
Deep Dive: The Opioid Tsunami
Season 2 Episode 13 | 1h 28m 29s
240 million opioid scripts to Americans every year, the potential for abuse is enormous
It’s been called the most perilous drug crisis ever. In the United States, the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, killing 91 people every day. Pharmaceutical pain relief is an essential clinical tool, but with physicians writing some 240 million opioid prescriptions to Americans every year, the potential for abuse is enormous.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
The Aspen Institute produces the Aspen Ideas Festival in concert with its partner, The Atlantic.

Deep Dive: The Opioid Tsunami
Season 2 Episode 13 | 1h 28m 29s
It’s been called the most perilous drug crisis ever. In the United States, the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, killing 91 people every day. Pharmaceutical pain relief is an essential clinical tool, but with physicians writing some 240 million opioid prescriptions to Americans every year, the potential for abuse is enormous.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen Ideas Festival is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- News and Public Affairs

Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.

- News and Public Affairs

FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.












Support for PBS provided by:
The Aspen Institute produces the Aspen Ideas Festival in concert with its partner, The Atlantic.