6 chapters across the catalog
San Francisco Overdose Deaths, Walmart Opioid Lawsuit, Purdue Pharma
San Francisco reported 621 drug overdose deaths in 2020, nearly triple the number of COVID-19 deaths in the city. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is suing Walmart for allegedly fulfilling questionable opioid prescriptions, following the massive fines levied against Purdue Pharma for its role in the addiction crisis.
San Francisco State of Emergency and Coronavirus Testing Costs
San Francisco Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency despite a lack of confirmed local cases, which the hosts suggest is a move to secure government funding. They report that coronavirus testing in the United States can cost up to $3,000 without insurance coverage. The segment concludes with a comparison of coronavirus lethality to annual deaths from hospital errors, gun suicides, and opioid overdoses.
Tom Petty Overdose, Opioid Crisis Complicity
The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that musician Tom Petty died from an accidental overdose of multiple medications, including Fentanyl and OxyContin, used to treat a fractured hip. The tragedy is framed within the larger context of the American opioid epidemic and pharmaceutical advertising.
Naloxone, Opioid Overdose, Baltimore Health Department
The Baltimore City Health Department and other agencies are promoting Naloxone as a critical tool to reverse opioid overdoses. Dr. Lena Wen appears in promotional materials framing addiction as a disease that requires immediate medical intervention. The discussion touches on the relationship between public health departments and the manufacturers of overdose-reversal medications.
Georgia Opioid Overdose Cluster, Yellow Percocet Pills, Fentanyl
Authorities in central Georgia report a massive cluster of overdoses linked to a deadly new street drug. The drug, a yellow pill falsely sold as Percocet, is believed to be laced with fentanyl or other powerful narcotics, causing rapid respiratory failure in users.
The Midwest Medical Examiner's report confirmed that the musician Prince died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl. Fentanyl is described as a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than morphine or heroin. Law enforcement continues to investigate the source of the medication to determine if it was obtained through legal prescriptions or illicit channels.
