Opioid Crisis

In grim milestone, U.S. overdose deaths top 100,000 for third straight year

As I sit here reflecting on the grim milestone that has once again struck the United States, with overdose deaths surpassing 100,000 for the third consecutive year, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of sorrow and frustration. To put it in perspective, the number of lives lost each year to drug overdoses in America is comparable to the fatalities during World War II or 30 times the number of lives lost during the tragic events of 9/11. It’s a staggering and heartbreaking reality that we are facing.

It’s disheartening to see how differently various media outlets cover this issue.… Continue reading

Doctor who prescribed more than 500,000 opioid doses has conviction tossed

I recently came across a news article that caught my attention: “Doctor who prescribed more than 500,000 opioid doses has conviction tossed.” As a fan of the TV show Doctor Who, I couldn’t help but make a connection between the fictional doctor and the real-life medical professional. However, the gravity of the situation quickly overshadowed my initial amusement.

The article states that this Virginia-based doctor prescribed an astounding 500,000 opioid doses in less than two years. At first glance, this number seems staggering, but it’s crucial to examine the details more closely. The doctor was convicted on 861 counts, with the jury instructed to determine if he acted “without a legitimate medical purpose or beyond the bounds of medical practice.”… Continue reading