Opioids, powerful medications prescribed to reduce people's pain from acute injuries and chronic illnesses, have led to millions of addicted Americans and thousands of overdose deaths.

Dr. David Tauben, chief of pain medicine at UW Medicine, visited Spokane this month to talk about the opioid epidemic across Washington state, and specifically in Spokane and eastern Washington. 

“When we do prescribe for pain – if we find a need to prescribe opioids – we need to do it right,” he said. “It’s making sure this merits a need for opioids [and] that the number of pills given represent the smallest reasonable number.”