12:00: National drug policy expert on gaps in addressing the overdose crisis
1:00: Why are more young adults getting cancer?
Addiction specialists across the country say they are concerned about a Trump administration plan to end a Narcan program. As reported by the New York Times on Friday, the administration's draft budget would terminate a $56 million annual grant program that provides the life-saving drug and training for emergency responders in how to administer it. The plan would not affect how state and local governments obtain Narcan. Meanwhile, in New York, lawmakers, advocates, and families are putting pressure on state officials to invest more resources in combatting the overdose crisis. In Monroe County alone, there were 95 opioid overdoses within the past month. Robert Kent is a national drug policy expert and former Biden administration official. He's in Rochester this week for an event at Huther Doyle, but first, he and his fellow guests join us on "Connections" to discuss their recommendations for how to better address the crisis at the local, national, and federal levels. In studio:
- Rob Kent, president of Kent Strategic Advisors and former general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
- Kelly A. Reed, president and CEO of Huther Doyle
- Lori Drescher, founder of Recovery Coach University
Then in our second hour, why are more young adults getting cancer? It's a question researchers are racing to answer. In January, the American Cancer Society released a report detailing how despite the cancer mortality rate in the U.S. decreasing by 34% from 1991 to 2022, the progress is jeopardized by an increase in diagnoses of many types of cancer, especially in younger adults. As our guests this hour explain, navigating cancer diagnosis and treatment as a young person has unique challenges. We talk with them about the state of research and how to support young adults living with the disease. Our guests:
- Lauren Spiker, founder and executive director of 13thirty Cancer Connect
- Jamie Flerlage, M.D., chief, academic director, and associate professor of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at Golisano Children's Hospital and assistant director of clinical research at the Wilmot Cancer Institute
- Ashley Chittenden, survivor of acute myeloid leukemia and nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at Golisano Children's Hospital/Wilmot Cancer Institute
