ALRP WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED
. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE FIRST HEARING OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FENTANYL
, OPIOID ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
. PREVENTION MY NAME IS MATT
HANEY. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE. THIS IS A
JOINT COMMITTEE WITH THE
ASSEMBLY, PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND ASSEMBLY HEALTH
COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE BOTH OF
THOSE CHAIRS WITH US TODAY. I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS
WHO ARE ATTENDING TODAY AND
WELCOME AND EVERYONE FROM THE
PUBLIC AND ALL OF OUR WITNESSES
WHO ARE HERE AS WELL. I'M GOING
TO PROVIDE SOME OPENING REMARKS
AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO MY CO
CHAIR IS TO DO THE SAME. AND
THEN WE WILL INVITE OUR
WITNESSES AND OUR PANELS TO COME
FORWARD. WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS.
THE MOST DEADLY AND DEVASTATING
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
EPIDEMIC THAT IS FACING OUR
STATE. CALIFORNIA IS NOW LOSING
OVER 10,000 PEOPLE TO OVERDOSE
ANNUALLY. THAT'S A NUMBER THAT
HAS DOUBLED IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS. THAT INCREASE IS
ATTRIBUTABLE LARGELY TO
FENTANYL. THIS IS A DRUG THAT
CAN KILL A PERSON WITH A VERY
SMALL AMOUNT. IT IS IMPACTING
EVERY CITY AND COUNTY IN OUR
STATE. I COME FROM A CITY WHERE
WE ARE NOW LOSING TWO PEOPLE A
DAY. TO THIS DRUG. OVER 700
OVERDOSES IN SAN FRANCISCO A
YEAR BUT IT'S NOT AN URBAN ISSUE
. IT'S NOT A RURAL ISSUE. IT'S
NOT A SUBURBAN ISSUE. THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING ALL OF
THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
REPRESENT. DOESN'T KNOW.
PARTISAN LINES DOESN'T KNOW AGE
WE ARE NOW LOSING. AH TWICE AS
MANY CHILDREN. TO OVERDOSE THAN
WE WERE JUST TWO YEARS AGO. WE
HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITH
SOLUTIONS AND WITH LEADERSHIP.
AT THE SCALE TO MATCH THIS
EPIDEMIC SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE
STATE CAME FORWARD. WHEN WE WERE
FACED WITH COVID. WHEN WE WERE
FACED WITH THE HIV AIDS EPIDEMIC
, WE NEED BOLD AND DETERMINED
LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO BE CLEAR
ON A FEW THINGS AS WE GET
STARTED. THIS IS BOTH A PUBLIC
HEALTH AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE
. IF SOMEBODY IS SELLING A PILL.
THAT IS LACED WITH A DRUG. THAT
KILLS A CHILD. THAT'S A PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO PUT
A STOP TO THAT, AND WE NEED TO
PUT A STOP TO THE WAYS THAT
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO USE SOCIAL
MEDIA AND OTHER VEHICLES TO SELL
DRUGS IN THAT WAY. I IT'S ALSO A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. WE HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO A
DRUGS THAT DRUG THAT IS MANY
TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN THAT
HAS SUCH STRONG PHYSIOLOGICAL
IMPACTS ON THEIR BODY THAT THEY
KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT HOW TO GET
MORE OF THAT DRUG. PEOPLE WHO
ARE IN THAT SITUATION. THEY NEED
HELP. THEY NEED TREATMENT, AND
THEY NEED CARE. RIGHT NOW WE
HAVE OVER 90% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
ADDICTED TO OPIOID NOT ENROLLED
IN MEDICATION, ASSISTED
TREATMENT OR OTHER FORMS OF
TREATMENT THAT CAN GET THEM OFF
OF THOSE DRUGS AND INTO RECOVERY
FULLY. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
CONFRONT. THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE
THAT, UH, BOTH REQUIRES US TO
ADDRESS ADDICTION. AND ALSO
REQUIRES US TO ADDRESS POISONING
. UH WE HAVE PEOPLE AS I'VE SAID
, AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LOT
ABOUT THIS ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET
