The numbers are stark. Over 28,000 Americans died of opioid pain reliever overdoses in 2014, with these numbers quadrupling since 2000. The tragic recent loss of Prince brought home this ongoing epidemic to many of us.
President Obama announced federal initiatives to battle this crisis when he visited Atlanta recently. Just because a drug was prescribed by a doctor and purchased legally does not mean you cannot become addicted to it or die from an overdose. Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 a. m. on Jazz 91.9 WCLK we'll feature a discussion of this issue on Dr. Judi, The People's Advocate. Social Worker Dr. Judi Crocker Billingsley is joined by Dr. Courtney Shelton, Associate Director, Medical Services, Department of Psychiatry at Atlanta Medical Center and Dr. Gregory Lunceford, Medical Director, Atlanta Medical Center South, who specializes in addiction detoxification.