this story is about my introduction to narcan which is a drug that kind of
narcan which is a drug that kind of
narcan which is a drug that kind of brings people back from the dead it
brings people back from the dead it
brings people back from the dead it brought my sister back that’s Jenny
narcan’s used when someone overdoses on
narcan’s used when someone overdoses on an opioid these are drugs like heroin or
an opioid these are drugs like heroin or
an opioid these are drugs like heroin or prescription pain meds like morphine
prescription pain meds like morphine
prescription pain meds like morphine vicodin or some you probably haven’t
vicodin or some you probably haven’t
vicodin or some you probably haven’t heard of like dilaudid
heard of like dilaudid
heard of like dilaudid when a person overdoses their heart
when a person overdoses their heart
when a person overdoses their heart slows down and their breathing slows
slows down and their breathing slows
slows down and their breathing slows down and it becomes really hard to wake
down and it becomes really hard to wake
down and it becomes really hard to wake them up from this state
them up from this state
them up from this state so what narcan does is it blocks the
so what narcan does is it blocks the
so what narcan does is it blocks the opioid and it reverses the overdose and
opioid and it reverses the overdose and
opioid and it reverses the overdose and I didn’t know any of this six months ago
I didn’t know any of this six months ago
I didn’t know any of this six months ago I’m not someone who struggled with
I’m not someone who struggled with
I’m not someone who struggled with addiction I’m not a doctor I’m not a
addiction I’m not a doctor I’m not a
addiction I’m not a doctor I’m not a social worker
social worker
social worker I’m just someone’s sister who was
I’m just someone’s sister who was
I’m just someone’s sister who was drafted into the frontlines of the
drafted into the frontlines of the
drafted into the frontlines of the opioid epidemic earlier this year when I
opioid epidemic earlier this year when I
opioid epidemic earlier this year when I got a call at work telling me to come
got a call at work telling me to come
got a call at work telling me to come home that my sister Jenny was in the
home that my sister Jenny was in the
home that my sister Jenny was in the hospital and had just been revived with
hospital and had just been revived with
hospital and had just been revived with narcan I fly home that day and within an
narcan I fly home that day and within an
narcan I fly home that day and within an hour of landing at the airport I’m
hour of landing at the airport I’m
hour of landing at the airport I’m helping my sister shuffled to the
helping my sister shuffled to the
helping my sister shuffled to the bathroom at the hospital because she can
bathroom at the hospital because she can
bathroom at the hospital because she can barely walk I don’t know it yet but
barely walk I don’t know it yet but
barely walk I don’t know it yet but Jenny will die in just six days from
Jenny will die in just six days from
Jenny will die in just six days from cirrhosis of the liver from alcoholism
cirrhosis of the liver from alcoholism
cirrhosis of the liver from alcoholism and opioid addiction she’s just turned
and opioid addiction she’s just turned
and opioid addiction she’s just turned 44 years old she’s never done any rehab
44 years old she’s never done any rehab
44 years old she’s never done any rehab no interventions and my family has not
no interventions and my family has not
no interventions and my family has not had a single conversation about
had a single conversation about
had a single conversation about addiction I am completely blindsided
addiction I am completely blindsided
addiction I am completely blindsided everyone in this room knows someone who
everyone in this room knows someone who
everyone in this room knows someone who has died or struggling from addiction
has died or struggling from addiction
has died or struggling from addiction more than hats at 175 American’s die
more than hats at 175 American’s die
more than hats at 175 American’s die every day from overdose more than half
every day from overdose more than half
every day from overdose more than half of those are from opioids I share my
of those are from opioids I share my
of those are from opioids I share my story with you today so you’re not
story with you today so you’re not
story with you today so you’re not blindsided like I was and you don’t make
blindsided like I was and you don’t make
blindsided like I was and you don’t make the same mistakes that I did because
the same mistakes that I did because
the same mistakes that I did because these are mistakes that I’ll regret the
these are mistakes that I’ll regret the
these are mistakes that I’ll regret the rest of my life so here’s my story I’m a
rest of my life so here’s my story I’m a
rest of my life so here’s my story I’m a very good problem solver I work at the
very good problem solver I work at the
very good problem solver I work at the u.s. digital service which is a
u.s. digital service which is a
u.s. digital service which is a technical startup in the White House we
technical startup in the White House we
technical startup in the White House we were started by President Obama in 2014
were started by President Obama in 2014
were started by President Obama in 2014 and we’re going strong in the Trump
