Relatively recently, I’ve participated in three presentations that I’d like to share: (1) Louisville Bar Association, (2) Louisville Forward Radio, and (3) the KY Harm Reduction Coalition

First is a discussion about the medical potential, as well as the risks, of marijuana.

Here’s four good references I used for the medical marijuana forum…

(1) American Medical Association: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/marijuana-policy-should-be-guided-evidence-not-ballot

(2) American Society of Addiction Medicine: https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/public-policy-statements/2020-public-policy-statement-on-cannabis.pdf?sfvrsn=aa3c58c2_2

(3) American Psychiatric Association: https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/About-APA/Organization-Documents-Policies/Policies/Position-Cannabis-as-Medicine.pdf

(4) Greater Louisville Medical Society (my article begins on page 16): https://viewer.joomag.com/louisville-medicine-volume-69-issue-6/0686559001635953238?short&

And second, I’d like to share a two-part discussion on “the opioid crisis” from Louisville Forward Radio…

Part 1 • March 10, 2022 https://www.forwardradio.org/podcast/episode/9116edf9/single-payer-radio-or-dr-pat-murphy-or-pain-and-addiction-treatment-or-march-10-2022

Part 2 • June 7, 2022 https://www.forwardradio.org/podcast/episode/9212e948/single-payer-radio-addiction-crisis-part-2-dr-pat-murphy-may-2022

And finally, here is a video posted on the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition’s Facebook page with me discussing, what else? – Harm Reduction.

We interviewed board member and addiction specialist Dr. James Murphy on all things addiction, harm reduction, and the opioid epidemic. Give it a watch and spread the word – together we can break the stigma!

On June 13, 2022, I had the pleasure of presenting on the topic of MAT, i.e., Medication Assisted Treatment, or more recently known as MOUD, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Here is a selected portion of my slides, with some recommended references at the end. I sincerely appreciate being asked to give this presentation to such a wonderful and vital group of people serving our community and our justice system. It was an honor to be there with them for their Annual Public Defender Education Conference.

References:

• AMA  –  The nation’s drug-related overdose epidemic https://end-overdose-epidemic.org

 • OPIOID TASK FORCE 2020 PROGRESS REPORT (AMA), Physicians’ progress toward ending the nation’s drug overdose and death epidemic https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-07/opioid-task-force-progress-report.pdf

• Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose – News Release, June 19, 2018 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/methadone-buprenorphine-reduce-risk-death-after-opioid-overdose

• 2020 Overdose Fatality Report Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy https://odcp.ky.gov/Documents/2020%20KY%20ODCP%20Fatality%20Report%20%28final%29.pdf

• 2021 Overdose Fatality Report Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy https://odcp.ky.gov/Reports/2021%20Overdose%20Report%20Press%20Release%20PDF.pdf

• A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH OPIOID USE DISORDERS https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma16-4978.pdf

• Public Policy Statement on Substance Use, Misuse, and Use Disorders During and Following Pregnancy, with an Emphasis on Opioids – ASAM  https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/public-policy-statements/substance-use-misuse-and-use-disorders-during-and-following-pregnancy.pdf?sfvrsn=644978c2_4

• Treatment in Correctional Settings Toolkit – ASAM https://www.asam.org/advocacy/advocacy-in-action/toolkits/treatment-in-correctional-settings

• SAMHSA TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder – Full Document. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/TIP-63-Medications-for-Opioid-Use-Disorder-Full-Document/PEP21-02-01-002

• Parsons, Jim: Minimizing Harm: Public Health and Justice System Responses to Drug Use and the Opioid Crisis by Jim Parsons. Vera Evidence Brief. December 2017

Click to access Minimizing-Harm-Evidence-Brief.pdf

• Against Our Instincts: Decriminalization of Buprenorphine – John C. Messinger, Anand Chukka and J. Wesley Boyd.The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine March 2022,  35 (2) 394-397; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2022.02.210308. https://www.jabfm.org/content/35/2/394.long

• The Science of Opioid Addiction and Treatment – NOVA PBS https://youtu.be/0Gnj-DKlbd4