LISTEN NOW - Painful Truth: What Students Need to Know About the Opioid Crisis

Every day, an estimated 130+ Americans die from an opioid-related drug overdose and nearly 80 percent of heroin users reported misusing prescription opioids prior to heroin.

In an effort to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and its impact on modern-day high school and college students, OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI) hosted a free community event on September 10, 2019 at the Knight Theater in Charlotte. Painful Truth: What Students Need to Know about the Opioid Crisis was designed to be an honest conversation about the dangers of opioid use and abuse. Parents were encouraged to accompany their high school students and continue the conversation at home.

”As medical professionals we believe it’s our responsibility to do our part finding alternatives to opioids for our patients and educating the public about dangers related to opioid use and abuse,” says Nady Hamid, MD, OrthoCarolina sports medicine physician and leader of the Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort (CORE) Project. “As we have learned more about the opioid crisis, we have recognized the need for there to be honest conversations with students about the impact opioids can have.”

LISTEN NOW
This conversation is bigger than just one evening. Thanks to a partnership with Queen City Podcast Network, you can listen to Painful Truth: What Students Need to Know about the Opioid Crisis anytime. 
Event host Sarah Blake Morgan is not only an award-winning journalist but host of the podcast Charlotte Newsmakers. Painful Truth is now available through Queen City Podcast Network and Charlotte Newsmakers as a two-part series.

PART ONE

In Part 1 Sarah Blake is joined by :

- Betsy Ragone, Founder of Michael’s VOICE Inc.
- Dr. Nady Hamid, OrthoCarolina, CORE Project Lead
- Dr. Joe Hsu, Atrium Health, Orthopedic Trauma
- Dr. Don Teater, Teater Health Solutions, Educator

PART 2

In Part 2 Sarah Blake is joined by:

- Debbie Dalton, Founder of The Hunter Dalton HD Life Foundation
- Dr. Pat Connor, OrthoCarolina, Panthers Team Physician
- John Kasay, Former Panthers Kicker
- Muhsin Muhammad, Former Panthers Wide Receiver
- Mike Rucker, Former Panthers Defensive End

ABOUT OCRI

The OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI) exists to work with physicians and collaborative partners to facilitate relevant orthopedic research that advances orthopedic treatments, improves quality of life for patients, and educates the medical community. OCRI is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 uniquely positioned as both an academic research center and clinical research site servicing industry research. OCRI’s goal, through research, is to improve the lives of our patients by increasing mobility, reducing cost and decreasing recovery time. We study new surgical techniques, new products and devices, and provide alternatives to traditional care for patients.