and we’re going strong in the Trump
and we’re going strong in the Trump Whitehouse we’re about 200 engineers and
Whitehouse we’re about 200 engineers and
Whitehouse we’re about 200 engineers and designers from companies like Google
designers from companies like Google
designers from companies like Google Apple Amazon and Code for America we
Apple Amazon and Code for America we
Apple Amazon and Code for America we sign up for two-year tours with
sign up for two-year tours with
sign up for two-year tours with government to work on complex problems
government to work on complex problems
government to work on complex problems that’s me in the middle and I joined the
that’s me in the middle and I joined the
that’s me in the middle and I joined the digital service because I wanted to help
digital service because I wanted to help
digital service because I wanted to help veterans mainly because my dad is a
veterans mainly because my dad is a
veterans mainly because my dad is a Vietnam combat veteran and a Bronze Star
Vietnam combat veteran and a Bronze Star
Vietnam combat veteran and a Bronze Star recipient although he’d never tell you
recipient although he’d never tell you
recipient although he’d never tell you that here’s my family we grew up in
that here’s my family we grew up in
that here’s my family we grew up in Buffalo New York I’m the oldest of three
Buffalo New York I’m the oldest of three
Buffalo New York I’m the oldest of three sisters we all went to college my sister
sisters we all went to college my sister
sisters we all went to college my sister Colleen is a nurse and lives here in
Colleen is a nurse and lives here in
Colleen is a nurse and lives here in Saratoga with her family with her
Saratoga with her family with her
Saratoga with her family with her husband and three kids and my sister
husband and three kids and my sister
husband and three kids and my sister Jenny is sitting in front and she stayed
Jenny is sitting in front and she stayed
Jenny is sitting in front and she stayed in Buffalo and she was a stay-at-home
in Buffalo and she was a stay-at-home
in Buffalo and she was a stay-at-home mom she lived a middle-class suburban
mom she lived a middle-class suburban
mom she lived a middle-class suburban life with her husband of more than 15
life with her husband of more than 15
life with her husband of more than 15 years and their two kids my parents will
years and their two kids my parents will
years and their two kids my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year they are hard-working
next year they are hard-working
next year they are hard-working humble and very private people we go on
humble and very private people we go on
humble and very private people we go on sister vacations our last one was Key
sister vacations our last one was Key
sister vacations our last one was Key West and Colleen likes to sleep in so
West and Colleen likes to sleep in so
West and Colleen likes to sleep in so Jenny stuck being my workout partner and
Jenny stuck being my workout partner and
Jenny stuck being my workout partner and you can see neither of us has any idea
you can see neither of us has any idea
you can see neither of us has any idea how to do yoga and we see each other
how to do yoga and we see each other
how to do yoga and we see each other regularly I would describe Jenny as
regularly I would describe Jenny as
regularly I would describe Jenny as smart athletic funny
smart athletic funny
smart athletic funny she had a quick sense of humor but about
she had a quick sense of humor but about
she had a quick sense of humor but about three years ago I started thinking she
three years ago I started thinking she
three years ago I started thinking she might be drinking too much because I was
might be drinking too much because I was
might be drinking too much because I was noticing her hands were shaking she had
noticing her hands were shaking she had
noticing her hands were shaking she had started to stutter and she was becoming
started to stutter and she was becoming
started to stutter and she was becoming more and more reclusive two other things
more and more reclusive two other things
more and more reclusive two other things were happening at that time she had
were happening at that time she had
were happening at that time she had surgery to relieve some back pain issues
surgery to relieve some back pain issues
surgery to relieve some back pain issues and she and her husband started going
and she and her husband started going
and she and her husband started going through a stressful separation but when
through a stressful separation but when
through a stressful separation but when I tried to talk to my sister about her
I tried to talk to my sister about her
I tried to talk to my sister about her health she was very defensive she
health she was very defensive she
health she was very defensive she insisted she had the best doctors in
insisted she had the best doctors in
insisted she had the best doctors in Buffalo which she did she assured us
Buffalo which she did she assured us
Buffalo which she did she assured us that she had stopped drinking altogether
that she had stopped drinking altogether
that she had stopped drinking altogether and we never saw her drink and she said
and we never saw her drink and she said
and we never saw her drink and she said she was just taking xanax for some
she was just taking xanax for some
she was just taking xanax for some anxiety so we accepted this we thought
