Podcast The Poison Review

A recent article in the New York Times reported that there were likely more than 59,000 deaths from opioid overdose in the United States during the year 2016, an increase of 19% over the number of such deaths in 2015. Many of these victims became addicted to narcotics after being prescribed opioid analgesics for episodes of acute pain. Previously, physicians were told that the incidence of addiction in this setting were virtually zero. It is now known that this is not true. But just how easy is it go get addicted to opioid medication used to treat pain? In this episode, Steve Aks and I will discuss.

When Kim Jong Nam — the half-brother of Korean leader Kim Jong Un — was assassinated in February while waiting for a flight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, attention was focused on one of the deadliest chemicals in the world: the nerge agent VX. What is VX, why is it such an effective poison, and how are victims of exposure managed medically. These are some of the questions we'll be examining in this edition of the TPR podcast.

In this “Lucky 13” episode of the TPR podcast, Steven and Leon discuss naloxone, and address the following issues: 1) Does the concept of a “heroin overdose patient” have meaning anymore in this age of U-47700, fentanyl, and carfentanil? 2) Given the adulteration of both heroin and counterfeit prescription medications with extremely potent synthetic opioids, do we have to reconsider our entire approach to opioid overdose patients? 3) Can past medical literature guide us in our management of these patients?(Hint: the answer is no.) 4) What medical toxicology paper do Steve and Leon — in an unusual state of agreement — feel was the best to appear in 2016? For the Show Notes and links to articles discussed in the Podcast, click "Read more" below.

The Poison Review started as a hard-copy newsletter and accompanying tape cassette in the summer of 1992, when George H.W. Bush was President. In this episode of the TPR podcast, Tim Ericsson, Steve Aks and I look back at some the the weirdest and wackiest toxicology articles we've reviewed in the last quarter-century. Topics will include an air stewardess with puzzling diarrhea, the toxicology of ingesting contents of a lava lamp, and a scientific look into whether or no Beano prevents flatulence. Enjoy!