THEM INTO TREATMENT. UH HUH. AND
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO FOCUS ON THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THIS
DRUG OPERATES AND HOW SMALL OF
AN AMOUNT CAN KILL SOMEBODY. WE
ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THOSE RISKS
THAT THEY'RE EDUCATED THAT WE
ADDRESS PREVENTION, UM AND WE
MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE EVERY
POSSIBLE ACTION WE CAN TO SAVE
LIVES. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
14 WITNESSES TODAY. ON THREE
DIFFERENT PANELS, ONE THAT WILL
ADDRESS FENTANYL AND ADDICTION
AND GIVE US AN OVERVIEW THE
SECOND SORRY FOR DIFFERENT
PANELS, UH, ONE THAT WILL TALK
ABOUT THE STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSE. A THIRD THAT
WILL DISCUSS THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEGAL RESPONSE. AND LASTLY, WE
WILL HAVE A PANEL FOCUSED ON
YOUTH AND EDUCATION. UM I WANT
TO BE CLEAR BEFORE WE GET
STARTED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST
HEARING. UH WE INCLUDED AS MUCH
AS WE AS WE POSSIBLY COULD TO
GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THIS
EPIDEMIC. WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
THE STATE LEVEL WHAT'S HAPPENING
AT THE LEGAL LEVEL, BUT IT IS
OBVIOUSLY NOT, UH, FULLY
COVERING ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES
AND ALL OF THE PERSPECTIVE AND I
HOPE THAT FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
TO GO DEEPER ON THE AREAS THAT
WE LEARN ABOUT TODAY AND THE
AREAS THAT WERE NOT COVERED
TODAY, AND YOU HAVE MY FULL
COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH ALL OF
YOU, REGARDLESS OF PARTY,
REGARDLESS OF IDEOLOGY TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE. UH I
ALSO WANT TO WANT TO SAY THAT,
UM WE HAVE DEEP APPRECIATION FOR
ALL OF THE WITNESSES WHO ARE
HERE AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AND
WHAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE
TABLE AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK
THAT THEY ARE DOING TO CONFRONT
THIS EPIDEMIC. WE ARE HERE TO
FIND COMMON GROUND. THIS UH,
ISSUE AND THIS EPIDEMIC IS TOO
SERIOUS AND TOO DEADLY FOR US TO
MAKE THIS A POLITICAL ISSUE
WHERE WE POINT FINGERS AT EACH
OTHER WHERE WE DIVIDE EACH OTHER
. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER WITH
SOLUTIONS. WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER WITH A BOLD PLAN FOR
ACTION AND LEADERSHIP. THERE ARE
BILLS IN FRONT OF US. WE CAN
TAKE ACTION ON THERE ARE THERE'S
A BUDGET IN FRONT OF US. WE CAN
TAKE ACTION ON. WE DON'T NEED TO
WAIT TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE. SO
WITH THAT, I WANT TO TURN IT
OVER TO MY CO TWO CO CHAIRS AND
ALSO TO THANK THEM AND THEIR
STAFF FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND
THEIR SUPPORT IN PREPARING FOR
THIS COMMITTEE AND I WILL START
FIRST WITH MR CHAIR JOAN SAWYER
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. AND MY ARM. OKAY AND
I WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
HANEY FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER
BECAUSE AT FIRST THIS WAS THE
COMMITTEE THAT HE THOUGHT OF ON
HIS OWN SELECT COMMITTEE THAT HE
ASKED FOR EARLY ON. UM DOCTOR
WOULD AND MYSELF AFTER MUCH
DISCUSSION ABOUT FENTANYL, UM IT
BECAME ADVANTAGEOUS FOR ALL
THREE OF US TO COME TOGETHER TO
COME WITH A COMPREHENSIVE
EVALUATION. HOW WE DEAL WITH
FENTANYL. WE'VE GOT TO UNITE THE
FIGHT AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
AND FENTANYL. TIME TO DROP THE
RHETORIC AND IT'S TIME TO COME
TOGETHER AS THE CHAIR OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE HAS SAID.
THERE'S JUST TOO MANY THINGS
THAT CAN GO WRONG IF WE GET THIS
WRONG THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS
THAT DOWN THE ROAD COULD HAVE.
