What stories can pharmaceuticals tell? A newly released narrative podcast examines prescription drugs as lenses into larger narratives regarding disease, culture and profit. From Xanax to Zoloft, each episode homes in on one commonly prescribed medication, examining why so much faith is put in “magic pills” and what drugs promise versus what they actually “fix.” Dr. Joe Sirven speaks to the science journalist behind the project Drug Story who invites listeners to reevaluate their expectation of modern medicine and their own role in health care decisions.
Guest: Thomas Goetz, journalist, author and host of Drug Story
Then, the promise and the limitations of a preventative HIV medication, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. A family medicine doctor with extensive experience working with and treating HIV patients explains why a daily pill isn’t realistic for everyone. He discusses how long-acting injectable PrEP is opening new doors for people navigating busy schedules, stigma, privacy concerns and pill fatigue. He explains who PrEP is for, why many people underestimate the risk and how access, misinformation and inequity continue to fuel the HIV epidemic.
Guest: Dr. Kevin Hatfield, primary care and family medicine physician in Seattle