Dr Andrew describes the overwhelming nature of the opioid epidemic, as he prepares to retire from practice
Dr Andrew met the writer of the article, Katharine Seelye, who was doing and article on the opioid situation and was interviewing various New England Medical Examiners. During conversations with Dr Andrew, she sensed a slightly different story could be built around his career evolution and suggested the article.
The nation is in the middle of one of the worst drug epidemics in history, and it is becoming overwhelming. “It’s almost as if the Visigoths are at the gates, and the gates are starting to crumble,” Dr. Andrew said. “I’m not an alarmist by nature, but this is not overhyped. It has completely overwhelmed us.”
After he retired as Chief Medical Examiner of NH last month, Dr Andrew decided that after two decades as a forensic pathologist that the next step for him was to take a divinity degree and to minister to young people to stay away from drugs. “After seeing thousands of sudden, unexpected or violent deaths,” Dr. Andrew said, “I have found it impossible not to ponder the spiritual dimension of these events for both the deceased and especially those left behind.”
After this NYT article was published, he was approached by several news outlets with requests for interviews, including the Massachusetts NPR affiliate WGBH; the interview can be found at the following link.
