Part 1 of 2...Lauren welcomes guest Dr. Josiah Rich for a discussion on addiction treatment and public health, particularly in relation to the HIV epidemic and injection drug use in Rhode Island. He highlights the impact of a law outlawing the possession of a single syringe, which led to a decrease in HIV transmission. He also mentions the routine testing program in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, which identified a significant number of HIV cases. Dr. Rich explains the current state of opioid use in the United States and the restrictions on prescribing methadone for opioid use disorder. He emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to address the opioid epidemic and the importance of getting people into recovery.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-addiction-treatment-and-public-health/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

You can also support "From the Front Row" by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.