A meteor's vapor trail above the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Friday. Credit: Vyacheslav Nikulin /EPA /LANDOV

A meteor struck the Ural Mountain city of Chelyabinsk, Russia early Friday morning, injuring nearly 1000 people. The meteor, estimated to weigh about 10 tons, was traveling at 10 to 12 miles per second, causing a bright flash and sonic boom upon disintegration.

Though there have been no reported deaths or critical injuries, 43 people have been hospitalized out of the 985-plus seeking medical attention -- most injuries were caused by flying shards of glass during the explosions. Although the event inspired initial concerns about spikes in radiation levels, tests show a normal amount of radiation in the atmosphere. The event also generated some conspiracy theories, with one member of the Russian Parliament claiming that the meteor was actually a U.S. weapons test.

Are there ways to predict meteoric events like the one in Russia? Can large meteors be deflected, can damage be prevented? How would you react in a similar situation?

Guest:
Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology; author of "How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming", a best selling memoir of the discoveries leading to the demotion of Pluto

Director of the Department of Children and Family Services Phillip Browning holds up a sign with the Child Protection Hotline, 800-540-4000. Credit: Erika Aguilar/KPCC

A confidential 2011 report on the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has been made public by the Los Angeles Times. The department, which has been under fire for years for several instances in which children under its purview have suffered avoidable abuse and death, was found to have systemic, broad problems which crippled its effectiveness as an agency.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors commissioned the report, carried out by an independent counsel, to root out the reasons for such failures and to come up with plans for how to right the sinking ship. The main reasoning for the department’s negligence in these cases was determined to be placing the responsibility of evaluating child danger to social workers with the least experience. This, paired with a department directive to try and keep children out of foster care at all costs, often led to children staying with families who were abusive and otherwise unsafe. Furthermore, employees who made egregious mistakes were often allowed to go on unpunished, establishing a culture of cyclical failure.

Phil Browning, the new Director of DCFS, has hired the main author of the report, Amy Shek Naamani, in a leadership position to help guide the department through this period of restructuring and rehabilitation. Already, Browning has demoted and transferred numerous employees to more appropriate positions, and done away with the institutionalized reluctance to place children in foster care.

What else is Browning doing to improve the department? What changes are already being seen? And how is the Board of Supervisors evaluating the progress thus far?

Guests:
Phil Browning, Director of the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services

Zev Yaroslavsky, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the third district of Los Angeles County

L.A. Times finds a report given secretly to the Board of Su­per­visors detailing abuse, fatalities, and neglect of children under the care and supervision of County Departments:

April Report About DCFS Fatalities by scprweb

Riverside Police Officers console each other outside of Grove Community Church before Michael Crain's funeral on February 13th, 2013. Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC

It’s been twelve days since Christopher Dorner was suspected of killing Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence, and this whirlwind pursuit ended yesterday when charred remains from a burning cabin was identified as Dorner. The residents of Big Bear are entering back into their routines since LAPD lifted their tactical alert and witnesses have recounted their stories.

See KPCC’s extensive coverage of Dorner

However, as these tragic events come to a close, many questions linger. The public questions whether police officers’ use of seven tear gas canisters, nicknamed “burners,” intentionally led to a fire that burned the cabin and Dorner. How did over 200 police officers swarm Big Bear for nearly a week and not find the suspect hiding just a few doors away? And, who gets the $1 million dollar reward?

Guests:
Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times reporter

Ben Bergman, KPCC reporter

Author Edward Ball's new book tells the cinematic story of vagabond Muybridge and his tycoon friend as they originated the technique of stop-motion photography and re-wrote California's history. Credit: "The Inventor and the Tycoon: A Gilded Age Murder and the Birth of Moving Pictures"

Just as it is today, California in the 1800’s was a place to reinvent yourself – perhaps more than once.  Edward Muybridge was a man of with many hats, a series of professions and a half-dozen names. Muybridge – born Edward Muggeridge – was a bookseller, inventor, banker and even a murderer. But the calling that would earn him respect and notoriety – photography –  also secured his place in history.

