint, gets 49 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: so scared of it because of the mirror feelings and 50 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: understanding of it, that he will count every pill and 51 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: then make sure to do halves of it like that's 52 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: and it's smart. Actually I'm the same way. I get 53 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: really nervous just about any kind of medication. I just 54 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: have this fear, which is kind of unfounded and kind 55 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: of not that I'll just magically be addicted to it. 56 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: So I understand your mom completely absolutely. A couple of 57 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: years ago, I interviewed a US representative who I believe 58 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: is still in the house UM, and when we stopped rolling, 59 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: he looked at me and he had this super serious 60 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: face and he said, with such urgency, your generation is 61 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: going to have to find a way to deal with 62 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: the repercussions of this crisis, like we weren't even talking 63 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: about it. But he's from I think he's from the state, 64 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: is it West Virginia. It's one of the biggest impacted states. 65 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: So it's obviously huge where he's from. And before we 66 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: get into all of this, I didn't want to say 67 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: at the top, chronic pain is difficult. Um don't want 68 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: to undermine the toll that that takes on someone, or 69 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: the difficulty of seeing someone in pain and providing individualized 70 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: treatment plans. That's that's hard. Around of Americans report experiencing 71 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: pain on a daily basis, and that's about twenty five 72 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: million people and double that live with chronic pain. So 73 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: it's a huge scale problem, like it is, and I 74 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: know it's under misdiagnosed often and and that's a problem 75 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: in itself. I'm not a doctor. I'm not in the 76 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: medical field, so I could never say how a doctor 77 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: or anybody in that fields should do their job. But 78 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: of course that there's been a lot of miscommunication and 79 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: misunderstanding between the patients and the and the physicians, and 80 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: that causes a lot of problems and trying to understand 81 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 1: what chronic pain even means. Right, all right, So let's 82 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: start with our kind of basics here. Opioids are drugs 83 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: that target specific receptors or the nervous system to minimize 84 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: the experience of pain. If used overall long period of time, 85 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: a patient or a person can develop a tolerance, meaning 86 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: that the same amount won't have the same effect, and 87 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: this might lead to taking more and more to achieve 88 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: that result that you had in the beginning, or or 89 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: withdrawal symptoms, and that can lead to overdose and death, 90 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: especially when combined with other drugs and prescriptions. Right, and 91 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: just to put it in a more layman's terms, I 92 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: don't know why I say that would be you know, 93 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: it's what you would understand is oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine. Um. 94 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: It's an opiates. So it derived from poppies. Yes, think 95 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: of the Wizard of Oz puppies. You gotta say it 96 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: that way. I always think of the poppy seed muffin 97 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 1: from Seinfeld. Yeah, and actually that I don't know how 98 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: much of a myth, but there has been some confusion 99 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: there has been about poppy seed muffins, but it does 100 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: derive from the poppies. Yes. In the United States, more 101 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: than thirty people die a day due to opioid related overdose. 102 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: In over forty two thousand Americans died from opioid overdose, 103 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: and of that and estimated of those opioids are prescribed. 104 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: From seventeen, over seven hundred and two hundred thousand people 105 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: have died because of opioid overdose. Two out of three 106 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: overdose deaths involved opioids. The number of deaths has increased 107 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: six times since the economic burden of the opioid crisis 108 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: is estimated to be seventy eight point five billion dollars, 109 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: and over of the people who use heroin first abused 110 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: opioids a gateway drug past opiod abuse is the strongest 111 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: risk factor to starting to use heroin. In twenty seventeen, 112 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: drug overdoses involving heroin accounting for fifteen thousand deaths, and 113 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: that's an increase of five times since two thousand ten. 114 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: That same year, enough prescriptions were handed out in sixteen 115 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: percent of US counties that every person residing in that 116 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: county could have a prescription. I remember the last time 117 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: I broke my foot. Um even though I specifically said 118 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: I'm allergic to opioids, is fine, I don't need them, 119 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: they gave me some like on the way out, they're like, 120 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: here's your prescription, and a friend of mine jokingly said 121 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: I should get it filled anyway and sell them, and 122 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: I just tore it up. But it's like I said 123 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: I didn't want any, they gave me some. I'm literally 124 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: I think we joked. I joked about it with a 125 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: friend and it's not funny and you shouldn't do it. 126 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: But about five years ago, we someone had a prescription 127 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: and you could sell a pill for fifty bucks one wow. Yeah, 128 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: