In Episode #014 I dive into the Opioid Addiction Crisis and explore the moral ambiguities associated with R&D.

Chapters

(0:00) Introduction

(0:50) The Origins of the Opioid Epidemic

(5:38) Should you use Opioids for Back or Neck Pain?

(10:03) Australia's Fentanyl Explosion

(14:02) Purdue Pharmaceutical's $6 Billion settlement

(15:44) Why is Fentanyl so addictive?

(19:42) Dealing with moral ambiguities in Science

(22:58) The positive impact of synthetic biology

Show notes:

The Origins of the Opioid epidemic: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/the-origins-of-the-opioid-epidemic/

Opioids don’t help acute pain: https://theconversation.com/opioids-dont-relieve-acute-low-back-or-neck-pain-and-can-result-in-worse-pain-new-study-finds-203244

Australia's Fentanyl Explosion: https://amp.9news.com.au/article/c732a2e6-9790-443f-a1e0-2a7f96cddec4

Purdue Pharma settle for $6 billion https://www.npr.org/2022/03/03/1084163626/purdue-sacklers-oxycontin-settlement

How does Fentanyl work? Why is it so potent? https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl

How to Make Synthetic Insulin: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/fromdnatobeer/exhibition-interactive/recombinant-DNA/recombinant-dna-technology-alternative.html

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