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Some stories require a little more – a little more discussion, more context, more depth and breadth. 

That’s the idea behind “Behind the Blue” – a weekly podcast created by UK Strategic Communications. It is designed to explore through probing interviews the in-depth the stories that make UK the university for Kentucky and that have impact across the institution, the Commonwealth and, in some cases, the world. 

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

Mar 30, 2018

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2018) -- The opioid epidemic has ravaged communities across the United States and few states have been harder hit than Kentucky. There is, however, reason to have hope. Researchers, physicians and leaders in the Commonwealth and across the nation are working to find solutions that can help people enter recovery and save lives.

Physicians like Dr. Laura Fanucchi, work with patients who have opioid use disorder (OUD) to help them on their path to recovery. In several clinical spaces at UK HealthCare, Fanucchi assists patients by providing medication assisted treatment, the standard of care in the treatment of OUD, and helps connect patients to other services like counseling. Increased rates of injection drug use have led to a rise in incidence of infectious diseases like endocarditis, Hepatitis C and HIV. These patients are also seen by Fanucchi who treats their condition, educates them on preventing reinfection and works to address the underlying cause of the infection, addiction.

Fanucchi also conducts research through the UK Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, including studies on ways to improve access to treatment for substance use disorders by better integrating that care into the inpatient setting. She is currently working on a study examining the viability of treating patients for endocarditis in their homes, rather than with long stay in a hospital.

April 2 to 5 Fanucchi and a team of physicians, researchers and leaders from the University of Kentucky will travel to Atlanta for the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit. There, the team will have the opportunity to share with federal, state and local leaders the work they do in Kentucky to combat the opioid epidemic.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of "Behind the Blue" each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

Click here for "Behind the Blue" on iTunes.