This is a conversation with freshman congresswoman Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, whose first bill in Congress targeted the rising threat of xylazine, a powerful tranquilizer linked to the escalating epidemic of overdoses. Caraveo, who is a doctor, talks about the devastating impact of fentanyl and meth overdoses among young Latinos and farm workers in Colorado’s rural communities and her plans to address the addiction epidemic.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14
PROGRAM #10313 12:00 PM PT

Targeting Xylazine, Fentanyl and Other Drugs. This is a conversation with freshman congresswoman Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, whose first bill in Congress targeted the rising threat of xylazine, a powerful tranquilizer linked to the escalating epidemic of overdoses. Caraveo, who is a doctor, talks about the devastating impact of fentanyl and meth overdoses among young Latinos and farm workers in Colorado’s rural communities and her plans to address the addiction epidemic.

Guest: Yadira Caraveo, US Congresswoman D-Colorado, Washington, DC.

Bill would allow youths to carry Naloxone in Colorado.

Gavinn Mackinny, a Native American youth from the Potawatomi Tribe, died in late 2021 in Durango, Colorado, after his first taste of fentanyl. That same year, more than 1,500 children and teens like Gavinn, 15 years old, lost their lives to overdoses. A group of Gavinn’s friends-turned-activists are working with Colorado legislators to pass a bill to allow young people carry Naloxone, a drug that would save the lives of other kids in the event of an overdose.

Guest: Paula Andalo, KFF Health News Editor, Silver Spring, MD.

Master Plan on the Opioid Crisis. Last year, California adopted a master plan to tackle the opioid crisis. Governor Newsom blamed the crisis of opioid addiction, overdose, and death on “Big Pharma’s irresponsible marketing of prescription opioids.” The Master Plan includes overdose prevention efforts, holds the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, cracks down on drug trafficking, and raises awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids. How is the plan working?

Guest:  Dr. Lucía Abascal, Public Health Physician, California Department of Public Health, Director’s Office, Sacramento, CA.

Photo: DEA via Facebook

For more information about Linea Abierta and to find previous shows visit our  Linea Abierta page.