First hour: Dr. Rahul Gupta on the opioid crisis in America
Second hour: Discussing the controversy surrounding racist place names
We're joined by Dr. Rahul Gupta, former public health commissioner for West Virginia, for a conversation about the state of the opioid crisis in America. West Virginia has the highest age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving opioids, and during his time as health commissioner, Gupta led a series of initiatives to try to combat the crisis. He's now the chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes. Gupta is in Rochester for a presentation at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, but first, he joins us on Connections to discuss addiction, and how he thinks the medical system should change to help alleviate the opioid crisis. In studio:
- Dr. Rahul Gupta, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, and former public health commissioner for West Virginia
- Yana Khasper, co-founder of ROCovery Fitness, who is living in recovery
- Susan Verrett Allen, co-president of the Rochester Museum and Science Center Council
Then in our second hour, should place names that are racist or offensive be changed? WXXI reporter and producer Veronica Volk traveled to places throughout the Greater Rochester area, asking residents that question. The responses were varied, and in some cases, controversial. She joins us to discuss her reporting, and we talk about when and why names should be changed and how the history of those places should be taught. In studio:
- Veronica Volk, WXXI reporter and producer
- Erik McNair, vice president of Wayne Action for Racial Equality
- Michael Oberg, founder of the Geneseo Center for Local and Municipal History, and distinguished professor of history at SUNY Geneseo
