Cover2 Resources

Ohio has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in the entire nation. Despite research from the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance revealing that most Ohio parents are aware of this, they still underestimate the risk opioids pose to their children and family. To counteract this “not my kid” mindset from leading parents to overlook the importance of preventative measures, the Alliance brought it to life through a 2018 public awareness campaign set in the imaginary town of Denial, Ohio. Last year Greg sat down with the President of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Chad Jester, who introduced the program in episode 214 of the Cover2 PPT podcast series. In today’s podcast, Chad returns to share the success of the program and the plans to spread it throughout Ohio in the coming year. Join us for today’s podcast where returning guest Chad Jester shares the results of the “Living in denial, Ohio” public awareness campaign. If you’d like to learn more about the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance or becom

For years now, schools across the U.S. have been striving to implement more effective drug abuse prevention and education programs to protect adolescents from alcohol & drug abuse. However, despite investing millions of dollars into prevention programs such as D.A.R.E and Nancy Reagan’s “just say no” campaign, recent studies have revealed they’ve been largely ineffective. In fact, some of the programs intended to prevent drug use, have been known to trigger use in teens with certain personality types. PreVenture, an innovative evidence-based program that identifies at-risk teens through personality-based screening, has been gaining worldwide momentum. Bay Middle School, in Northeast Ohio, began rolling out the PreVenture program during the 2018-2019 school year. Last month, we sat down with the team of educators who introduced the program in Bay Village. Joining us today to share their experience with PreVenture, is Bay Village Middle School Principal Aaron Ereditario, Bay Middle School Teacher Chris M

Earlier this year, Greg interviewed bestselling author Beth Macy in a series on her book, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. It’s a compelling account of the opioid epidemic in our country and profiles the over twenty-year history of the opioid crisis as it emerged in the state of Virginia. Recently, he caught up with Beth to talk about her latest project, Finding Tess, the story of Tess Henry, a young mother in her 20’s who does her best to recover from heroin addiction for her son. In November, Beth and her producer, Emily Martinez, released an Audible Original podcast series portraying Tess' graphic struggle against heroin addiction in obscure parts of Las Vegas. Join us for the return of bestselling author of Dopesick, Beth Macy, and Audible Originals producer Emily Martinez, as they introduce us to Finding Tess, their five-part podcast series sharing the last days of a young mother’s life as she battles heroin addiction on the Las Vegas streets.

It’s difficult for a non-addicted person to rationalize the addicted mind, and the societal stigmatism around addiction doesn’t make that any easier. How can they keep making these decisions if they know they’re wrong, and why won’t they make choices that lead to recovery? The truth is, an addict isn’t in complete control. Like cancer or diabetes, addiction is a disease. In spite of a sound moral compass, a lot is going on in an addict’s brain that drives them to behave badly or make poor choices. Returning to the Cover2 Resources podcast to help explain the science behind the addicted mind, is Dr. Nicole Labor. Dr. Labor is not only a successful addiction specialist but a former addict herself. She uses this experience to bring a unique perspective to her work and the conversation surrounding addiction. Dr. Labor has spoken at many events, breaking down the biology of addiction in ways a layperson can easily understand. To empower more families, Dr. Labor's new book, The Addictoholic Deconstructed: An I

Four years ago, actor, writer, and Akron Ohio native, Jeremie Campbell, was unaware that the opioid crisis was continuing to ravage his hometown. Following his high school graduation, the former all-state football player left Akron for Hollywood. In part to pursue his acting career, landing roles in Spartan, Bicycle Dreams, and Dangerous Words from the Fearless, and to escape the tightening grip of opioids on his community. For a long time, it seemed Jeremie had escaped the epidemic. However, the situation got personal when he began losing his boyhood friends to opioid overdoes. Today, Jeremie’s back to develop and film his latest screenplay. A fictional story, inspired by his life experiences, about the very real impact of the opioid crisis on four friends from Akron, Ohio. Join us for today’s podcast, with special guest Jeremie Campbell, as he shares his dream to put Akron on the cinematic map, and use his voice to bring hope to the voiceless. If you want to get involved with this project, stay tun

