June 1998 on a beautiful Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. I pulled into the
morning at 8:00 a.m. I pulled into the
morning at 8:00 a.m. I pulled into the parking lot of the pharmacy where I was
parking lot of the pharmacy where I was
parking lot of the pharmacy where I was working as the relief pharmacist for the
working as the relief pharmacist for the
working as the relief pharmacist for the day immediately I noticed several cars
day immediately I noticed several cars
day immediately I noticed several cars in the parking lot oh it made me nervous
in the parking lot oh it made me nervous
in the parking lot oh it made me nervous for a moment I thought oh my god I must
for a moment I thought oh my god I must
for a moment I thought oh my god I must be late
be late
be late I wasn’t forty five minutes later after
I wasn’t forty five minutes later after
I wasn’t forty five minutes later after prepping shop and opening the doors
prepping shop and opening the doors
prepping shop and opening the doors first patient walks in steps up to the
first patient walks in steps up to the
first patient walks in steps up to the counter hands me a script for oxycontin
counter hands me a script for oxycontin
counter hands me a script for oxycontin second patient follows hands me a script
second patient follows hands me a script
second patient follows hands me a script for oxycontin third patient walks up and
for oxycontin third patient walks up and
for oxycontin third patient walks up and hands me a script for oxycontin for the
hands me a script for oxycontin for the
hands me a script for oxycontin for the last decade we have been in the midst of
last decade we have been in the midst of
last decade we have been in the midst of the worst drug epidemic in American
the worst drug epidemic in American
the worst drug epidemic in American history
history
history worse than the heroin epidemic of the
worse than the heroin epidemic of the
worse than the heroin epidemic of the 70s the AIDS epidemic of that in 80s and
70s the AIDS epidemic of that in 80s and
70s the AIDS epidemic of that in 80s and the crack cocaine epidemic of the 90s
the crack cocaine epidemic of the 90s
the crack cocaine epidemic of the 90s I’m speaking about the opioid or
I’m speaking about the opioid or
I’m speaking about the opioid or prescription painkiller epidemic for the
prescription painkiller epidemic for the
prescription painkiller epidemic for the first time ever drug overdoses are the
first time ever drug overdoses are the
first time ever drug overdoses are the number one cause of death in Americans
number one cause of death in Americans
number one cause of death in Americans under 50 under 50 you’re in your prime
under 50 under 50 you’re in your prime
under 50 under 50 you’re in your prime and by the time I’m done speaking today
and by the time I’m done speaking today
and by the time I’m done speaking today one person will have died yes every 15
one person will have died yes every 15
one person will have died yes every 15 minutes we lose a life do an opioid
minutes we lose a life do an opioid
minutes we lose a life do an opioid overdose and by the same time tomorrow
overdose and by the same time tomorrow
overdose and by the same time tomorrow 24 hours from now 96 people will have
24 hours from now 96 people will have
24 hours from now 96 people will have died with these odds it’s likely in your
died with these odds it’s likely in your
died with these odds it’s likely in your proximity isn’t your brother your child
proximity isn’t your brother your child
proximity isn’t your brother your child your neighbor your best friend
your neighbor your best friend
your neighbor your best friend it could even be you and if you don’t
it could even be you and if you don’t
it could even be you and if you don’t believe that you’re being touched by it
believe that you’re being touched by it
believe that you’re being touched by it you will be guaranteed this is just like
you will be guaranteed this is just like
you will be guaranteed this is just like cancer it’s touching all of us here’s
cancer it’s touching all of us here’s
cancer it’s touching all of us here’s why this is important to me I play many
why this is important to me I play many
why this is important to me I play many roles mother of five leadership results
roles mother of five leadership results
roles mother of five leadership results coach clinical pharmacist before
coach clinical pharmacist before
coach clinical pharmacist before graduating I was selected for a
graduating I was selected for a
graduating I was selected for a prestigious internship for
prestigious internship for
prestigious internship for pharmaceutical company it gave me a rare
pharmaceutical company it gave me a rare
pharmaceutical company it gave me a rare advantage an insider’s view and after
advantage an insider’s view and after
advantage an insider’s view and after graduating from USC go Trojans
graduating from USC go Trojans
graduating from USC go Trojans with a doctor of pharmacy degree
with a doctor of pharmacy degree
with a doctor of pharmacy degree followed by a clinical residency I
followed by a clinical residency I
followed by a clinical residency I accepted a position as a clinical
accepted a position as a clinical
accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist in a hospital but I also
pharmacist in a hospital but I also
pharmacist in a hospital but I also chose to work weekends retail to
chose to work weekends retail to
chose to work weekends retail to experience that side of pharmacy and
experience that side of pharmacy and
experience that side of pharmacy and back in the 90s we pharmacist myself
back in the 90s we pharmacist myself