that's don't do it though, do not do it, we 129 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: do not, please, because this is eight Once again, it's 130 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: a felony level crime. So this is not a petty 131 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: level crime. Just enough why I yes, important fhy And 132 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: it's estimated three point three billion over prescribed pills end 133 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: up going to nonintended users. And it's important to remember 134 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: not all overdoses result in depth. Someone who overdoses wants 135 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: is likely to do it again. Um, which is why 136 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: I prevented. An access to informed care is so crucial 137 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: after someone who has suffered an overdose ends up in 138 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: the hospital. Yeah, so how did we get here to 139 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: these all of these terrible statists dicks to answer that 140 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: we have to go back to the nine nines, which 141 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: you might have guessed because a lot of the statistics 142 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: seemed to start in the nineties. UM Pharmaceutical companies reassured 143 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: medical professionals that opioids posed no danger for addiction for patients, 144 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: and in response, these healthcare professionals started prescribing them at 145 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: higher rates. Before we knew how big a problem we 146 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: were creating or that we had a problem, even the 147 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: addiction was spreading to both prescription and non prescription opioids. 148 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: This has also led to the increase of babies born 149 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: experiencing withdrawal symptoms. In two seusand one the Food and 150 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: Drug Administration approved the use of oxycodon for quote daily, 151 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 1: around the clock long term use. In the f DA 152 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: passed up a chance to be more vocal about opioids, 153 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: but since has taken a more active role. While they 154 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: send the letters of warning to companies selling opioids online illegally, 155 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: they pretty much stopped there when they could use their 156 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: Office of Criminal Investigations. They have learned and progressed when 157 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: it comes to abuse to turn opioids like making a 158 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,119 Speaker 1: drug less potent when grown up. It's like a technology 159 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: that they've been looking into UM, but that's had mixed results. Right. 160 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: The rate of opiated prescription has been declining since two 161 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: thousand twelve, but the amount of prescribed more female agram 162 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: equivalence is three times higher than when it was in nine. 163 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: Out of one hundred Americans, fifty eight are prescribed opioids. 164 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: That's around three point four prescriptions per patient with a 165 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: daily m m E or as we were saying, more 166 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 1: female gram equivalence amount of forty five point three. The 167 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: number of days per prescription has been rising as well. 168 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: The average into eighteen days per prescription in two thousand seventeen. 169 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: At its peak in two thousand twelve, it was eighty 170 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: one point three prescriptions per one people. Wow. Yeah, that's 171 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: shockingly high. Analysts break down this crisis into three waves, 172 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: the first in the nineteen nineties with overdose deaths of 173 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: prescribed opioids on their eyes, and then the second death 174 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: due to heroin overdose skyrocketing UM. Some of the biggest 175 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: increases of you susage and abuse took place in demographics 176 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: with previously low rates of heroin use, like among women. 177 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: In seventeen, almost half a million people reported using heroin. 178 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: The third wave in UH. This one was marked with 179 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: an increase in death from synthetic opioids, especially illegally manufactured finnel. 180 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: It's fifty times more potent than heroin um. And when 181 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: it comes to stuff like fentnol um, contamination is a 182 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: growing problemse well, like different drugs exactly. The U s 183 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health 184 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: emergency in twenty seventeen and issued a five point strategy 185 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: to combat the opioid crisis. One improving access to treatment 186 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: and recovery services to promoting use of overdose reversing drugs. 187 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Three strengthening our understanding of the epidemic through better public 188 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: health surveillance. For providing support for cutting edge research on 189 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: pain and addiction, and five advancing better practices for pain management. 190 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: So this is a lot, a lot, and it's all 191 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: happening now, and there are so many things at play 192 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: in it um it's really hard to isolate it into 193 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: one thing. But we did want to look at women specifically. 194 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: But first we're gonna pause for a quick break for 195 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: word from a sponsor, and we're back, Thank you, sponsor. 196 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 1: So we did want to take a moment to focus 197 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: specifically on women because the impact on women in many 198 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: ways is greater, and it's an indicator of so many 199 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: other societal problems. Like we were saying, right from Health 200 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: Resources and Services Administration Deputy Administrator Bride Declaire, women are 201 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: experiencing increases of use and overdose from opiates at a 202 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 1: faster rate than men. And if you slice the demographic 203 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: pie even more narrowly, the picture doesn't look at a 204 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: lot better. The opioid used to sort of crisis affects 205 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: women across all age groups, all racial groups, and all ethnicities, 206 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: all geographical quarters of America, and all the socioeconomic status levels. 