Muybridge’s friend and patron, the railroad tycoon Leland Stanford, was another reinvented, bigger-than-life figure in California history and founder of the Palo Alto university named for his dead son.  A discussion between the two about Stanford’s beloved racehorses sparked a question: when a horse runs, do all four hooves leave the ground at any point?  It was Muybridge who found a way to answer the question, thanks to innovative use of his camera.  And in doing so, he originated the technique of stop-motion photography, paving the way to the invention of motion pictures years before Thomas Edison introduced his Kinetoscope.

The story of these two men, vagabond and tycoon, is every bit as cinematic as the art form they inspired. And in their intertwining journeys to California, they rewrote its history even as they were reinventing their own.

Guest:
Edward Ball, author of "The Inventor and the Tycoon: A Gilded Age Murder and the Birth of Moving Pictures" (Doubleday) and the National Book Award-winning "Slaves in the Family"

See Muybridge’s horse in motion, widely considered to be the first motion picture: 

David Helvarg's new book "California's Love Affair with the Sea: The Golden Shore" examines the California coast’s heritage and impact on the U.S. geographically, economically, politically, and socially. Credit: California's Love Affair with the Sea: The Golden Shore

The Golden State’s nearly 1000 miles of coastal terrain is perhaps its most defining feature. Not only has the California coastline shaped the state geographically, it has fundamentally influenced Californians and Americans in terms of economics, politics, social values and more. Award-winning journalist and environmental conservationist David Helvarg comprehensively examines the California coast’s heritage and impact on the United States in his new book, “The Golden Shore: California’s Love Affair with the Sea.”

In preparation for the book, Helvarg interviewed commercial fisherman, scientists and U.S. Navy officials among others. He also observed and reports on underwater exploratory science vessels, marine container ships, the San Diego Coast Guard’s nightly migrant patrol to scan for smugglers and other endeavors.

Additionally, Helvarg provides authoritative commentary on environmental concerns including ocean conservation, preservation, climate change, and an assessment of rising sea levels. Listen in as Larry is joined by Helvarg to discuss California’s love affair with the sea and more.

Guest:
David Helvarg, author of “The Golden Shore: California’s Love Affair with the Sea”

Police vehicles block an intersection where a shooting occurred in Tustin. It is one of several locations where shootings were reported early Tuesday morning. Credit: NBC LA

Early this morning, a man committed a series of carjackings and murders in Orange County before taking his own life. When his rampage ended, four were dead (including the perpetrator) and others were wounded.

In the wake of 2012’s mass killings in Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut, gun violence is in our consciousness more than ever in recent years. According to Slate.com’s running tally of gun-related deaths in the U.S. since the Newtown shootings, since December 14, 2012, 1,935 Americans have been killed with a firearm. Are we seeing a trend toward more gun violence in our future, or are the recent tragedies outliers? Or could gun-related violence be on our radars more than ever before because it’s creeping into communities where it once was almost nonexistent?

Guests:
Ben Bergman, KPCC’s Orange County reporter

Lawrence Rosenthal, Professor of law at Chapman University in Orange, California

Accountants at from PricewaterhouseCoopers prepare ballots at the 84th Academy Awards Final Oscar Ballot mailing at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on February 1, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

As Oscar night gets closer by the minute, Hollywood insiders are busy preparing for their most important night of the year; however, there’s another venue experiencing an upswing of activity… online gambling sites. After the presidential election, the Oscars are the most gambled upon annual non-sporting event in the United States, according to some estimates. Oscar gamblers also tend to skew younger and more female.

Not all odds listings are the same, but this year, most bookmakers name Daniel Day Lewis as most likely to win Best Actor, Jennifer Lawrence to scoop up the Best Actress award, and list "Argo" and "Lincoln" as the two frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscar. Do you bet on the Oscars? What factors most influence how gamblers place their bets?

Guest:
Pat Morrow, Head Oddsmaker at Bovada.lv

Timothy Leary talks with his wife Rosemary in December 1967 after he was arraigned on various charges concerning the possession and sale of dangerous drugs. Leary taught psychology at Harvard and was an early advocate of LSD experimentation. By 1960 was doing experiments with LSD and other hallucinogens, first on prison inmates and then on himself and his friends. Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

In the early 1960’s, mind-altering drugs like psilocybin and LSD got a bad rap, thanks largely to experiments that spun out of control. Psychologists Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert notoriously unleashed their “turn on, tune in” philosophy on a culture that was eager to try the new miracle drug, but ill-prepared on their own to handle its effects. As a result, psychedelics were outlawed by 1970 and research into their potential benefits halted.  But recently, interest in these drugs for clinical use has been revived.

