Episode #142 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr. Gregory Ciottone and Diaster Medicine with FentanylEpisode #142 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Dr. Gregory Ciottone and Diaster Medicine with Fentanyl
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
Fentanyl has been used as a chemical weapon in warfare. But we do not have to wait for a drone attack from a foreign county. Today 183 will die of fentanyl that is origination from foreign lands. How do you prepare for a chemical attack? You can't completely prepare. Knowing the high stakes risks and loss of life, we need to prevent such a scenario in the first place. Dr. Gregory Ciottone is recent President of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, and an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an Instructor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), and the Founding Director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Fellowship in Disaster Medicine. Dr. Ciottone also serves as the Director of Medical Preparedness for the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, a joint program of the HSPH and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and sits on the faculty committee for the Harvard University Scholars at Risk program. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the American College of Emergency Physicians. As a former member of the United States National Disaster Medical System, Dr. Ciottone was Commander of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Massachusetts-2, one of the first federal teams deployed into Ground Zero responding to the 9/11 attacks. He is a Founding Member of the US Department of Homeland Security and has been a consultant to the White House Medical Unit for the past three administrations. Dr. Ciottone’s clinical and field experience includes 25 years as a practicing emergency physician and over 500 missions as a flight physician on an aeromedical helicopter service. He has conducted educational programs in more than 30 countries around the world and has served as a disaster response fellowship director for the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dr. Ciottone has written over 150 scholarly works, including his textbook Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine, now in its 3rd edition and considered the leading textbook in the field. He is the 2018 recipient of the American College of Emergency Physicians Disaster Medical Sciences Award, and the 2020 recipient of the American Academy of Disaster Medicine Distinguished Service Award. CARFENTANIL DRONE ATTACK SIMULATION The New England Journal of Medicine put out an educational video based on my 2018 Toxidrome Recognition in Chemical Weapons Attack article. The video simulates a Carfentanil drone attack. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp2302441
1:00:27•11 Sept 2023
Fentanyl Crisis: A Conversation with Dr. Gregory Ciottone
Episode Overview
- The episode sheds light on the alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths
- Dr. Gregory Ciottone's insights provide a compelling perspective on the gravity of the fentanyl crisis
- The episode emphasizes the critical importance of proactive measures to address the public health emergency
- The discussion unveils the implications of fentanyl as a potential weapon of mass destruction
- Dr. Roneet Lev and Dr. Gregory Ciottone highlight the urgent need for prevention and preparedness
“We don't need an overt attack. I do not accept the status quo of daily fentanyl deaths. Fentanyl is our public health crisis of our time. We should fight fentanyl like we fought COVID. We should consider drug cartels like terrorists are attacking our country. - Dr. Roneet Lev”
Picture this: fentanyl, a drug originally used for pain management, is now a looming threat as a potential weapon of mass destruction. In this gripping episode of 'High Truths on Drugs and Addiction', Dr. Roneet Lev sits down with Dr. Gregory Ciottone, a top expert in disaster and emergency medicine, to tackle the urgent issue of fentanyl's rising toll. With 183 people dying daily from fentanyl-related incidents, this isn't just another drug crisis—it's a public health emergency of epic proportions.
Dr. Ciottone, who has an impressive resume including positions at Harvard Medical School and the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, brings his wealth of knowledge to the table. He discusses how fentanyl's origins from foreign lands pose significant risks and the steps we need to take to prevent its misuse as a chemical weapon. This episode isn't just informative; it's a wake-up call. How do we prepare for such a high-stakes scenario?
While complete preparation may be impossible, understanding the risks and implementing preventive measures are crucial. Dr. Ciottone's insights offer a sobering yet necessary perspective on the gravity of the fentanyl crisis and the critical need for proactive measures. Whether you're directly affected by addiction or simply concerned about public health, this episode offers valuable takeaways that you won't want to miss.
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