anxiety so we accepted this we thought
anxiety so we accepted this we thought that sounds okay and we trusted that she
that sounds okay and we trusted that she
that sounds okay and we trusted that she was in good care and that was a really
was in good care and that was a really
was in good care and that was a really big mistake and the minute I got that
big mistake and the minute I got that
big mistake and the minute I got that call this past July it all clicked and I
call this past July it all clicked and I
call this past July it all clicked and I knew all my suspicions or
knew all my suspicions or
knew all my suspicions or right but at that time I still thought
right but at that time I still thought
right but at that time I still thought it’s gonna be okay we have years ahead
it’s gonna be okay we have years ahead
it’s gonna be okay we have years ahead of us to help her battle addiction and
of us to help her battle addiction and
of us to help her battle addiction and so as I headed home
so as I headed home
so as I headed home I brought a blank check and I started
I brought a blank check and I started
I brought a blank check and I started looking up private rehab facilities in
looking up private rehab facilities in
looking up private rehab facilities in New York State so when I arrived at
New York State so when I arrived at
New York State so when I arrived at Kemah Mercy Hospital as I’m walking down
Kemah Mercy Hospital as I’m walking down
Kemah Mercy Hospital as I’m walking down the hall I can hear my sister before I
the hall I can hear my sister before I
the hall I can hear my sister before I see her and she’s moaning for something
see her and she’s moaning for something
see her and she’s moaning for something that opioid dilaudid and when I walk
that opioid dilaudid and when I walk
that opioid dilaudid and when I walk into a room jenny is radically
into a room jenny is radically
into a room jenny is radically transformed I am not expecting this her
transformed I am not expecting this her
transformed I am not expecting this her legs are bones her skin is an awful
legs are bones her skin is an awful
legs are bones her skin is an awful jaundiced color and she has these clear
jaundiced color and she has these clear
jaundiced color and she has these clear liquid bubbles all over her eyeballs
liquid bubbles all over her eyeballs
liquid bubbles all over her eyeballs like a monster she’s in and out of
like a monster she’s in and out of
like a monster she’s in and out of lucidity and she never stops moaning for
lucidity and she never stops moaning for
lucidity and she never stops moaning for three days Colleen and I sleep at the
three days Colleen and I sleep at the
three days Colleen and I sleep at the hospital every night we have to get up
hospital every night we have to get up
hospital every night we have to get up about every 45 minutes to help Jenny
about every 45 minutes to help Jenny
about every 45 minutes to help Jenny shuffle to the bathroom and I think this
shuffle to the bathroom and I think this
shuffle to the bathroom and I think this is the hardest part for me because it’s
is the hardest part for me because it’s
is the hardest part for me because it’s so sad watching her look up from the
so sad watching her look up from the
so sad watching her look up from the portable toilet when we can’t make it to
portable toilet when we can’t make it to
portable toilet when we can’t make it to the regular bathroom she’s embarrassed
the regular bathroom she’s embarrassed
the regular bathroom she’s embarrassed even in her own state for three days I
even in her own state for three days I
even in her own state for three days I put drops in my sister’s eyes I tried to
put drops in my sister’s eyes I tried to
put drops in my sister’s eyes I tried to feed her and sure and I rub her swollen
feed her and sure and I rub her swollen
feed her and sure and I rub her swollen feet we’re a close family but we are not
feet we’re a close family but we are not
feet we’re a close family but we are not affectionate at all but that week I
affectionate at all but that week I
affectionate at all but that week I remember holding my sister’s hand a lot
remember holding my sister’s hand a lot
remember holding my sister’s hand a lot and touching her hair and I don’t think
and touching her hair and I don’t think
and touching her hair and I don’t think I ever remember touching my sister’s
I ever remember touching my sister’s
I ever remember touching my sister’s hair before and now I feel it all the
hair before and now I feel it all the
hair before and now I feel it all the time am i writing it so one day for her
time am i writing it so one day for her
time am i writing it so one day for her doctors come in and pretty abruptly tell
doctors come in and pretty abruptly tell
doctors come in and pretty abruptly tell us we need to start making some
us we need to start making some
us we need to start making some decisions that my sister’s dying from
decisions that my sister’s dying from
decisions that my sister’s dying from liver failure but they say this like
liver failure but they say this like
liver failure but they say this like we’ve been expecting it for years and we
we’ve been expecting it for years and we
we’ve been expecting it for years and we already know it and we don’t so then
already know it and we don’t so then
already know it and we don’t so then things start going very quickly do not