DRAMATIC IMPACT, NOT ONLY ON THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE WE SEE IN FRONT
OF US NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE. UM
AS I SAID BEFORE ON THE FLOOR.
AS WE THINK ABOUT MENTAL NOW.
LET'S GET AHEAD OF WHAT'S COMING
IN THE FUTURE. ZYLA SCENE AND
TRANQ IF WE DO NOT HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF HOW WE
DEAL WITH THIS. UM IT'S NOT JUST
THE DEMAND SIDE OR THE SUPPLY
SIDE. WE GOT ATTACKED BOTH
SIDES. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION
PROTECTION AND SUPPRESSION
STRATEGY. THAT WILL FOR THE
FIRST TIME WE ACTUALLY GET TO
THE ROOT. CAUSES OF WHY WE GOT
HERE AND FOR GENERATION AS A
GENERATION. WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE
SINCE THE NIXON WAR ON DRUGS.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN
ANY BETTER OVER TIME WITH SOME
OF THE POLICIES THAT WE'VE USED
BEFORE. SO LET'S FIND OUT WHAT
REALLY WORKS. I THINK THIS WOULD
THIS COMMITTEE IS REALLY ABOUT
IT'S LOOKING AT BACKED FINDING
OUT WHAT WORKED AND THEN AMPLIFY
THAT SO THAT WE CAN. WE CAN
FOCUS LIKE A LASER TO ENSURE
THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME NOT ONLY
DO WE GET A HANDLE, BUT WE START
WINNING THE WAR. ON ADDICTION.
BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING THE WAR ON
DRUGS, SO LET'S START THE WAR ON
ADDICTION. UM IT'S JUST TIME. UM
THAT WE ALL JUST FOCUSED ON THAT
, UM, AS MR HANEY SAID, THERE
WILL BE OTHER COMMITTEES AND AS
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY. UM THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS SAID ABOUT
FENTANYL DEALERS, OTHERS FALLING
TO THE TRACKS AND MAY NOT BE THE
CRACKS AND MAY NOT BEING
PROSECUTED. WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THAT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS WE
CAN GET MORE MONEY. INTO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR. UM, WE
LOOKED AT THE TRAIL OF WHAT HAS
BEEN SPENT. SO FIVE YEARS AGO,
MOST OF THE MONEY FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH ON DRUG INTERDICTION WHO
CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAT IS DWINDLED DOWN TO
NOTHING. AND THE STATE, THEN
PICKED IT UP FOR A WHILE. NOW
THAT HAS DWINDLED DOWN TO ALMOST
NOTHING, AND SO WE HAVE NOT MADE
A CONSCIOUS EFFORT ON THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SIDE IN A ROBUST WAY THAT
I THINK IN THE BIG PICTURE WILL
REAP BENEFITS. WAY MORE THAN WE
COULD EVER POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.
UM IT'S JUST TIME THAT WE STOP
IT AT THE BIG AT THE BORDERS. WE
JUST STOP IT WHEN IT BEGINS GET
PEOPLE OFFER DRUGS, BUT
ESPECIALLY ILLEGAL DRUGS. WE
JUST GOT TO STOP IT, AND WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, I
GREW UP WHERE NANCY SAID. JUST
SAY NO I THINK IT'S NOW WE JUST
SAY JUST SAY HELL NO TO DRUGS
RIGHT NOW. WE JUST GOT TO STOP
IT. AND I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WANNA SAY
THANK YOU TO MR MR CHAIR, BOTH
CHAIRS FOR BRINGING THIS
CONVENING THIS IMPORTANT
HEARING. IN OUR FAITH OUR STATE
FACES MULTIPLE CHALLENGES. WE'VE
GOT BUDGET DEFICITS,
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS,
FIRE PREVENTION AND ON AND ON.
BUT FOR ME, NONE IS MORE
DEVASTATING ON A HUMAN LEVEL
THAN THIS FENTANYL CRISIS.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE
LEGISLATURE TACKLED THE ISSUE OF
OVER PRESCRIBING OF OPIOIDS.
