Video program discusses opioidsDate: 4/28/2016 The Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have collaborated on a video program discussing the opioid crisis in the Commonwealth and how the new law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker is intended to curb the abuse.
Crisis in the Commonwealth: Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse features two physicians who have been at the forefront of addressing the epidemic: Monica Bharel, M.D., Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health, and Dennis M. Dimitri, M.D., 2015-2016 President of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Hosting the program is Lynda Young, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Medical School and a past president of the medical society.
Among the topics of discussion are the origins of the crisis, the impact of the epidemic on patients and families; the roles of prescriber and patient; actions taken by medical, state, and public health agencies to reduce the abuse; and the provisions of the new state law recently signed by Governor Baker.
“The landmark law signed by Gov. Baker was a critical step in the opioid fight,” Bharel said. “But it is imperative that education about the law and the risks of pain medicines proceed aggressively. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Medical Society in addressing the epidemic and providing more information for both prescribers and patients.”
Dimitri added, “The opioid crisis has been a top priority for physicians for more than year and we have worked with Dr. Bharel and other state officials on several initiatives addressing this crisis. This video is one more step we’re taking together, and we hope it will prompt discussions between patients and prescribers about how to manage pain more effectively with less risk of addiction.”
The program is being distributed to public access stations throughout the Commonwealth, reaching more than 275 communities, and is available online at www.physicianfocus.org/opioids, at www.massmed.org/physicianfocus, and on YouTube.
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