things start going very quickly do not
things start going very quickly do not resuscitate orders get signed we move
resuscitate orders get signed we move
resuscitate orders get signed we move down the hall to a hospice room and for
down the hall to a hospice room and for
down the hall to a hospice room and for the first time in my life I see my
the first time in my life I see my
the first time in my life I see my mother visibly shaken although I’ve
mother visibly shaken although I’ve
mother visibly shaken although I’ve never seen her cry
never seen her cry
never seen her cry Jenny dies two days later so in my
Jenny dies two days later so in my
Jenny dies two days later so in my reality my sister has just died from
reality my sister has just died from
reality my sister has just died from cirrhosis of the liver
cirrhosis of the liver
cirrhosis of the liver from alcoholism and opioid addiction in
from alcoholism and opioid addiction in
from alcoholism and opioid addiction in just six days but in reality she’d been
just six days but in reality she’d been
just six days but in reality she’d been dying a long time before that right in
dying a long time before that right in
dying a long time before that right in front of us she’d been drinking and
front of us she’d been drinking and
front of us she’d been drinking and taking prescription drugs from the best
taking prescription drugs from the best
taking prescription drugs from the best doctors in Buffalo for years and this
doctors in Buffalo for years and this
doctors in Buffalo for years and this culminated this past year with her going
culminated this past year with her going
culminated this past year with her going to her local emergency room to get
to her local emergency room to get
to her local emergency room to get generous doses of dilaudid she lied to
generous doses of dilaudid she lied to
generous doses of dilaudid she lied to us for years and while my heart is
us for years and while my heart is
us for years and while my heart is broken I’m so angry
broken I’m so angry
broken I’m so angry mostly I’m angry at Jenni for not
mostly I’m angry at Jenni for not
mostly I’m angry at Jenni for not getting the help she needed I would have
getting the help she needed I would have
getting the help she needed I would have done anything for my sister she never
done anything for my sister she never
done anything for my sister she never asked I’m angry at myself for not being
asked I’m angry at myself for not being
asked I’m angry at myself for not being more educated about addiction but I’m
more educated about addiction but I’m
more educated about addiction but I’m also really angry at all those doctors
also really angry at all those doctors
also really angry at all those doctors who kept giving her medication and a
who kept giving her medication and a
who kept giving her medication and a system that is broken at every level and
system that is broken at every level and
system that is broken at every level and plagued by silence and denial I hope no
plagued by silence and denial I hope no
plagued by silence and denial I hope no one you love ever has to endure the
one you love ever has to endure the
one you love ever has to endure the system because this is what they’re in
system because this is what they’re in
system because this is what they’re in for
for
for imagine someone you love is addicted to
imagine someone you love is addicted to
imagine someone you love is addicted to prescription pain meds 21 million
prescription pain meds 21 million
prescription pain meds 21 million Americans have substance use disorder
Americans have substance use disorder
Americans have substance use disorder yet just one in ten get treatment so say
yet just one in ten get treatment so say
yet just one in ten get treatment so say you’re one of the lucky ones what I
you’re one of the lucky ones what I
you’re one of the lucky ones what I learned was addiction treatment was
learned was addiction treatment was
learned was addiction treatment was intentionally set up to be completely
intentionally set up to be completely
intentionally set up to be completely separate from mainstream health care and
separate from mainstream health care and
separate from mainstream health care and mental health this was before we
mental health this was before we
mental health this was before we understood the science of addiction
understood the science of addiction
understood the science of addiction so the specialty treatment and meds that
so the specialty treatment and meds that
so the specialty treatment and meds that you need are not going to be covered
you need are not going to be covered
you need are not going to be covered under your insurance or there’s going to
under your insurance or there’s going to
under your insurance or there’s going to be a waitlist because there just aren’t
be a waitlist because there just aren’t
be a waitlist because there just aren’t enough resources in the system or your
enough resources in the system or your
enough resources in the system or your doctor isn’t even licensed to prescribe
doctor isn’t even licensed to prescribe
doctor isn’t even licensed to prescribe the meds you need less than ten percent
the meds you need less than ten percent
the meds you need less than ten percent of American medical schools including
of American medical schools including
of American medical schools including nursing schools and pharmacy schools
nursing schools and pharmacy schools
