HealthSmart: The Opioid Epidemic
Ninety-one Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control. In fact, public health officials are calling the current opioid epidemic the worst drug crisis in American history. Chances are you know someone struggling with opioid addiction. Sadly it seems no one is immune no matter their gender, race, income level or age.
HealthSmart first focused on the opioid epidemic in 2015, when the percentage of drug overdose deaths involving heroin had tripled in just five years. In response, the Centers for Disease Control recommended states take an active role in prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. It was a scary time. Sadly, the situation has not improved.
On HealthSmart: The Opioid Epidemic we’ll revisit our guests from the HealthSmart program produced in 2015 as they continue to recover, heroin having forever changed their lives. Plus, we’ll talk with experts about what’s happening now and how they plan to get a handle on this drug crisis.
Keira McGuire is a health reporter and multimedia producer for WITF. She hosts and produces Transforming Health television programs as well as other shows and documentaries for WITF’s Original Productions. McGuire produced the Emmy Award winning series HealthSmart for the last ten years. Keira previously worked at WBFF in Baltimore and WMDT in Salisbury as a reporter and anchor. She’s a graduate of Towson University.