PRESCRIPTION NUMBERS DECREASED
IN CALIFORNIA BY A THIRD,
APPROXIMATELY 22 YEAR IN 2016 TO
14.5 MILLION IN 2021. WE THOUGHT
WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS AND WE
DID FOR AWHILE. OVERDOSES AND
OVERDOSE DEATHS WERE DECREASING.
EVEN WITH THE SECOND WAVE OF
OPIOID USE, SWITCHING FROM
PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS TO HEROIN.
STILL THE NUMBERS WERE PROMISING
, AND WE THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD
TURN THE PAGE. A BOY, WERE WE
WRONG? WE UNDERESTIMATED THE
EXTENT TO WHICH PEOPLE WOULD GO
TO DEAL THEIR PRODUCT. AND WRECK
HUMAN RICK HUMAN DESTRUCTION IN
THE NAME OF GREED AND PROFIT.
AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE
WORST POSITION EVER RELATED TO
OVERDOSE DEATHS. WAVE THREE
FENTANYL. THE HUMAN TOLL THIS
CRISIS IS TAKING ON INDIVIDUALS
, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IS I
BELIEVE UNPRECEDENTED,
ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR YOUTH.
FAMILIES ARE BEING ABSOLUTELY
TORN APART. IN 2010 26% OF
OVERDOSE DEATHS WERE IN THE AGE
GROUP OF 0 TO 34. IN 2021, THE
PERCENTAGE HAD INCREASED TO
NEARLY 40. AND IT'S RISING. I'VE
HEARD ONE ADDITION, ADDICTION
SPECIALISTS SAY THAT THE AVERAGE
AGE FOR OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATH
USED TO BE IN THE 45, PLUS AGE
RAIN, SOMETIMES DEATH OCCURRING
AFTER A LIFETIME OF ADDICTION.
TODAY THE AVERAGE AGE IS LESS
THAN 5 45, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF
FENTANYL. TODAY IS AT HOREB AS
AS ABHORRENT AS IT SOUNDS.
PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED EVEN
BEFORE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BECOME ADDICTED. THE HUMAN
AND SOCIETAL COSTS AND
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CRISIS OR
RANDOM AND OCCUR WHERE ONE
WOULDN'T EVEN THINK OF I
REPRESENT SOME OF THE LEAST
POPULATED MOST RURAL COUNTIES IN
THE STATE, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU
THIS IS NOT A BIG CITY PROBLEM.
LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE RECEIVED A
CALL FROM MENDOCINO COUNTY
POPULATION ABOUT 80,000, OR
FENTANYL RELATED DEATHS
INCREASED NEARLY 350% FROM 2019
TO 21. THEY WERE INQUIRING ABOUT
THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO
HELP DEFRAY THE HIDDEN COSTS OF
THE CRISIS. THAT OF MENTIONED
MANAGING FENTANYL RELATED DEATHS
IN THE CORONER'S OFFICE. AND THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE
SIMPLY OVERWHELMED AND CAN'T
KEEP UP WITH THE LABORATORY AND
MANY AND MANPOWER HOURS
REQUIRED. SO ON THE ONE HAND, WE
HAVE THE VERY REAL AND
DEVASTATING HUMAN REALITY OF
LIVES ENDED WITH FENTANYL DEATHS
BEING A SIDEBAR TO THE BUSINESS
OF MANUFACTURING AND DEALING
FENTANYL FOR PROFIT, NO MATTER
THE COST, AND ON THE OTHER HAND,
WE HAVE THE VERY REAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THE CRISIS AS IT
RELATES TO THE INADEQUACIES OF
OUR SYSTEMS OF SUD CARE, THE
BURDEN PLACED ON INSTITUTIONS OF
SERVICE, WHETHER IT BE OUR
COURTS, JAILS OR CORONER'S
OFFICES. THIS IS A MULTIFACETED,
COMPLEX PROBLEM. UM AND OFTEN
DIVISIVE ISSUE AND WAS, WE
STRUGGLE WITH THE BALANCE
BETWEEN PERSONAL HEALTH OF
INDIVIDUALS, PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERNS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES,
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND A
MYRIAD OF OTHER ASPECTS OF
FENTANYL IN OUR STATE AND OUR
NATION LOOKING FORWARD TO
TODAY'S HEARING TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY
AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR
HEALTH. LEGAL AND EDUCATIONAL
COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY
ADDRESS THIS CRISIS WHERE THE
HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH
COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AND
PROGRAMS THAT BEST SERVE OUR
CONSTITUENTS. WE ARE ANY UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY AS THE LEGISLATURE
TO PUSH ON STATE AGENCIES PUSH
ON BUDGET PRIORITIES TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. I THINK
PEOPLE HAVE FOLLOWED OUR WORK IN
THE PAST OR MY WORK IN THE PAST.
