The Forgotten Epidemic

Ten years ago, the CDC declared the United States had an opioid epidemic but the COVID-19 Pandemic has drawn our attention away from the opioid crisis. On this podcast, we discuss the opioid crisis with Samantha Osterlof, an outreach coordinator and college instructor with a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Behavioral Management. Samantha is also in long term recovery from opioid addiction. When she was 22 years old, she nearly died from an infection that spread to her heart due to intravenous drug use. Placed on a ventilator, she was given a 10% chance to live, but this was still not enough to stop her drug use. However, one Christmas Eve, the kindness of one police officer started her journey of recovery and a lifetime of helping others. Samantha’s story is compelling and poignant. We discuss not only her recovery, but the current state of the opioid crisis faced, the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on those suffering with SUD and the looming shadow of a possible third epidemic, a mental health crisis.