nursing schools and pharmacy schools have a single class and addiction to
have a single class and addiction to
have a single class and addiction to trained our health care professionals
trained our health care professionals
trained our health care professionals but say you’re lucky like our family and
but say you’re lucky like our family and
but say you’re lucky like our family and you can afford one time to pool your
you can afford one time to pool your
you can afford one time to pool your resources for a private facility those
resources for a private facility those
resources for a private facility those average more than 30 thousand dollars
average more than 30 thousand dollars
average more than 30 thousand dollars for just a 30 day program but you have
for just a 30 day program but you have
for just a 30 day program but you have an opioid addiction so that’s not going
an opioid addiction so that’s not going
an opioid addiction so that’s not going to work for you you have a chronic brain
to work for you you have a chronic brain
to work for you you have a chronic brain illness and you need medication assisted
illness and you need medication assisted
illness and you need medication assisted treatment just like someone with
treatment just like someone with
treatment just like someone with diabetes hypertension or asthma so the
diabetes hypertension or asthma so the
diabetes hypertension or asthma so the one-size-fits-all abstinence based
one-size-fits-all abstinence based
one-size-fits-all abstinence based treatment isn’t going to work for you
treatment isn’t going to work for you
treatment isn’t going to work for you but you complete your 30 days and now
but you complete your 30 days and now
but you complete your 30 days and now you have to get back to your real life
you have to get back to your real life
you have to get back to your real life and manage your disease and in order to
and manage your disease and in order to
and manage your disease and in order to do that you have to drive an hour every
do that you have to drive an hour every
do that you have to drive an hour every single day to a clinic to get your meds
single day to a clinic to get your meds
single day to a clinic to get your meds because again there’s not enough
because again there’s not enough
because again there’s not enough resources in the system these are
resources in the system these are
resources in the system these are probably some of the reasons why more
probably some of the reasons why more
probably some of the reasons why more than 80% of people who struggle with the
than 80% of people who struggle with the
than 80% of people who struggle with the struggle with opioid addiction relapse
struggle with opioid addiction relapse
struggle with opioid addiction relapse so you relapse but this time you can’t
so you relapse but this time you can’t
so you relapse but this time you can’t get prescription meds so you start
get prescription meds so you start
get prescription meds so you start taking heroin and your nightmare begins
taking heroin and your nightmare begins
taking heroin and your nightmare begins all over again but this time in the
all over again but this time in the
all over again but this time in the criminal justice system and this is the
criminal justice system and this is the
criminal justice system and this is the good news
good news
good news these are though this is the one out of
these are though this is the one out of
these are though this is the one out of 10 people who gets treatment remember my
10 people who gets treatment remember my
10 people who gets treatment remember my sister was part of the nine out of ten
sister was part of the nine out of ten
sister was part of the nine out of ten people who didn’t get treatment and she
people who didn’t get treatment and she
people who didn’t get treatment and she insists till the day she died no doctor
insists till the day she died no doctor
insists till the day she died no doctor ever talked to her about addiction or
ever talked to her about addiction or
ever talked to her about addiction or drug screening I don’t know if that’s
drug screening I don’t know if that’s
drug screening I don’t know if that’s true I do know that none of her doctors
true I do know that none of her doctors
true I do know that none of her doctors talked to us her family about addiction
talked to us her family about addiction
talked to us her family about addiction and even if she did get treatment I
and even if she did get treatment I
and even if she did get treatment I don’t think she would have survived that
don’t think she would have survived that
don’t think she would have survived that mess the thing that’s the most
mess the thing that’s the most
mess the thing that’s the most infuriating about all this is that the
infuriating about all this is that the
infuriating about all this is that the awesome and dedicated health care
awesome and dedicated health care
awesome and dedicated health care professionals and researchers in this
professionals and researchers in this
professionals and researchers in this country already know how to fix this we
country already know how to fix this we
country already know how to fix this we need to embed evidence-based treatment
need to embed evidence-based treatment
need to embed evidence-based treatment in mainstream healthcare this means
in mainstream healthcare this means
in mainstream healthcare this means treating opioid addiction as a chronic