back in the 90s we pharmacist myself included were filling oxycontin and
included were filling oxycontin and
included were filling oxycontin and vicodin pills like candy without any red
vicodin pills like candy without any red
vicodin pills like candy without any red flags it was the norm in fact we would
flags it was the norm in fact we would
flags it was the norm in fact we would have a large talk bottle right in front
have a large talk bottle right in front
have a large talk bottle right in front of us on the counter for fast moving
of us on the counter for fast moving
of us on the counter for fast moving refills and our actions were saying it’s
refills and our actions were saying it’s
refills and our actions were saying it’s not even worth taking the time and
not even worth taking the time and
not even worth taking the time and turning around and putting that bottle
turning around and putting that bottle
turning around and putting that bottle back on the shelf the volume was that
back on the shelf the volume was that
back on the shelf the volume was that high but what brings me here to you
high but what brings me here to you
high but what brings me here to you today is for the last two years I have
today is for the last two years I have
today is for the last two years I have been hanging out in prisons it started
been hanging out in prisons it started
been hanging out in prisons it started with a letter from an inmate humbly
with a letter from an inmate humbly
with a letter from an inmate humbly requesting one public speaking manual
requesting one public speaking manual
requesting one public speaking manual and a club sponsor I promptly replied to
and a club sponsor I promptly replied to
and a club sponsor I promptly replied to the letter invited a group of friends to
the letter invited a group of friends to
the letter invited a group of friends to join me and on the day that we showed up
join me and on the day that we showed up
join me and on the day that we showed up having never been in a prison before and
having never been in a prison before and
having never been in a prison before and after clearing security we walked into a
after clearing security we walked into a
after clearing security we walked into a large room full of men and we were met
large room full of men and we were met
large room full of men and we were met with a standing ovation so I am now my
with a standing ovation so I am now my
with a standing ovation so I am now my newest role is I’m a mentor for
newest role is I’m a mentor for
newest role is I’m a mentor for prisoners in the Florida Department of
prisoners in the Florida Department of
prisoners in the Florida Department of Corrections I’m behind bars six days a
Corrections I’m behind bars six days a
Corrections I’m behind bars six days a week and it’s what I learned behind
week and it’s what I learned behind
week and it’s what I learned behind those bars the deeper personal stories
those bars the deeper personal stories
those bars the deeper personal stories and problems that caused me to want to
and problems that caused me to want to
and problems that caused me to want to engage you to go to the source consider
engage you to go to the source consider
engage you to go to the source consider this metaphor one summer you and a group
this metaphor one summer you and a group
this metaphor one summer you and a group of friends are enjoying the picnic you
of friends are enjoying the picnic you
of friends are enjoying the picnic you notice a baby in the river
notice a baby in the river
notice a baby in the river crying instinctively you rush to save
crying instinctively you rush to save
crying instinctively you rush to save the baby then there’s a second baby
the baby then there’s a second baby
the baby then there’s a second baby screaming and you pull that baby out too
screaming and you pull that baby out too
screaming and you pull that baby out too and now there are more and more babies
and now there are more and more babies
and now there are more and more babies coming down the river and you and your
coming down the river and you and your
coming down the river and you and your friends are pulling them out as fast as
friends are pulling them out as fast as
friends are pulling them out as fast as you can exhausted a few of you think hey
you can exhausted a few of you think hey
you can exhausted a few of you think hey we need to go upstream and stop whoever
we need to go upstream and stop whoever
we need to go upstream and stop whoever is throwing them in if you want to make
is throwing them in if you want to make
is throwing them in if you want to make a difference
a difference
a difference go to the source go to the root cause
go to the source go to the root cause
go to the source go to the root cause go upstream but before we go upstream
go upstream but before we go upstream
go upstream but before we go upstream let me take you on a journey downstream
let me take you on a journey downstream
let me take you on a journey downstream and for that we have to go way back to
and for that we have to go way back to
and for that we have to go way back to 1898 when heroin and opioid was
1898 when heroin and opioid was
1898 when heroin and opioid was considered a wonder drug
considered a wonder drug
considered a wonder drug but as physicians started to become
but as physicians started to become
but as physicians started to become aware of the addictive nature of opioids
aware of the addictive nature of opioids
aware of the addictive nature of opioids and tried to avoid using them what we
and tried to avoid using them what we
and tried to avoid using them what we see is by 1924 heroin is illegal let’s
see is by 1924 heroin is illegal let’s