In August, a closely watched Oklahoma opioid trial concluded. Johnson & Johnson was found guilty of deceptive marketing practices and public nuisance, the judge awarded the state $572 Million to cover the first year of abatement. However, the judge later announced he had made a $107 million miscalculation. Instead of $572 million, the amount awarded to Oklahoma was actually $465 Million. The miscalculation brought an outcry among Oklahoma state attorneys, mental health specialists, and addiction experts. All claim that the true cost of the opioid crisis is much higher than $572 million, and will take at least 20 years to resolve. After this surprising announcement, we decided to try to answer the question: What are the latest cost estimates of the opioid crisis, and how do they correlate to the judgment awarded in Oklahoma? Our guests on today’s episode, Dale Hall and Dr. Christopher Ruhm, share the results of their research. Together, they detail the massive financial burden Big Pharma has placed on o

You wouldn’t pay for something without knowing what you were getting, but all too often, our tax dollars are spent on programs without accountability for results. With the new ResultsOhio initiative, led by state Treasurer Robert Sprague, Ohio is looking for data-backed solutions to guide its funding decisions for social and public health programs. As Ohio’s Treasurer of State, Robert Sprague manages the state’s $20 billion investment and $10 billion debt portfolios, collects and deposits all state revenues, and oversees custodial assets. Taking a collaborative approach to government-funded recovery, ResultsOhio focuses on collecting the best treatment ideas and supporting what gets results. Organizations are invited to pitch their best recovery projects for a chance to earn government funding. However, they must prove their project will get results. With the ResultsOhio initiative, organizations of every size, background, and sector, will have the chance to make meaningful change for those on the road to

On October 21st, just as a landmark opioid trial was about to begin, a $260 million settlement was reached. The deal negotiated between three major opioid distributors, one opioid manufacturer, and Cuyahoga and Summit Country Ohio, resulted in a combination of cash payouts, and donations of addiction treatments. The first of its kind, this case could become a settlement model for thousands of similar cases against the pharmaceutical industry. The details of the settlement are extremely dense. To help break them down, Andrew Pollis, Case Western Reserve professor of Law and friend of the podcast, is joining us to share his reaction to this week’s settlement news. Finally, we conclude today’s podcast by revisiting our op-ed collaboration about honoring the lives lost in the opioid epidemic with a settlement providing the best chance at long-term recovery for those in need. Join us on today’s podcast, as Andrew Pollis returns to share his insight into one of the opioid epidemics' most influential cases.

Last week, in part 1 of our series on harm reduction, Dr. Jeffrey Singer talked with us about the current state of Naloxone in America, and how to get it to those in need. Today, in the 2nd part of this series, we explore Dr. Singer’s argument against the opioid prescribing limits that have been implemented by many states as a means to slow the opioid epidemic. With more prescribing leniency, a nonprofit group's bid to open a medically supervised drug injection site in Philadelphia could be the first of many alternative treatment methods. . . . On April 6th, 2020, Dr. Springer will debate author Sam Quinones on the premise of his bestselling book “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opioid Epidemic”. Join us next time as we continue our conversation with Dr. Singer and Preview his faceoff with Mr. Quinones.

As a regular listener of our podcast, you know that Naloxone can revive an unconscious overdose victim, and stabilize them until proper medical help arrives. 130 people die in our country every day from an opioid overdose, and many deaths could be prevented if Naloxone were more readily available. While first responders carry the life-saving drug, it’s not always possible for them to make it to overdose victims in time to save them. So, how can we get Naloxone to those who need it most? Many leaders, including the US Surgeon General, believe the answer lies in making Naloxone more readily available in our communities. In today’s podcast, we’ll examine the hurdles that stand in the way of making Naloxone ubiquitous in our communities and what’s being done to remove those hurdles. We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jeffrey Singer to lead our discussion. Dr. Singer is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, the founder of Valley Surgical Clinics, and an expert on US Naloxone policy.

