Mayo Clinic Q&A: Opioid Crisis Worsens During COVID-19 Pandemic

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in December, 2020. 

Guest: Tyler Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H. (@OesterleMD) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

Stress, isolation and limited access to resources are fueling rising rates of substance abuse and overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. While coronavirus has been the focus of so much attention this year, the opioid crisis has continued unabated and has even worsened. More than 40 states have reported increases in opioid related deaths, according to the American Medical Association. 

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Tyler Oesterle, a psychiatrist and addiction expert at Mayo Clinic, discusses opioid use disorders and treatment options, including virtual medicine available during the pandemic. 

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.