see is by 1924 heroin is illegal let’s fast-forward to the 80s the attitude
fast-forward to the 80s the attitude
fast-forward to the 80s the attitude begins to change why one short article
begins to change why one short article
begins to change why one short article in a reputable journal is published
in a reputable journal is published
in a reputable journal is published regarding the non addictive nature of
regarding the non addictive nature of
regarding the non addictive nature of opioids and that fuels the epidemic
opioids and that fuels the epidemic
opioids and that fuels the epidemic everyone is referencing it let’s move to
everyone is referencing it let’s move to
everyone is referencing it let’s move to the 90s pain management becomes a hot
the 90s pain management becomes a hot
the 90s pain management becomes a hot topic and the addictive nature of
topic and the addictive nature of
topic and the addictive nature of opioids they’re downplayed they’re
opioids they’re downplayed they’re
opioids they’re downplayed they’re minimized we also see this brilliant
minimized we also see this brilliant
minimized we also see this brilliant marketing campaign and we pick up a
marketing campaign and we pick up a
marketing campaign and we pick up a fifth vital sign pain when you go to see
fifth vital sign pain when you go to see
fifth vital sign pain when you go to see a physician they’re gonna check your
a physician they’re gonna check your
a physician they’re gonna check your blood pressure your respiration rate
blood pressure your respiration rate
blood pressure your respiration rate your pulse your temperature well now we
your pulse your temperature well now we
your pulse your temperature well now we added what is your pain on a scale of
added what is your pain on a scale of
added what is your pain on a scale of zero to ten zero should have never been
zero to ten zero should have never been
zero to ten zero should have never been a goal it’s not realistic 1996 Purdue
a goal it’s not realistic 1996 Purdue
a goal it’s not realistic 1996 Purdue Pharma introduces oxycontin and in one
Pharma introduces oxycontin and in one
Pharma introduces oxycontin and in one year from 1995 to 1996 prescriptions
year from 1995 to 1996 prescriptions
year from 1995 to 1996 prescriptions jumped by eight million and for the next
jumped by eight million and for the next
jumped by eight million and for the next ten years we see the most aggressive
ten years we see the most aggressive
ten years we see the most aggressive marketing campaign including videos for
marketing campaign including videos for
marketing campaign including videos for doctor’s waiting rooms ads in reputable
doctor’s waiting rooms ads in reputable
doctor’s waiting rooms ads in reputable journals this huge marketing team and as
journals this huge marketing team and as
journals this huge marketing team and as sales continue to skyrocket
sales continue to skyrocket
sales continue to skyrocket stay with me 2007 Purdue Pharma pleads
stay with me 2007 Purdue Pharma pleads
stay with me 2007 Purdue Pharma pleads guilty to criminal charges for
guilty to criminal charges for
guilty to criminal charges for misleading the government the medical
misleading the government the medical
misleading the government the medical community and the public regarding the
community and the public regarding the
community and the public regarding the risks of oxycontin addiction and abuse
risks of oxycontin addiction and abuse
risks of oxycontin addiction and abuse they pay more than six hundred million
they pay more than six hundred million
they pay more than six hundred million dollars in penalties sounds like a lot
dollars in penalties sounds like a lot
dollars in penalties sounds like a lot of money for most of us it is for the
of money for most of us it is for the
of money for most of us it is for the company it was the cost of doing
company it was the cost of doing
company it was the cost of doing yes annual revenues of more than three
yes annual revenues of more than three
yes annual revenues of more than three billion dollars a year 2015
billion dollars a year 2015
billion dollars a year 2015 enough opioids are prescribed for every
enough opioids are prescribed for every
enough opioids are prescribed for every adult in the country and now here we are
adult in the country and now here we are
adult in the country and now here we are near the end of 2017 using today’s
near the end of 2017 using today’s
near the end of 2017 using today’s modern lingo hashtag opioid crisis so
modern lingo hashtag opioid crisis so
modern lingo hashtag opioid crisis so let’s move down and let’s look at how we
let’s move down and let’s look at how we
let’s move down and let’s look at how we define addiction do you believe
define addiction do you believe
define addiction do you believe addiction is a lack of character and
addiction is a lack of character and
addiction is a lack of character and morals or do you believe addiction is an
morals or do you believe addiction is an
morals or do you believe addiction is an illness let’s take a look we can look at
illness let’s take a look we can look at
illness let’s take a look we can look at her and say loser scumbag druggie go get
her and say loser scumbag druggie go get
her and say loser scumbag druggie go get a life we need to be saying deep pain
a life we need to be saying deep pain
a life we need to be saying deep pain hopelessness hurting she needs help
addiction means to be enslaved to you’re
addiction means to be enslaved to you’re under the influence of a drug that
under the influence of a drug that
under the influence of a drug that causes you not to have the ability to
