opioid-epidemic

Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic include increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses, as well as the rising incidence of newborns experiencing withdrawal syndrome due to opioid use and abuse during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 130 people in America-- or one person every 11 minutes-- dies everyday due to accidental misuse of these drugs.

Dr. AuBuchon joins the show to discuss this serious national crisis, and what pediatricians and other heath care providers can do to help combat this deadly addiction.

The ongoing opioid epidemic typically refers to adults, but children and adolescents undergoing surgery are at risk of dependence and addiction to opioid medications as well.

Dr. Ellen Raney explains how this affects the pediatric population and the devastating statistics surrounding the opioid epidemic. She shares with listeners the many different approaches for pain management that physicians are using when dealing with children in pain.

• Dr. Raney is a member of the Advocacy Committee of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA)
• This is her publication, “Raney EM, van Bosse HJP, Shea KG, Abzug JM, Schwend RM.  Current State of the Opioid Epidemic as it Pertains to Pediatric Orthopaedics From the Advocacy Committee of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.  J Pediatr Orthop. 2018 May/Jun; 38(5) e238-244”