207 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: Of the prescribed opioids in the US, women received two 208 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: thirds of them. There's an argument to be made that 209 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: this has related to the fact that women are more 210 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: frequently dismissed, misdiagnosed, and or not believed, and opioids are 211 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: a quick, easy way to treat the symptoms without ever 212 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: getting to the root of the problem. The whole time 213 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: I was researching this episode, I kept thinking of the 214 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: one we did about how UM women not being believed 215 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: when they go right to get treatment. UM These doses 216 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: are on average higher than what are given to men. 217 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: And this is translated to an increase in opioid overdose 218 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: mortality rates of five hundred and seven percent from sixteen, 219 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 1: while men's on increase of three over the same period. 220 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 1: Women were being hospitalized for opioid related reasons at a 221 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: higher rate than men in all but eleven states in Washington, 222 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: d c. And compared to men. Women are especially at 223 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: risk for developing opioid dependency more quickly, and this could 224 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 1: be because of a variety of factors. Women's generally smaller bodies, 225 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: the relationship between pain sensitivity and hormones, and women's increased 226 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: likelihood of experiencing chronic pain, and are increased likelihood um 227 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: risk of trauma. That last one has been found to 228 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: be a factor driving women to abuse opioids, but not 229 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: men trauma. We know a little about the science of addiction, 230 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: but it does seem that there is a difference in 231 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: addiction between men and women, and that women are more 232 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: susceptible to relapse and cravings. Women may also be less 233 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: likely to respond to treatment or respond to it differently 234 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: right and despite the severity of the problem, less than 235 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: half of treatment programs supply any materials covering the specific 236 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: risk post to women. Only twenty one provided programs focused 237 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: on pregnant women or women with postpartum depressions. According to 238 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: one study, men are three times more likely to receive 239 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: the lock zone, which is the overdoor reversal jug from 240 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: first responders. Three times more likely. We've already discussed how 241 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: this type of caregiving, of caring for someone with chronic 242 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: pain or struggling with addiction most often falls to women. 243 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: That's another impact, right, And I guess you can also 244 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: talk about the silence that women have to bear pain. 245 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: It seems like women are more likely to be quiet 246 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: and try to fix it themselves. And that's a whole 247 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: different conversation. UM. And then we want to talk a 248 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: little more about women of color and people of color. UM. 249 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: This is kind of the generalized information UM, specifically to 250 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: those in the black community, Latin X community, people of color, 251 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: just kind of some of the numbers. As of twenty seventeen, 252 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: the rate of death for those in the black community 253 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: and several of the research cities are higher than those 254 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: of the non Hispanic white communities. In seventeen, the race 255 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: higher for the black population while the white community was 256 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: at only eleven and then for the Latin XT community 257 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: was eleven point five percent higher, and according to a 258 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: research conducted in Washington State, the opioid related deaths for 259 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: Native Americans and Alaska Natives surpass those of all white individuals. 260 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: And there are many debates about who they are focusing 261 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: on for treatment and understanding the problem, and as many states, 262 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: why white people are victims and people of color, specifically 263 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: Latin X and the Black community are addicts and criminals. 264 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: Of course, this is a bigger and bigger conversation which 265 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: needs to be paid attention to. We have to talk 266 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: about the racial inequalities of addiction and criminalization of addiction. 267 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: Studies have shown how discrimination and bias effect treatment for 268 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: those of color anyway, So you put that with those 269 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: of color and those who are women, and then add 270 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: um that the racial bias for those who are suffering 271 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: from addiction and the likelihood of them getting the correct 272 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: treatment or being treated as a victim instead of as 273 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: a criminal. And I think that's a big over analyzation 274 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: obviously of what I'm saying, because you have to look 275 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: at the intersectionality of what it is to be an 276 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: addict as a black person who may be LGBTQ, who 277 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: maybe uh identify as female or transgender whatever, that the 278 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: likelihood of people even listening to them and their needs 279 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: and all they get as oh there and of courtune, 280 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: I don't agree with this crazy move on. There's no 281 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: hope um. And unfortunately I've ran into this just watching 282 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: children and teenagers who suffered through many addiction problems, just 283 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: like the white community, but they are more they are 284 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: less likely to be treated seriously um, and they're going 285 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: to be more likely treated as criminals. And that's a 286 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: problem in itself, and I think we have to address 287 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: repeatedly about why this is inaccurate and how it is 288 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: increased a lot in the last five years and people 289 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: are not not acknowledging it and just still using it 290 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: as a white problem. For it to be fixed as 291 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: as opposed to um, an actual problem for everyone, and 292 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: that it needs to be listened to and heard and 293 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: treated equally. UM. That reminds me of that the one 294 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: that Sykes joke about how prescription drug abuse is a 295 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: white person thing because medical professionals refused to prescribe opioids 296 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: to black people do to racist stereotypes that they are 297 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: drug addicts just trying to get drugs. So yeah, that 298 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: is also a huge part of this conversation that we 299 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: do need to continue having. UM. What are things that 300 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,719 Speaker 1: we can do? UM? Well, first off, if you suspect 301 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 1: someone has suffered from an overdose, call nine one one. UH. 302 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:29,719 Speaker 1: Signs include small pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or loss of consciousness, choking, 303 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: our gurgling sounds, pale, cold or blue skin, limp body. UM. 304 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: Did want to say that because I've heard this play 305 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: out in college and it's it's so scary that this 306 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: even comes up. But good Sumaritan laws in many states 307 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,360 Speaker 1: prevent the person suffering from the overdose and those that 308 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: help from being charged with possession. Right, Well, it's supposed to, 309 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: it's supposed to, it's supposed to. But that is that 310 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: absolute big fear within communities, especially groups who maybe doing 311 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: these things together UM and allowing not allowing for UM 312 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: emergency treatment because they're afraid of being caught. UM. And 313 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: just a reminder, drug overdose and drug usage is not 314 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: always clear obviously, because if you look at any of 315 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: these signs, it could just mean they started choking or 316 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 1: past out, UM. And it's not your job to diagnose. 317 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: Let's just remind of that and act fast if you're concerned. 318 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: There are any ways of counting overdose. UM. That's what 319 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: we kind of mentioned before the locks on and UM 320 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: and we'll probably talk a little bit more later on. 321 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: As well as the fact that it's not your job 322 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: to judge. No, so I know there's this whole conversation 323 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: not conversation, but there's all these jokes with people in 324 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: the homeless community and the addiction in that era. It's 325 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 1: not your place if they need help. Help. Yeah, of 326 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: course you're not a savior either, so right, double edgedged. 327 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: When it comes to what we can do to tackle 328 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: this crisis, a big one is changing prescription practices, particularly 329 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: in this case when it comes to O vioids. One 330 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: way to accomplish this is by establishing practical clinical guidelines, 331 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: and the CDC has guidelines for describing opioids for patients 332 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: eighteen and older experiencing chronic pain if you want to 333 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 1: look up those. Another recommendation for reducing opioid exposure is 334 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: using a Prescription drug Monitoring Program on p d MP, 335 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: which the CDC provides funding for UM depending not for everybody, 336 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: but it is an option. UM. Changing state drug prescription laws, 337 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: reformulating insurance policies, education for providers about prescription guidelines, as 338 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: well as how to have conversations about the potential cost 339 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: of taking opioids and proper storage and disposal, and raising awareness. 340 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 1: UM also have discussions about other options, because there are 341 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: other options to opioids, providing treatment for opioid use disorder 342 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: in the form of evidence based treatments like medication assisted 343 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: therapy m AT, which are not equally available to low 344 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: income women and women of color. As we kind of 345 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: talked about the inequalities that's happening for those UM who 346 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: are lower income or those of a color, White people 347 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: are the ones primarily benefiting from m A T drugs, 348 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: up to thirty five times more likely to receive than 349 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: a black person. Also, it can be quite expensive without 350 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: private insurance and even then making it inaccessible for the poor, 351 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: which is infuriating, very infuriating. Another thing that's infuriating of 352 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: women going to treatment centers have children, and without access 353 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: or resources for childcare, it can be really difficult. UM 354 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: Having access to free or low cost childcare or centers 355 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: that provide childcare on site would be a huge thing. 356 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: It would also help if we improve access to overdose 357 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: reversaal drugs lab in the lock zone, which is non 358 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: addictive and that can save a life if given in time. 359 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: Having standing orders at pharmacy's distributions at local community centers, 360 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: training and access on how to administer for law enforcement 361 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: and medical staff would also be a giant, giant improvement. 362 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: Another big thing collecting better data so we can fully 363 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: understand the scope of the problem and make informed policy 364 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: recommendations on how to move forward. And there are a 365 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: couple other things that we have that we could do, 366 00:20:58,160 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: but first we're going to pause for one more quick 367 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: break for word from our sponsor, and we're back, Thank 368 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: you sponsor. So when looking at women specifically, the National 369 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: Women's Health Network recommends expanding Medicaid to cover those with 370 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: lower or moderate income and this increases access to care 371 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: and decreases occurring devastating medical bills. Medicaid it can also 372 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: provide access to treatments for opioid use disorder. However, not 373 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: all states have the same benefits through medicaid, so this 374 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: is not an end all, be all solution at all. 375 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services will introduce their maternal 376 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: Opioid Misuse Model m o M to address the need 377 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: of new mothers postpartum are otherwise going through opioid use 378 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: disorder in twelve states. In twenty three states, substance abuse 379 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: during pregnancy is charged as child abuse, and of course 380 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: they are more often used against low income women and 381 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: women of color. Of these arrests take place and Shelby County, 382 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: Tennessee is African American one county. Yeah, that's telling this 383 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: of course discourages people from seeking treatment for addiction. Without 384 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: access to information about treatment options and rights to seek 385 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: them without police involvement, the problem is only going to 386 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: get worse. However, I completely understand black women being skeptical 387 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: of that information right, absolutely not. And this is a 388 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: huge problem that does not exist in the bubble. Addiction, 389 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: big pharma, lack of access to mental healthcare, in ability 390 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: to afford long term health care options like physical therapy 391 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: or multiple doctor visits, insurance, chronic pain that does not 392 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: have an easy answer, and a failure to put patients 393 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: and people first. A lot. There's a lot, yep, But 394 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: there are some resources out there. The CDC is a 395 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: great one for more information, best practices and links to 396 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: other resources. They also have an r X campaign to 397 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: spread awareness about the opioid crisis. It includes stories from 398 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: people who have been directly impacted by it. There's Health 399 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: Resources and Services Administration, the h r s A, the 400 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: U S Department of Health and Human Services UM, and 401 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 1: they have a number you can call is one eight 402 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: hundred six six to four five seven UM Substance Abuse Help. 403 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 1: Sams's national helpline is one hundred six six to help. 404 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,959 Speaker 1: And all these national hotlines there are individual UM offices 405 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: in each state, so they will have a better access 406 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: for you to have locally. I did want to put 407 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: a few out there that do work with some of 408 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 1: our minorities and some of our under represented individuals. The 409 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: Trevor Project actually works with the l g P, d 410 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: q I plus UM community that works with substance abuse. 411 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: The Asian Health Coalitions actually work with the Asian community. 412 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: That's right there. And then there are county organizations like 413 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: the Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program that 414 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: happens in Franklin County in Ohio. So there are different 415 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: organizations that work specifically with specialized groups, and I think 416 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,400 Speaker 1: that's actually really important. UM. If you guys Obviously there's 417 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: tons more out there that I'm not talking about, but 418 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: these are something that just came out. UM. And of course, 419 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: as you know, any and I love more information, so 420 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: give me that. Yes, please please send us any information 421 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 1: resources you have. Yes, this is it's really massive and 422 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: effects everyone, UM. As we understand the idea behind addiction 423 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: in general, I think, and in the fact that it 424 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,719 Speaker 1: is hurting so many communities, so many families, UM, and 425 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: that we need to learn to be louder and to 426 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves. Yep, yep, UM. 427 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: So that's what we have to say about that today. 428 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: But we really really would appreciate, um, any any resources 429 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: that you have or any stories that you have that 430 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: you would like to share. You can email us at 431 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: Stuff Media, mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. You can 432 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: find us on Twitter at mom Stuff podcast and on 433 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: Instagram at Stuff I've Never Told You. Thanks as always 434 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: to our superproducer Andrew Howard, and thanks to you for 435 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 1: listening Stuff I've Never Told You the protection of I 436 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: Heart Radio's How Stuff Works. For more podcasts from my 437 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever 438 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows,