We’ve all heard the statistics that 64,000 people lost their lives to drug addiction in 2016. It is extremely startling considering that this is more than guns, HIV infection and automobile accidents. These same statistics have been used to shape a narrative in America that over prescribing opioids is the primary cause of the opioid epidemic. But what if these statistics are wrong and the laws restricting opioid prescribing practices are making matters worse rather than helping to solve the problem.

Greg’s guest today is a scientist who picks data apart that concluded the evidence does not support the conclusions and policies driven to address the opioid epidemic. Dr. Josh Bloom joins him to discuss the concerns of the data being skewed. Dr. Bloom is the Director of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences at the American Council on Science & Health. Bloom believes the 64,000 statistic is flawed and there are other factors at play in the opioid crisis.