National Recovery Month: Penn Medicine Expert Available to Discuss Naloxone, Opioid Addiction Prevention/Treatment

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic has continued to take its toll on people from all walks of life. September is National Recovery Month, and Penn Medicine physician Bonnie Milas, MD, a professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, is available for media interviews. She is an anesthesiologist who administers fentanyl every day to patients, and also has a strong personal connection to the fight against opioid addictions after losing both of her adult sons to overdoses. Milas advocates for everyone to keep naloxone on hand and at home, has done extensive work to highlight the signs of addiction, and has written about signs she saw in her own household.

“As a Penn physician, I take the role of educator to heart. Overdose deaths continue to escalate, and there is a dire need in the community to have naloxone at home and in public, along with basic rescue skills, to save an overdose victim’s life. Opioids are the leading cause of death from drug overdose, which is largely preventable if naloxone and related skills are immediately on hand. I am committed to teach about naloxone and CPR skills to my patients and the public. “

Watch Dr. Milas’ video on the topic for the American Society of Anesthesiologists: REVIVE me (asahq.org)