The Opioid Crisis: Understanding America’s Deadly Addiction with Professor Thad Polk

Presented by Thad Polk, Ph.D., University of Michigan

Drug overdose is the single most common cause of death for people under 50 years old in the U.S. and the numbers have rocketed up just in the last two decades, averaging 175 deaths per day.

Professor Thad Polk attributes one of the causes to the use of opioids, which have seen an upswing in popularity after pharmaceutical companies and doctors advocated their use for chronic pain in the 1990s. Join this award-winning professor of psychology to explore these shocking numbers as he delves into how opioids affect our brains, why they are so addictive, and what we can do to counter this crisis.

This free full-length lecture is by Professor Thad Polk, Ph.D. Click here to learn more about Professor Polk’s courses and start your FREE Trial of The Great Courses Plus.

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