treating opioid addiction as a chronic
treating opioid addiction as a chronic illness just like diabetes hypertension
illness just like diabetes hypertension
illness just like diabetes hypertension or asthma
or asthma
or asthma it means routine drug screenings it
it means routine drug screenings it
it means routine drug screenings it means faster access to care and
means faster access to care and
means faster access to care and medication assisted treatment and
medication assisted treatment and
medication assisted treatment and disease management so things like the
disease management so things like the
disease management so things like the Affordable Care Act essential services
Affordable Care Act essential services
Affordable Care Act essential services are part of how we fix this problem my
are part of how we fix this problem my
are part of how we fix this problem my sister didn’t need a slick advertising
sister didn’t need a slick advertising
sister didn’t need a slick advertising campaign or some condescending slogan
campaign or some condescending slogan
campaign or some condescending slogan like just say no or don’t do drugs
like just say no or don’t do drugs
like just say no or don’t do drugs she had a chronic illness and she needed
she had a chronic illness and she needed
she had a chronic illness and she needed medication assisted treatment it would
medication assisted treatment it would
medication assisted treatment it would be a very cruel thing to tell someone
be a very cruel thing to tell someone
be a very cruel thing to tell someone with asthma just breathe but not give
with asthma just breathe but not give
with asthma just breathe but not give them an inhaler we know how to fix this
them an inhaler we know how to fix this
them an inhaler we know how to fix this we just need the political will to do it
so that I was preparing for this talk in
so that I was preparing for this talk in Washington DC in our digital service
Washington DC in our digital service
Washington DC in our digital service office I was thinking about all the
office I was thinking about all the
office I was thinking about all the posters and inspirational things we have
posters and inspirational things we have
posters and inspirational things we have up in our space and you’ll recognize the
up in our space and you’ll recognize the
up in our space and you’ll recognize the popular Margaret Mead quote never doubt
popular Margaret Mead quote never doubt
popular Margaret Mead quote never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
that a small group of thoughtful
that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world
committed citizens can change the world
committed citizens can change the world because it’s the only thing that ever
because it’s the only thing that ever
because it’s the only thing that ever has but there’s one poster that always
has but there’s one poster that always
has but there’s one poster that always kind of scared me and it’s this idea
kind of scared me and it’s this idea
kind of scared me and it’s this idea that no one’s coming to fix this it’s
that no one’s coming to fix this it’s
that no one’s coming to fix this it’s just us and that’s how I feel with my
just us and that’s how I feel with my
just us and that’s how I feel with my sister story when I read the news or
sister story when I read the news or
sister story when I read the news or listen to our elected officials no one’s
listen to our elected officials no one’s
listen to our elected officials no one’s really coming to fix this people are
really coming to fix this people are
really coming to fix this people are talking about moving in the right
talking about moving in the right
talking about moving in the right direction but no one’s actually doing
direction but no one’s actually doing
direction but no one’s actually doing anything or at least they’re not doing
anything or at least they’re not doing
anything or at least they’re not doing it fast enough so what can we do well as
it fast enough so what can we do well as
it fast enough so what can we do well as thoughtful committed citizens we can all
thoughtful committed citizens we can all
thoughtful committed citizens we can all demand that our elected officials do
demand that our elected officials do
demand that our elected officials do their job and implement solutions that
their job and implement solutions that
their job and implement solutions that work for patients not big pharma and not
work for patients not big pharma and not
work for patients not big pharma and not drug wholesalers by the way those
drug wholesalers by the way those
drug wholesalers by the way those stakeholders are doing just fine in this
stakeholders are doing just fine in this
stakeholders are doing just fine in this crisis so what that means is a small
crisis so what that means is a small
crisis so what that means is a small town like Kermit West Virginia with 392
town like Kermit West Virginia with 392
town like Kermit West Virginia with 392 people should not have one pharmacy that
people should not have one pharmacy that
people should not have one pharmacy that over a two-year period receive nine
over a two-year period receive nine
over a two-year period receive nine million hydrocodone pills we can all be
million hydrocodone pills we can all be
million hydrocodone pills we can all be advocates and our professional roles as
advocates and our professional roles as