New studies have shown that the use of LSD and other psychotropic drugs greatly reduces the stress, fear, anxiety and pain associated with advanced cancer, PTSD and other conditions.  After just one dose of psilocybin, administered by a doctor under controlled circumstances (which, in a nod to Dr. Leary, can include plush sofas, Persian carpets and sitar music), patients report a sense of euphoria, emotional well-being, peace and optimism that can last a year or more, greatly changing their outlook even in the face of terminal illness. Some doctors and psychologists specializing in palliative care believe that the use of psychedelics can go a long way towards providing what they term a “good death” - one that implies a positive experience, free of end-of-life pain, stress and remorse.

Do psychedelics deserve another look from the medical profession? Would you welcome a mind-bending experience if it would ease the transition to death?

Guests:

Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine

Charles Grob, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles  David Geffen School of Medicine

Click here to read research investigating the effects of psilocybin/mystical experience with cancer patients suffering with anxiety and existential distress, co-authored by Charles S. Grob, Anthony P. Bossis and Roland R. Griffiths.

Comedian Phyllis Diller is featured in the In Memoriam tribute during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 23, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

On February 6th, a man set out on a mission. That man’s name is Joe Wagner, and his mission is to see more women on comedy shows in Los Angeles. After seeing one of his female friends complain on Facebook about not enough women being booked on shows, Wagner took it upon himself to launch a campaign of sorts to, from his perspective, raise awareness of the issue.

"I didn't think of it as a crusade, I thought of it as something very personal because I love standup shows, and I's a big fan of the art form," said Wagner. "I  particularly like female comics because I see a lot of guy comics and that can get tired."

Wagner looked at his Facebook invites for shows happening every night around town. If there were no women on the bill, then he would point that out and ask for two to be booked. If there was one, he’d ask for one more. Wagner went to great lengths to pose this request in the form of a question or query, and eschewed attaching any sociopolitical bent to it beyond simply enjoying seeing women on stage at shows.

As this carried out on Facebook over a few days, the reaction was mixed. Some comedians supported Wagner's effort as a means to bring more variety to the world of stand-up in Los Angeles.

"I don't think that people are consciously not putting women on their shows," said Brandie Posey, an LA comic and host of the podcast Lady to Lady. "For me, I like diverse shows, I like to see different viewpoints from different kinds of comics and I don't necessarily think bookers are consciously thinking about showing those different voices."

Others were not so bullish. They said this strikes of tokenism, and would actually undermine comedy as a whole by instituting informal quotas. And the female response is not uniform, either. While some appreciate the attention Wagner is focusing on what they perceive to be a systemic problem, others have kindly (and not so kindly) asked Wagner to step aside and drop the white knight act.

And comedy bookers, who already have a ton on their plate with trying to repeatedly book solid shows with different performers, are inclined to take umbrage when told how to do their jobs.

"My reaction to it that it's an imperfect science, it's not necessarily something that's done maliciously," said Jeff Wattenhofer, comedy booker for the weekly show Holy F**k. "The thing that I took offense to with Joe's actions on that week are that it didn't reflect the show as a whole it was just that week's lineup, and in fact tonight's line up has four very funny women. They were booked weeks ago, I think what he's doing is good in the longterm, but bad in the short term."

Is Wagner's campaign patronizing instead of being effective? How are female comics reacting? Is Wagner missing the mark and just trying to bring attention to himself? Do you enjoy seeing women take the mic at shows, or is variety not something you think about as long as the comedians are all funny? Is setting a number the wrong way to go about this? Will other demographic groups need to be considered next?