causes you not to have the ability to
causes you not to have the ability to care research shows that the neuro
care research shows that the neuro
care research shows that the neuro pathways of the brain begin to change we
pathways of the brain begin to change we
pathways of the brain begin to change we must begin to understand addiction as a
must begin to understand addiction as a
must begin to understand addiction as a brain illness and not a mental illness
brain illness and not a mental illness
brain illness and not a mental illness which stigmatize the disease just like
which stigmatize the disease just like
which stigmatize the disease just like we don’t stigmatize cancer and
we don’t stigmatize cancer and
we don’t stigmatize cancer and furthermore addiction in itself is not a
furthermore addiction in itself is not a
furthermore addiction in itself is not a criminal act the same cannot be said for
criminal act the same cannot be said for
criminal act the same cannot be said for those pharmaceutical companies that
those pharmaceutical companies that
those pharmaceutical companies that misled everyone that their drugs were
misled everyone that their drugs were
misled everyone that their drugs were safe all the mentoring of incarcerated
safe all the mentoring of incarcerated
safe all the mentoring of incarcerated men and women has been a lesson to me
men and women has been a lesson to me
men and women has been a lesson to me when they open up and they share their
when they open up and they share their
when they open up and they share their personal stories that has been a lesson
personal stories that has been a lesson
personal stories that has been a lesson to me and the theme is consistently it’s
to me and the theme is consistently it’s
to me and the theme is consistently it’s a lack of love a lack of connection a
a lack of love a lack of connection a
a lack of love a lack of connection a lack of being valued see pain is real
lack of being valued see pain is real
lack of being valued see pain is real in keeping with juda met pain away is a
in keeping with juda met pain away is a
in keeping with juda met pain away is a legitimate goal but we have to
legitimate goal but we have to
legitimate goal but we have to understand that there are other ways to
understand that there are other ways to
understand that there are other ways to deal pain and we can no longer be this
deal pain and we can no longer be this
deal pain and we can no longer be this pill will fix it society
pill will fix it society
pill will fix it society and we must surrender this notion that
and we must surrender this notion that
and we must surrender this notion that we must live with a zero level of pain
we must live with a zero level of pain
we must live with a zero level of pain here’s what I’m saying if I take my
here’s what I’m saying if I take my
here’s what I’m saying if I take my education of the pharmacist my passion
education of the pharmacist my passion
education of the pharmacist my passion for leadership and my mentoring of
for leadership and my mentoring of
for leadership and my mentoring of inmates what is crystal clear is the
inmates what is crystal clear is the
inmates what is crystal clear is the opioid epidemic is a symptom of a much
opioid epidemic is a symptom of a much
opioid epidemic is a symptom of a much deeper epidemic it’s the pain beneath
deeper epidemic it’s the pain beneath
deeper epidemic it’s the pain beneath the pain it’s the pain of despair
the pain it’s the pain of despair
the pain it’s the pain of despair loneliness depression it’s the pain of
loneliness depression it’s the pain of
loneliness depression it’s the pain of lack of purpose like a faith lack of
lack of purpose like a faith lack of
lack of purpose like a faith lack of love this is emotional pain it comes
love this is emotional pain it comes
love this is emotional pain it comes from devaluing humans I received a note
from devaluing humans I received a note
from devaluing humans I received a note from a former inmate and what he said to
from a former inmate and what he said to
from a former inmate and what he said to me was remarkable
this emotional pain cannot be relieved
this emotional pain cannot be relieved with a chemical substance it takes human
with a chemical substance it takes human
with a chemical substance it takes human involvement when a person is valued and
involvement when a person is valued and
involvement when a person is valued and surrounded by love when he knows he’s
surrounded by love when he knows he’s
surrounded by love when he knows he’s not alone he is able to deal with his
not alone he is able to deal with his
not alone he is able to deal with his pain your love your compassion your
pain your love your compassion your
pain your love your compassion your concern saved me so how do we go
concern saved me so how do we go
concern saved me so how do we go upstream how do we go to the source
upstream how do we go to the source
upstream how do we go to the source there are lots of great projects all
there are lots of great projects all
there are lots of great projects all across the country dealing with the
across the country dealing with the
across the country dealing with the opioid epidemic as a symptom including
opioid epidemic as a symptom including
opioid epidemic as a symptom including prescription drug monitoring programs
prescription drug monitoring programs
prescription drug monitoring programs medical assisted treatment community
medical assisted treatment community
medical assisted treatment community collaboration and the list goes on but
collaboration and the list goes on but
collaboration and the list goes on but what can we do to go upstream and stop