advocates and our professional roles as well so if you are out there and you
well so if you are out there and you
well so if you are out there and you work at a medical school we need more
work at a medical school we need more
work at a medical school we need more classes on addiction in your curriculum
classes on addiction in your curriculum
classes on addiction in your curriculum if you are out there and you’re a judge
if you are out there and you’re a judge
if you are out there and you’re a judge start a drug court in your community if
start a drug court in your community if
start a drug court in your community if you work in Congress or you’re a
you work in Congress or you’re a
you work in Congress or you’re a lawmaker we need to support the
lawmaker we need to support the
lawmaker we need to support the affordable care act essential services
affordable care act essential services
affordable care act essential services and we need to strengthen agencies like
and we need to strengthen agencies like
and we need to strengthen agencies like the drug enforcement agencies the DEA
the drug enforcement agencies the DEA
the drug enforcement agencies the DEA who fights against illegal opioids
who fights against illegal opioids
who fights against illegal opioids entering the country not weaken laws
entering the country not weaken laws
entering the country not weaken laws because of pressure from lobbyists if
because of pressure from lobbyists if
because of pressure from lobbyists if you work in health policy we need to
you work in health policy we need to
you work in health policy we need to embed evidence-based treatment in
embed evidence-based treatment in
embed evidence-based treatment in mainstream care if you work in an
mainstream care if you work in an
mainstream care if you work in an insurance company make sure your company
insurance company make sure your company
insurance company make sure your company is complying with parity laws and stop
is complying with parity laws and stop
is complying with parity laws and stop denying addiction treatment claims
denying addiction treatment claims
denying addiction treatment claims because you’re legally supposed to cover
because you’re legally supposed to cover
because you’re legally supposed to cover those if you work in a hospital adopt
those if you work in a hospital adopt
those if you work in a hospital adopt the 8 national principles of care if
the 8 national principles of care if
the 8 national principles of care if you’re a teacher or you work in a school
you’re a teacher or you work in a school
you’re a teacher or you work in a school Health Office focus on prevention and
Health Office focus on prevention and
Health Office focus on prevention and early intervention
early intervention
early intervention give kids accurate up-to-date scientific
give kids accurate up-to-date scientific
give kids accurate up-to-date scientific information about substance use disorder
information about substance use disorder
information about substance use disorder and if you’re a doctor we need to remove
and if you’re a doctor we need to remove
and if you’re a doctor we need to remove those barriers so you can actually
those barriers so you can actually
those barriers so you can actually prescribe people the medication they
prescribe people the medication they
prescribe people the medication they need if you’re in government like I am
need if you’re in government like I am
need if you’re in government like I am fight from the inside for the right
fight from the inside for the right
fight from the inside for the right solution as family members and loved
solution as family members and loved
solution as family members and loved ones don’t make the same mistakes I did
ones don’t make the same mistakes I did
ones don’t make the same mistakes I did get educated and be aware if you have a
get educated and be aware if you have a
get educated and be aware if you have a hunch something’s wrong it probably is
hunch something’s wrong it probably is
hunch something’s wrong it probably is so talk to your family honestly and be
so talk to your family honestly and be
so talk to your family honestly and be supportive ask your doctor questions and
supportive ask your doctor questions and
supportive ask your doctor questions and parents talk to kids it’s been four
parents talk to kids it’s been four
parents talk to kids it’s been four months and every day I wake up and I
months and every day I wake up and I
months and every day I wake up and I can’t believe one of my sisters is dead
can’t believe one of my sisters is dead
can’t believe one of my sisters is dead that week in July I tried to say goodbye
that week in July I tried to say goodbye
that week in July I tried to say goodbye to Jenny and all the things I love you
to Jenny and all the things I love you
to Jenny and all the things I love you I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry give me one more chance and I’ll do a
give me one more chance and I’ll do a
give me one more chance and I’ll do a better job next time but there’s no
better job next time but there’s no
better job next time but there’s no second chance for me so don’t make the
second chance for me so don’t make the
second chance for me so don’t make the same mistakes I did thank you
same mistakes I did thank you
same mistakes I did thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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