What Role Do Pharmacies Play In The Opioid Epidemic?

09/05/2024 9 min
What Role Do Pharmacies Play In The Opioid Epidemic?

Listen "What Role Do Pharmacies Play In The Opioid Epidemic?"

Episode Synopsis

HOST, KLARA BAUTERS: The US is dealing with an opioid epidemic that’s killing more than 70 thousand people each year. And in an effort to diminish overdose deaths the government has placed heavy restrictions on the prescription of controlled substances.

But public health experts say pharmacies, and national chains in particular, have also contributed to the epidemic. As Giulia Leo reports, critics say that while prescribing a controlled substance gets harder and harder, the process of purchasing it is still not properly regulated.