Catherine Varner, Deputy Editor of CMAJ, joins Jessica Kent-Rice, a toxicology fellow, and Peter Wu, an internist specializing in pharmacology, to tackle the opioid crisis. They reveal shocking statistics on treatment gaps for opioid overdose patients, urging more urgent prescriptions of life-saving therapies. The discussion also highlights the alarming presence of xylazine, a veterinary sedative, in street drugs, complicating overdose treatments. The guests advocate for better communication and support in emergency care to combat these escalating challenges.
