Opioid Epidemic

The city is providing more wound care kits to combat the sores caused by xylazine.

The drug is known for causing flesh wounds at the injection site.

The public health advocate discusses new evidence of COVID's origins, FDA OK of OTC Narcan, and America's epidemic of loneliness.

The Josh Siems Act would increase testing for fentanyl in hospitals. Plus, a Towson University professor on attitudes towards substance use through U.S. history.

Since 31-year old Josh Siems died last October of a fentanyl-linked opioid overdose, his family and friends have been advocating for legislation requiring hospitals to test for fentanyl. Josh's mother and his partner join us to explain why.

Special Secretary Emily Keller, former mayor of Hagerstown, Md, discusses the role of education in countering opioid use and her personal connection to the overdose epidemic.

Learning difficulties, mental illness, addiction. Jessie Dunleavy’s son, Paul felt like an outsider, switching schools over and over, and sought refuge in writing poetry. In her memoir, "Cover My Dreams in Ink," Dunleavy recounts the tragic lessons she learned.

After a terrible motorcycle wreck, Travis Rieder was prescribed high doses of opioids. Trying to taper off threw him into agonizing withdrawal, with nowhere to turn for help. In his book, “In Pain,” Rieder analyzes how the medical system could work better, and demands change.

We’ll go On the Record with the medical director of a substance-abuse treatment program to ask how the stresses of the pandemic landed on people in recovery. And with Edgar Wiggins, as he wraps up three decades running Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc.

Overdose Deaths In Maryland Accelerated During The Pandemic