Guests:
Joe Wagner, comedian, actor, producer and writer, seen in “Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion"

Brandie Posey, comedian and one of the hosts of Lady to Lady, a podcast released every Wednesday and a live show every month at the UCB Theater

Jeff Wattenhofer, comedian and booker at Holy F***, a weekly comedy show on Tuesdays at 9pm at the Downtown Independent Theater

In this June 18, 1981 file photo, Jerry Buss holds a Los Angeles Lakers shirt in Los Angeles. Buss, the Lakers' playboy owner who shepherded the NBA franchise to 10 championships, has died. He was 79. Credit: Uncredited/AP

Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers owner who led the team to 10 NBA championships died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Monday, he was 80. When Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 he had a vision of the ‘showtime’ era and immediately drafted Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson out of Michigan State. Johnson, along with Buss, went on to be part of 10 Lakers Championships as a player and owner. Under Buss’ leadership, the Lakers became part of the landscape of Southern California, bringing in names like Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Dwight Howard.

During Buss’ reign, the Lakers were the NBA’s most successful franchise. Many former and current players formed strong bonds with the well-liked Buss. He was regarded as a very generous and highly revered owner. Buss was a trailblazer in the NBA and one of the first owners to sell naming rights to his arena, the forum. He also turned the forum into not only a place to see games, but a place to be seen.

Guests:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 6-Time NBA champion, 6-NBA MVP and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer

Narda Zacchino, editor of  "The Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Amazing Years in the City of Angels"(Time Capsule Press)

Major crash investigation section officer inspects the 'black box' recorder that was recovered from a car crash in Australia. Should black boxes be implemented in the U.S.? Credit: Pool/Getty Images

You may not know it, but there’s a plan to get a black box in your car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is pushing for mandatory crash recorders for all cars. Some groups are bristling at this effort, namely the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They are worried that this will lead to tracking and recording of data that encroach on the privacy of drivers. For instance, what if you lend your car to a friend who proceeded to drive like a speed demon up and down the highway? If the data in the black box was accessed, then the information could make it back to your insurance company, resulting in a huge rate hike. And the black box would track more than just your speed, but if airbags are deployed, what seat belts are connected, the position of the brake and accelerator, and more.

With no regulations in place for how much information can be stored, critics of the plan are sincerely worried that these devices could be used for more harm than good. Supporters of the plan, however, point to the fact that most cars already have some form of a crash recorder, and that the amount of data gathered is routinely used to make cars safer for consumers. When it comes to the privacy issue, they indicate that the NHTSA doesn’t have the jurisdiction to access such information anyway.

Should cars have these black boxes in them? Will it really make driving any safer? Or could it be used against us? Are you even aware of whether or not there is one in your car?

Guests:
Clarence M. Ditlow, Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety

Nate Cardozo, Staff Attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, center, talks about the $1 million reward for accused killer and fired Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Dorner as Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, left, and Irvine, Calif., Mayor Steven Choi look on during a news conference at the Los Angeles police department in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Credit: Chris Carlson/AP

In the wake of the Christopher Dorner case, the Los Angeles Police Department has its hands full.

Dorner, a black ex-officer who apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot last Tuesday, claimed he had been subjected to racism within the department. At a press conference yesterday (Tuesday) Chief Charlie Beck confirmed that a review of Dorner's firing from the LAPD is under way.

Plus, what about the million dollar reward offered for Dorner? "It should be paid out, but it has to be done fairly," said Beck. And what's the latest update on the LAPD officers who shot innocent bystanders  in pursuit of Dorner? Listen in as Patt Morrison gets the answers to these questions and more from the Chief of the LAPD himself, Charlie Beck.

Guest:

Charlie Beck, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department

Miami Beach police department conducts a field sobriety test at a DUI traffic checkpoint. On Thursday, February 14, 2013, Senator Correa introduced a bill to make all drugged driving illegal, including prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Everybody knows you’re not supposed to get behind the wheel after you’ve had a few drinks. And if you’re stopped, there’s a clear measure for law enforcement: 0.08% of alcohol in your blood.  But what if your driving is impaired by something else – prescription painkillers, cold medicine or other medications? A report released by the California Office of Traffic Safety last year found that twice as many weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for potentially impairing drugs as for alcohol.

A new law proposed by State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) would make driving under the influence of certain Class I through IV drugs illegal, unless you have a prescription. Also, common medications that contain codeine such as Tylenol with codeine and Xanax fall into this category. 