what can we do to go upstream and stop
what can we do to go upstream and stop the babies from being thrown in I have
the babies from being thrown in I have
the babies from being thrown in I have come to believe that the answers are not
come to believe that the answers are not
come to believe that the answers are not in the medical journals but in the
in the medical journals but in the
in the medical journals but in the leadership journals we as a society rely
leadership journals we as a society rely
leadership journals we as a society rely too much on pills and not enough on
too much on pills and not enough on
too much on pills and not enough on people our human need of significance
people our human need of significance
people our human need of significance love and connection can never be met
love and connection can never be met
love and connection can never be met with chemicals there is something wrong
with chemicals there is something wrong
with chemicals there is something wrong going on here simply focusing on opioids
going on here simply focusing on opioids
going on here simply focusing on opioids makes no sense
we not need to only cut the supply we
we not need to only cut the supply we need to cut the demand and for that I
need to cut the demand and for that I
need to cut the demand and for that I would like to propose three simple
would like to propose three simple
would like to propose three simple action steps a first step
action steps a first step
action steps a first step it can be done today take your eyes off
it can be done today take your eyes off
it can be done today take your eyes off your screens and began to build human
your screens and began to build human
your screens and began to build human connections where have we learned that
connections where have we learned that
connections where have we learned that how often do we ignore people as simple
how often do we ignore people as simple
how often do we ignore people as simple hello a second step let’s begin to new
hello a second step let’s begin to new
hello a second step let’s begin to new addicts with empathy not as a drain
addicts with empathy not as a drain
addicts with empathy not as a drain society and if embarrassment to our
society and if embarrassment to our
society and if embarrassment to our community and a third step let’s begin
community and a third step let’s begin
community and a third step let’s begin to spearhead a culture of caring a focus
to spearhead a culture of caring a focus
to spearhead a culture of caring a focus on service and mentoring I have a
on service and mentoring I have a
on service and mentoring I have a confession to make remember all those
confession to make remember all those
confession to make remember all those patients that waited nearly an hour to
patients that waited nearly an hour to
patients that waited nearly an hour to get their meds I was one of those people
get their meds I was one of those people
get their meds I was one of those people without the empathy the prisoner has
without the empathy the prisoner has
without the empathy the prisoner has changed this pharmacist mind on how to
changed this pharmacist mind on how to
changed this pharmacist mind on how to deal with this epidemic and none of this
deal with this epidemic and none of this
deal with this epidemic and none of this can happen until we realize we are not
can happen until we realize we are not
can happen until we realize we are not different we are the same we need to let
different we are the same we need to let
different we are the same we need to let go of this culture of the instant in the
go of this culture of the instant in the
go of this culture of the instant in the culture of disinterest in the culture of
culture of disinterest in the culture of
culture of disinterest in the culture of strangers this is preventable and
strangers this is preventable and
strangers this is preventable and treatable we’re not only looking for
treatable we’re not only looking for
treatable we’re not only looking for licensed professionals we are looking
licensed professionals we are looking
licensed professionals we are looking for ordinary people who care every day
for ordinary people who care every day
for ordinary people who care every day people who care this is not a new
people who care this is not a new
people who care this is not a new message it’s a message that’s not giving
message it’s a message that’s not giving
message it’s a message that’s not giving any airtime
any airtime
any airtime remember our metaphor the river is the
remember our metaphor the river is the
remember our metaphor the river is the epidemic the babies are the addicts you
epidemic the babies are the addicts you
epidemic the babies are the addicts you and your friends your midstream the
and your friends your midstream the
and your friends your midstream the solution can be found upstream
solution can be found upstream
solution can be found upstream upstream is to empathize not stigmatize
upstream is to empathize not stigmatize
upstream is to empathize not stigmatize upstream is to humanize not criminalize
upstream is to humanize not criminalize
upstream is to humanize not criminalize an upstream is to build community not
an upstream is to build community not
an upstream is to build community not apathy we are the people that can save
apathy we are the people that can save
apathy we are the people that can save lives
lives
lives let’s go upstream and stop the babies
let’s go upstream and stop the babies
let’s go upstream and stop the babies from being thrown em
from being thrown em
from being thrown em thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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