Last weekend, Los Angeles hosted the annual Politicon: the Comic Con for political junkies. In essence, it’s a symposium of knowledge, personalities, news, and information. Ostensibly, people representing the political spectrum are supposed to unite for seminars, panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, podcasts, and debates while engaging in an open discourse.
The air was thick with political perspectives as Ann Coulter—an avid Trump supporter, and Kathy Griffin—a vehement Trump opponent, made appearances on the same day. One particular afternoon panel was less about partisan politics, however, and more about one of America’s biggest failures: the national opioid crisis. This panel was the only discussion at last weekend’s event specifically focused on the alarming rates of fatal overdoses due to heroin, prescription painkillers, and fentanyl, shedding light on the US’ inadequate approach to policing drugs.
Moderated by Mo Kelly, KFI AM 640 radio host and media personality, this panel featured Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor; Dr. Drew Pinsky, addiction and internal medicine specialist; Johann Hari, British travel journalist and author; and Kentucky’s Democratic Secretary of State, Alison Lundergan Grimes.
“I have been complaining about this problem, for 15 years now,” said Dr. Drew, opening the group discussion. “ I saw footage of me on CNN from years ago talking about this with Larry King. My patients are dying, I see this every day in my field. The battleship has turned a bit but we still have a lot of work to do, and it will not be an easy discussion to have.”
Dr. Drew opened the group talk to explain that the opiate epidemic is a complex, multi-layered crisis—one in which thousands of people in this country die from every day.
“So many people are hooked on prescription drugs, painkillers, and benzodiazepines—things like Valium and Xanax,”