Orange County is already on the frontlines in the effort to reduce drugged driving with a program in place to train officers to recognize the symptoms in the field. But how will drug tests and officers be able to distinguish between over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions? Other critics say drugs can linger in the body and will cause positive test results, even though the driver may not be impaired. Also, what’s the difference between driving with or without a valid prescription if the driver is considered impaired?

Guests:
Norma Torres, California Assembly Member (D-Pomona)

Lanette Davies, director of legislative affairs, Crusaders for Patients Rights

#1 Men's Car: Chevrolet Corvette Credit: Chevrolet

Automobile website Edmunds.com has released the top ten cars bought in Los Angeles for 2012 based on sex.

Looking at the two lists, it appears that when it comes to cars and trucks, socio-normative gender roles are holding on strong. For instance, the list for females is comprised of smaller vehicles and no trucks. For men, on the other hand, trucks take up more than half the results. While this may not be surprising, some of the nuances of the data do have interesting implications. It seems there is a connection between domestic automobiles and men, as there are only three foreign vehicles that made it to the top ten. Also, the top result for women is the Volkswagen Beetle. This is unfortunate for VW, as the 2012 Beetle was geared towards attracting male consumers. Why doesn’t that car appeal to men? And why do men buy so many trucks, especially in L.A. where parking is notoriously awful?

Why are women more likely to buy foreign cars? Do you have a “male” or “female” car? Do you think there is a connection between one’s sex and the choice of a vehicle?

Guest:
Jessica Caldwell, Senior Analyst from Edmunds.com

How do "flipped" classrooms compare with traditional learning models? Credit: Larry W. Smith/Getty Images

It’s a familiar scenario to anyone who’s been to high school: teachers droning out a lecture in front of a class of bored, distracted or uncomprehending students, who are then sent home to try to apply the day’s lesson to homework on their own. And any teacher can tell you that the results aren’t always what they hope for. But what if the model were turned on its head?  In the “Flipped Learning” method, teachers assign home viewing of videotaped lectures, then spend class time helping their students solidify what they’ve learned with projects, exercises and Socratic discussions.

What’s the upside for learning?  More one-on-one time with a teacher who can be present to answer questions, explain difficult concepts and overcome stumbling blocks. Teachers report improved grades along with greater student engagement and comprehension. The movement has been growing in popularity since its inception around nine years ago.

One online association devoted to the concept, the Flipped Learning Network, boasts  a membership of 11,000 teachers and administrators worldwide. If Flipped Learning is so successful, why haven’t more schools adopted it?

What kind of work outlay is required by teachers to prepare adequate home learning materials? What if all students don’t have adequate internet access or the needed technology?  If you’re a teacher, would you try this method  in your classroom?

Guests:
Aaron Sams, co-author of  "Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day" (with Jonathan Bergmann), former high school chemistry teacher and chair of the Flipped Learning Network

Gary S. Stager, Ph.D., speaker, teacher and educator who writes a column on education for The Huffington Post

Crystal Kirch, mathematics teacher at Segerstrom Fundamental High School in Santa Ana

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, center, talks about the $1 million reward for accused killer and fired Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Dorner as Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, left, and Irvine, Calif., Mayor Steven Choi look on during a news conference at the Los Angeles police department in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Credit: Chris Carlson/AP

In the wake of the Christopher Dorner case, the Los Angeles Police Department has its hands full. It has been an especially busy and no doubt difficult two weeks for LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, but he’s making time to sit down with Patt Morrison.

RELATED: See all of KPCC's Dorner coverage

Dorner, a black ex-officer who apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot last Tuesday, claimed he had been subjected to racism within the department. At a press conference yesterday, Chief Beck confirmed that a review of Dorner's firing from the LAPD is under way.

RELATED: LAPD Chief Beck will meet with community about Christopher Dorner firing investigation

Plus, what about the million dollar reward offered for Dorner? "It should be paid out, but it has to be done fairly," said Beck. And what's the latest update on the LAPD officers who shot innocent bystanders  in pursuit of Dorner? Listen in as Patt Morrison gets the answers to these questions and more from the Chief of the LAPD himself, Charlie Beck.