This past August, we started our two-part series covering the public release of the ARCOS data, the DEA’s virtual roadmap to the opioid epidemic. Today, we finish that coverage with Washington Post Investigative Reporter Scott Higham. Scott is a Pulitzer Prize-winning member of The Post's investigations unit. Since joining The Post in 2000, he’s examined conflicts of interest on Capitol Hill, the origins of the opioid epidemic, and much more. With his expertise, Scott guides us through an in-depth look at the ARCOS data. We discuss what communities were hit the hardest, how this data was hidden from the public, and the people you never knew were involved. With so much information it can be difficult to pinpoint who’s responsible. Scott provides some much-needed clarity, but ultimately, only you can decide. Join us on today’s Podcast we breakdown the ARCOS data, the fight to get it released, and what it means for America.

Last time on the Cover2 Podcast, David Siegel, the CEO of Westgate Resorts, shared how the opioid epidemic changed his family forever when it took the life of his daughter Victoria. With a new purpose, David decided to tackle the pandemic head-on, meeting with several of our nation’s leaders responsible for solving the crisis. He quickly learned they weren’t close enough to the issue to make any real change. Shifting tactics, David took to traveling the country. He met with people struggling with addiction, and others in recovery, learning as much as he could about the epidemic from the front lines. He quickly became an expert in the field and took his fight to Congress, aiming to make rapid, meaningful change. In part two of this two-part series, David shares the story of what happened after he testified before congress. As you’ll hear, it didn’t take long for things to begin happening. Guided by an unparalleled sense of urgency, David’s mission to stop kids from using drugs before they start, took shape

Since we began this podcast series three and a half years ago, we’ve met some amazing people doing incredible work, each making a difference in the opioid epidemic in their own way. Today’s guest is no exception. What sets him apart is the scope of his latest initiative and his sense of urgency in getting it done. David Siegel is the founder and CEO of West Gate Resorts, the largest timeshare business in the world. He and his family were featured in a reality show as they began building a 90,000 square foot home in Orlando Florida, just as the real estate market crashed. But nothing could prepare him for the impact it would have on his family, and oldest daughter Victoria. After losing Victoria to a drug overdose, David gave up running the day-to-day operations of his company, to dedicate his life to fighting the opioid crisis. He quickly learned that some of our leaders responsible for addressing this epidemic weren’t close enough to the issue to make any real change. David took to traveling the count

This Summer there’s been a great deal of news on the opioid lawsuit in Oklahoma and the MDL here in Cleveland. We’ve heard how communities and native tribes thought the country have suffered at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, and now with the ruling against J&J in the Oklahoma trial for $572M and Purdue Pharma offering to settle for $12 Billion giving up their company, it appears it’s time to pay the piper. How that money will be spent is still unclear. We’ve been extremely fortunate to have met with many different voices in the opioid epidemic community. Thanks to their insight we thought we’d weigh-in on the debate for the best use of the settlement money. We didn’t just stake out claim on opinion, however. We made sure to do the research and calculations necessary for the best result. Of course, we couldn’t accomplish this on our own so we reached out to some of our featured guests for help. Together, with addiction treatment specialist Dr. Stephen Loyd, of Mountain Home Veterans Administra

First Responders have 6 minutes to make it to an overdose victim and begin administering life-saving Narcan. Sadly, that’s not always possible. The Community of First Responders Initiative is about making Narcan available in public spaces and linking Narcan Carriers with overdose victims while they wait for emergency responders to arrive. Each year on August 31st International Overdose Awareness Day is held to remember those lost to overdose deaths. Today, on the eve of the 2019 Overdose Awareness day, we’re delighted to release our CFR introduction video. A special thanks to our International visitors from Morocco, Mustafa and Samia and their entire team at Artcoustic Creative Studios. They generously donated their time and expertise to produce an exceptional explainer video to help promote CFR in communities across the country, saving lives with this innovative non-profit program. The following 3-minute track is the CFR video in its entirety. To watch it, go to www.CRF.HELP/INTRO. This summer, City

On July 15th, DEA data covering 2006 to 2012 American opioid sales, was released to the public. The ARCOS data revealed the distribution path of every oxycodone and hydrocodone pill sold in America. A trail of opioids from manufacturers to distributors, to pharmacies, to patients. Undeniable evidence for their responsibility for the opioid crisis. Big Pharma didn’t hand this “smoking gun” for the opioid epidemic over easily. It wasn’t until the Charleston Gazette-Mail, and Washington Post prevailed in a fierce legal battle that ARCOS data was released. However, this was just one fight in a struggle that began long before knowledge of this crucial evidence existed. In part one of this two-part series covering the history of the ARCOS data, you’ll learn how an underdog journalist’s relentless pursuit of the truth succeeded, despite insurmountable odds. Our story begins with Patrick McGinley, and Suzanne Weise, lawyers and Professors of Law at West Virginia College of Law. Hired to help investigative journa

Today’s guest, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, is an authority on the opioid epidemic. As a Senior Scientist and, Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Dr. Kolodny has a deep-rooted interest in public health. He began his career working for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, helping develop and implement multiple programs to improve health and save the lives of New York City citizens. These initiatives included: city-wide buprenorphine programs, life-saving naloxone overdose prevention programs and emergency room-based screenings, and brief interventions and referrals to treatment (SBIRT) programs for alcohol and drug misuse. Using his expert knowledge and vast experience fighting the opioid epidemic, Dr. Kolodny guides us through the FDA’s missteps that helped fuel our nation’s worst health crisis in history. Join us on today’s podcast as we uncover the mistakes that helped perpetuate a growing opioid crisis and the missed opportun

While many people in power ignored the mounting evidence of the Opioid Crisis, one leader refused to turn a blind eye. In 2009, fresh from seven years as NYC’s health commissioner, Dr. Tom Frieden was appointed a director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) by president Obama. Dr. Frieden immediately got to work and started by wading through eight-hundred-pages of Health Statistics Us. To say he was stunned by what he found is an understatement. The number of lives lost at the hands of opioids was comparable to that of AIDS in Africa, the 1918 influenza pandemic, or a war. Fifteen thousand people died from prescription painkiller overdoses in 2010 alone, and enough narcotics were prescribed to give every adult in America over a month’s worth of pills. One thing was clear. There weren’t just a few careless people dying of overdoses. America was facing an epidemic, and big pharma was pulling the strings. Today, Dr. Frieden joins us to share his insights from his watch as Director of the CDC and his p

About 21 million Americans struggle with addiction every day, yet only 10 percent receive treatment. While that percentage is unbelievably low, the reality is that traditional methods of aid are inaccessible for many people, even if addicts are ready for treatment. Fortunately, many organizations recognize this issue and are creating paths to make treatment more accessible. Two innovative programs that are literally taking treatment to the streets are Boston Massachusetts’ Care ZONE, an on-wheels overdose treatment facility, and New Jersey’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU), paramedics equipped with lifesaving Suboxone. To guide us through these innovative programs is returning guest Dr. Jessie Gaeta, the Chief Medical Officer for the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, and Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. We first met Dr. Gaeta 3 years ago, when we discussed her Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment (SPOT) program. Today, she shares her insight

As negative press continued to increase for Purdue Pharma and the opioid epidemic, their market in the US began to dwindle. Prescriptions for OxyContin fell more than 40% since 2010, equating to billions lost revenue. The company’s owners, the Sackler Family, started pursuing a new strategy. Go global through their international company Mundipharma, and put the pain killer that set off the US opioid crisis into medicine cabinets around the world.” On May 22 of this year, Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Congressman Hal Rodgers released a report titled, Corrupting Influence – Purdue and the World Health Organization. This report exposed the dangerous opioid manufacturer’s influence on the WHO, and the potential jeopardy they present to foreign nations and developing countries. Today, we’re joined by Guardian reporter and bestselling author of American Overdose, Chris McGreal, and Daily Caller Journalist, Evie Fordham. Together we discuss this report, its impact on the World Health Organization, and Purd