Pharmaceutical Startup, Bridge Therapeutics, Announces It is Funding a Mini-Documentary That Will Educate the Public on the Dangers of Opioids

BIRMINGHAM, AL, June 7, 2018 (Newswire.com) - ​The innovative late development-stage pharmaceutical startup, Bridge Therapeutics has announced it is sponsoring a mini-documentary that will educate the public on the use and misuse of opioid prescriptions.

Tim Peara, Director of Finance for Bridge Therapeutics, said the campaign will alert the community on how these relievers of moderate to severe chronic pain can quickly escalate into full-blown addiction.

Many people associate opioid addicts with the street junkie, but that's not an accurate portrayal. Millions of teenagers, parents and grandparents become addicted to opioids after a brief, legal prescription.

Tim Peara, Bridge Therapeutics, Director of Finance

“Many people associate opioid addicts with the street junkie, but that’s not an accurate portrayal,” said Peara. “Millions of teenagers, parents and grandparents become addicted to opioids after a brief, legal prescription.”

Each year 70 million Americans will be prescribed opioids, which range from codeine to fentanyl.  Of these, more than 17 million Americans take them daily for chronic pain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  When carefully prescribed and monitored, opioids provide pain relief to long-term sufferers of such conditions as lower back and joint pain as well as conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Yet owing to how opioids work in the body, an escalating does is usually required to manage chronic pain, which is described as lasting longer than an injury takes to health or 3-6 months. This increasing dosage raises the risk of addiction disorders which range from shattered relationships to constipation to overdose.  Every day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Vital Statistics System.

The mini-documentary, titled - It Didn’t Take Much - is being produced by Emmy-award winning producer, Mark Macias. He’s been nominated for five Emmys, including in the documentary category with CBS in New York. Macias also won an Emmy with NBC for a consumer segment that explored hidden household fire hazards.

Morgan Wagner, who spent 7 years reporting in Idaho and Alabama, will be the reporter. She’s reported on stories like the Opioid Crisis and the Funding of Mental Health that ran in different local news markets.

“This is a personal story for me,” said Morgan. “People in my family have been impacted by this opioid epidemic. I’ve also reported on many opioid addiction stories. I’ve never met an addict who expected their addiction to escalate so quickly. They all say, ‘it didn’t take much.’ Hopefully, this video prevents future opioid addicts from ever starting.”

As part of the documentary, Wagner will interview people who are addicted, recovering addicts and experts in the industry.

Macias and Wagner will begin shooting the mini-documentary in June with a September release.

“Maybe you know someone whose life was changed by opioids, or maybe you have a compelling opioid story to tell,” said Macias. “Please reach out to us. This is an opportunity to expose the dangers of opioid before the first pill is ever taken.”

Source: Bridge Therapeutics