Guest:
Charlie Beck, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department

This image shows the grid structure of the major pathways of the brain. It was created using a scanner that's part of the Human Connectome Project, a five-year effort which is studying and mapping the human brain.
Credit: MGH-UCLA Human Connectome Project

President Obama plans to announce a big and bold scientific initiative to map the human brain. According to The New York Times, it will try to achieve for brain research what the Human Genome Project did for genetics. The report says Congress will be asked to allocate $3 billion dollars over ten years. In his State of the Union address last week, Obama said, "Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy" - meaning such projects combine scientific endeavors with economic benefits. But should we ask for a money-back guarantee?

When looking at  California's investments in stem cell research - funding allocated thanks to Proposition 71 in 2004 - government sometimes has a poor track record of making good science materialize despite billions spent. What other science has government been successful at managing and investing? What about NASA getting to the moon? Or nuclear research? Could cancer research be better off if it were a centralized project of the National Institute of Health? Or has a laissez faire approach been more fruitful?

Guest:
Ralph Greenspan, Associate Director, Kavli Institute for Mind and Brain at UC San Diego

Commissioner David Stern presents owner of the Los Angeles Lakers Jerry Buss the NBA Championship trophy in action during the NBA Finals Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

With the passing of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, comes not just mourning but questioning over how the kids will do with the family business. Jeanie and Jim Buss have worked with the team already, but always with Jerry's experience and advice looming large. Sports franchises are under a bigger spotlight, but every day businesses get handed down from one generation to the next. What are the prospects for the Buss family and the Lakers? What are the winning and losing strategies for inheriting the family business?

Guests:
Paul Swangard, Woodard Family Foundation Fellow and Managing Director, Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, University of Oregon

Quentin Fleming, author of "Keep the Family Baggage Out of the Family Business," Adjunct Professor, USCMarshallSchool of Business

Oscar Pistorius in a Pretoria court Tuesday. Credit: Siphiwe Sibeko /Reuters /Landov

Investigation of Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius in the murder of his girlfriend is off to a chaotic start. Police replaced the lead investigator on the case after it was revealed that he was facing seven charges of attempted murder.

During a bail hearing, news of the replacement and calls for investigation into Pistorius’ mental health clouded claims from prosecution that Pistorius could easily flee the country. The prosecution argues that the murder of Reeva Steenkamp was premeditated, and that the four lethal shots Pistorius fired through his bathroom door were planned, citing the fact that he had put on his prosthetic legs. Pistorius says that he woke in the middle of the night thinking that an intruder had entered the house, and fired shots without his legs on because he felt “vulnerable.” If Pistorius is convicted of premeditated murder he will serve life in prison.

Is the Pistorius investigation tainted by the investigation’s rocky start? Does Pistorius’ heroic background make him any less prosecutable?

Guest:
David Smith, Africa reporter for The Guardian

A man in Boulder, Colorado is taken by paramedics on December 11, 2009 after taking more than 25 vicodin pain killers the night before. The CDC reports that a growing number of intentional and accidental deaths are caused by prescription medication. Credit: John Moore/Getty Images

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday published a report that shows a steady rise in drug overdose deaths in the United States. The report states that nearly 17,000 people died from drug overdoses in 1999; in 2010 the number was almost 39,000.  That's a 127% increase over the past 11 years.

Almost half of those deaths were due to opioid analgesics, such as OxyContin and Vicodin. Anti-anxiety medications including Valium were also common causes of overdose deaths.

Why have overdose deaths risen so significantly? The CDC speculates that many doctors and patients don’t realize pain management drugs can be addicting and that many deaths result from mismanagement of multiple prescription medications. California is one of the states that has an electronic database designed to monitor prescription drug use, with an eye to catching both pill-pushing doctors and doctor-shopping patients.  

But is it being utilized, and if so, is it effective enough? Is the public well-informed about prescription drug abuse and overdosing? What are the signs of drug abuse? What are health care professionals and the federal government doing to prevent this trend from continuing?

Guests:
Natalie Strand, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, USC Pain Management, Department of Anesthesiology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California

Lynn Webster, M.D., co-founder and Chief Medical Director of Lifetree Clinical Research and president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine