CANCELLED IN PERSON: The Opioid Crisis in the United States: Origins and Responses

America’s rise in opioid-related overdose deaths was initially driven by increased availability of prescription pain medications in the mid-1990s.  Now in 2022, the majority of opioid-related deaths are attributed to illicitly manufactured opioids such as heroin and fentanyl.

What’s being done about the opioid epidemic and how are pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. health care industry and federal, state and local government responding?

How did the United States get here?

Come join in a discussion to explore these questions and learn more about the rise and response to the opioid crisis.

Greg Blakley earned a PhD in Physiological Psychology from Temple University and an MSW from Southern Connecticut State University.  Greg began his career researching brain mechanisms involved with addiction and now provides treatment to people with substance use and other mental health issues.  He works in community mental health and has a private practice in Fairfield.