First hour: The opioid epidemic and overdose prevention
Second hour: Access to records for adoptees in New York State
Tens of thousands of Americans die from opioid overdoses each year. In March of 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced independent pharmacies in New York State would be able to provide Narcan -- a medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdose -- without a prescription. Despite this accessibility, Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Mike Mendoza says few people are taking advantage of the availability of the kits. He says lack of awareness and stigma contribute to the issue. Our guests discuss the opioid epidemic and overdose prevention. In studio:
- Dr. Mike Mendoza, M.D., Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health
- Jennifer Faringer, director of DePaul's National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Rochester Area (NCADD-RA)
- Dr. Holly Russell, M.D., family physician and primary care Suboxone prescriber
Then in our second hour, we hear the adoption story of a local man. Caleb Shulman learned at age seven that he was adopted. As an adult, he set out to find his birth family and access his birth certificate. While he was able to connect with his biological mother, he has not been able to obtain his original birth certificate. The New York State Legislature passed a bill that would help adoptees over the age of 18 access their birth certificates and information about their biological parents. The bill is pending Governor Cuomo's approval. Some opponents of the legislation say it doesn't go far enough in protecting the rights of adoptees and would make it more difficult for adoptees to see their birth certificates. Some supporters say the bill is a compromise to those who want to protect the identity of birth parents [even though confidentiality is not promised in surrender papers] and would be a meaningful adoptee rights law in New York State. We discuss issues of confidentiality, the adoption process, and more. Our guests:
- Caleb Shulman, adoptee
- Laura Glasner, adoption director for Correct: The podcast recording include
