In the late 90s, pharmaceutical companies created opioids so doctors can treat patients with chronic or severe pain. Misuse and overprescribing of these drugs have turned a solution into a health crisis – often highlighted in predominantly white communities.
Yet in recent years, there has been a shift. The number of Black people who have overdosed on opioids has increased by about 40 percent as other groups see a decrease in cases.
In this episode of Black Body Health: The Podcast, Natasha explains why drug addiction in the Black community deserves our attention and action. The idea that opioids are ‘only used by white people’ is not only false, but also part of the stigma that will keep us from addressing this problem head-on.
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REFERENCES:
- What is the U.S. Opioid Epidemic?
- Opioid painkiller prescribing varies widely among states
- 4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisis
- Suicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trend
- Why Prescription Opioids Aren’t Only a Problem for White Americans
- Opinion: With overdoses spiking, we need a different approach
CREDITS:
Host, Natasha Phelps
Producer, Chelsey Sellars
Logo Designer, Ashlee Woods