Welcome to Redux, a weekly newsmagazine from WJCT.
This week, after the Obama administration announced it's asking Congress to pass $1.1 billion to support initiatives to help treat the nation's prescription opioid and heroin epidemic, we look at the problem in Northeast Florida and the hurdles users face when they try to get clean. Also on the program, the Jacksonville City Council passes its annual budget, the future of Barnett Tower and the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney.
Also, learn more about WJCT's After Hours programming, including the expansion of Relax Radio.
The podcast is hosted by Vince Kong.
City Council Passes Public-Safety Focused Budget
The Jacksonville City Council approved a budget of more than a billion dollars Tuesday evening. The spending plan focuses on public safety and paying off pension debt.
Doctors Need A New Skill Set For This Opioid Abuse Treatment
In a big hotel conference room near New York's Times Square, six doctors huddle around a greasy piece of raw pork. They watch as addiction medicine specialist Michael Frost delicately marks the meat, incises it and implants four match-sized rods.
Florida Opioid Epidemic Compounded By Lack Of Addiction Specialists
Getting connected to opioid treatment can be as difficult for struggling addicts as deciding to seek help in the first place.
Former Barnett Tower Developer: Collaboration Could Save Project
Jaguars owner Shad Khan recently took control of the historic Barnett Tower in downtown Jacksonville, ending a seven-year effort by developer Steve Adkins to renovate the building.
Flagler Beach Sea Turtle Hospital Going Swimmingly After Year 1
The Sea Turtle Hospital officially opened its doors at the Whitney Laboratory, just south of St. Augustine, late last year. Since then, it’s served around 100 patients, suffering from injuries ranging from boat strikes to fishing line entanglements.
Digital Content Editor Vince Kong can be reached at vkong@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter @teamvincek
