>> Dana: THE NATION'S DEADLY
OPIATE EPIDEMIC IS SO BAD THAT
IT'S DRAGGING DOWN OUR AVERAGE
LATEST STATISTICS FOR THE
FEDERAL
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSE
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSD
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSA
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSH
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSS
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOS,
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOST
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSP
-- 52,000 52,000 OVERDOSS
THE HEIGHT OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.
CHRIS HUMPHRIES IS A PERHAPS OR
ON MY PROFESSOR WITH A FOCUS ON
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR AND DRUG
POLICY.
I HEARD YOU SAY, KEITH, YOU
DON'T THINK THESE NUMBERS HAVE
PETE YET.
>> Dana: UNFORTUNATELY NO,
THEY HAVEN'T.
WE SEE THIS HUGE RISE IN THE
GOING UP.
10,000 DEATHS.
WE ADDED 10,000 MORE DEATHS IN
THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
THIS IS FAR FROM THE WORST OF IT
THIS IS FAR FROM THE WORST OF I
ADDICTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE
OPIOIDS WHAT TO MAKE IT CHANGES
YOUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY AND IT'S
DIFFICULT TO EVER GET OFF OF IT.
WITH FENCE AND ALL, IN
PARTICULAR, COMING ACROSS THE
BORDER, WE KNOW THAT, AND ALSO
ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY, IS
THERE ANY WAY, THAT YOU CAN SEE
RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU CAN CHANGE
THE BEHAVIOR?
YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN THAT.
I'M CURIOUS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE STATES AND
LOCALITIES WANT TO SUE THE
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GET FROM
THAT.
>> THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
FASTER.
WE NEED TO STOP PUTTING PEOPLE
ON THESE MEDICATION, NO REASON A
14-YEAR-OLD KID WHO HAD A
COLLOCATED WISDOM TOOTH
EXTRACTION TO WALK OUT OF A
DENTIST OFFICE WITH 30 VICODIN
AND PROMISE FOR A REFILL, AND IT
STILL HAPPENS BUT WE NEED TO
STOP CREATING NEW ADDICTIVE
PEOPLE.
WITH THOSE WHO ARE ADDICTED, WE
HAVE TO GIVE THEM A HIGH QUALITY
SERVICES, GIVE THEM TREATMENT
THAT WILL GET THEM OUT OF THIS
BUT VERY DIFFICULT ON THEIR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN
WHICH THEY LIVE."
COUNTIES, THERE'S ABOUT 5-6, I
GUESS, GOING TO COURT TO GET
MORE FUNDING, MAYBE CHANGE
BEHAVIOR, ARE THERE EFFECTIVE
TREATMENTS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE
THAT ARE ADDICTED?
>> I THINK ONE WAY TO UNDERSTAND
STATES, COUNTIES, FRUSTRATION
WITH THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THEIR
ELECTED LEGISLATORS HAPPENED I
THEM AND THE LAST REQUEST THEY
HAVE IS LAWSUITS AGAINST EITHER
THE MANUFACTURERS OR SOME
DISTRIBUTORS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXPOSURES,
THERE WAS A DISTRIBUTOR SHIPPING
MILLIONS OF PILLS WITH THE TOWN
FOR 400 PEOPLE IN IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONDUCT
THERE.
>> Dana: DO YOU THINK -- WE
KNOW THE WHITE HOUSE IS VERY
FOCUSED ON THIS, TALKING ABOUT
THE OPIATE ADDICTION A LOT.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY
SPECIFIC THING THEY COULD DO
THAT WOULD HELP THE SITUATION?
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS LAID THE
TABLE VERY WELL.
HE'S MADE IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENTS, HE GAVE A GREAT
SPEECH, APPOINTED A COMMISSION,
SMART PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEM A LOT
OF GOOD ADVICE.
NOW IS THE TIME OF ACTION.
THE COMMISSION GAVE GOOD ADVICE
ON A SPENDING TREATMENT, USING
LAW ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENTLY,
TAKING ACTION AGAINST FENTANYL.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR HIM AND
CONGRESS AS WELL TO PUT IT INTO
ACTION.
PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY HOPE
WE REALLY NEED TO GO QUICKLY ON
THIS.
>> IT'S THE PEOPLE, WHAT THEIR
FAMILIES GO THROUGH.
ALSO WE SEE HERE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THAT
HEALTH CARE COSTS POOR JOB
PERFORMANCE IS COSTING AMERICANS
$78 BILLION A YEAR.