I'm Joe Gradyton and I'm Terry Grady. Welcome to this podcast of the People's Pharmacy.

You can find previous podcasts and more information on a range of health topics at people's Pharmacy.com.

Americans have been fighting the war on drugs for two centuries,

and we continue to lose.

Is there a better way? This is the People's Pharmacy with Terry and Joe

Grayden. Despite stringent restrictions on opioid,

restrictions on opioid prescribing and dispensing,

more people died from overdoses

last year than in previous years. What are we doing wrong?

Why should harm reduction be a crucial component of any

humane drug policy? Are some people in severe pain committing suicide because they can no longer get relief?

We'll learn about the history of addiction and what we might do differently.

Can we learn from other countries such as Portugal?

Coming up on the People's Pharmacy, newlines, many people have welcomed dramatic drops in COVID infection rates in the US.

Now, however, a new variant called BA2

is becoming dominant.

In New England, it accounts for nearly three-fourths

of the cases that have been analyzed with genetic sequencing. Nationwide, it's caused more than half

the cases sampled. Although B.A.2 is more contagious than the original omicron, it does not appear to make people sicker. While many states are beginning

to see increases in cases, so far hospitalizations are down slightly rather than

rising. This week the FDA issued emergency use authorization for a second booster against COVID.

Both Pfizer and Moderna will be offering an additional MRNA immunization for people over 50 or those who are immunocompromised.

...