I TALK A LOT ABOUT PREVENTION.
AS A STATE. WE FAIL MISERABLY AT
PREVENTION. UM IT'S OFTEN
PREVENTION IS OFTEN PUSHED ASIDE
BECAUSE WE BUDGET FROM YEAR TO
YEAR. UM AND PREVENTION REQUIRES
LONG TERM SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS
TO SEE LONG TERM SUSTAINED
RESULTS. AND WE SIMPLY DON'T DO
THAT. AND IF YOU COULD JUST
INVEST FOR EVERY DOLLAR, YOU CAN
INVEST IN PREVENTION, YOU COULD
SAVE $6 ON THE TREATMENT END OF
THAT. SO HERE WE ARE REPEATING
THAT CYCLE OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN. AT THE COST, HUMAN
COST AND SOCIETAL COST. THAT IS
ENORMOUS. WE HAVE TO END THAT WE
HAVE TO BEGIN TO SHIFT OUR
PARADIGM. INVEST IN THOSE
STRATEGIES, THOSE THINGS THAT
CAN HELP PREVENT THIS FUTURE
FUTURE USE, PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
DYING AND BEGAN TO MOVE PAST
SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES WE
HAVE HERE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO
THIS, UM AND I'M AS USUAL. NOT
GONNA BE SHY TO PUSH ON SOME OF
OUR AGENCIES TO GET ON BOARD AND
HELP US OUT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU TO BOTH OF THE CHAIRS AND
FOR ALL THE MEMBERS WHO JOINED
US, WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED
WITH THE PANELS. I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE SOME OF WHAT THE
PROCESS WILL BE. WE HAVE FOUR
PANELS TODAY. EACH OF THE
WITNESSES WILL HAVE 3 TO 7
MINUTES TO TESTIFY IN THE WAY WE
ARE GOING TO DO THIS IS I'M
GOING TO CALL UP EACH PANEL
INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN REMEMBERS
. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EACH OF
THE WITNESSES PRESENT. AND THEN
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WILL BE
AVAILABLE AFTER EACH OF THE
AFTER THE ENTIRE PANEL PRESENTS
, THEN WE CAN, UH, ENGAGE WITH
THE PANEL. COLLECTIVELY WE ALSO
ARE NOT ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT
OVER THE PHONE TODAY, BUT YOU
CAN SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTAMENT
TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE. AT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DOT HANEY AT
ASSEMBLY DOT CA.GOV AND WE WILL
ALSO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE
END OF THE HEARING IN PERSON, SO
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR
AND SO WITH THAT I WANT TO
INVITE THE FIRST PANEL. WE HAVE
14 WITNESSES HERE, SO WE HAVE A
LOT TO COVER AND AGAIN VERY
GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOUR
TIME TODAY, THE FIRST PANEL THAT
I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP TO PROVIDE
AN INTRODUCTION. ON FENTANYL AND
ADDICTION. WE HAVE PROFESSOR
KEITH HUMPHREYS FROM STANFORD
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. LARA DID
HEAR FROM SONG FOR CHARLIE AND
AMY DUNKEL FROM THE SOLAS
FOUNDATION. DR HUMPHRIES.
WELCOME.
THE MIC WENT IN THERE. GOOD
MORNING. MY ON THANK YOU.
WHEELCHAIR. HANEY CHAIR JOAN
SAWYER, CHAIR WOOD AND VICE
CHAIRS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS
HEARING AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING
ME THE CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU AND
YOUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES
TODAY. I'VE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION SO
THAT ALL OF US CAN START THIS
PROCESS ON THE SAME PAGE
EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND ALSO
ANYBODY MIGHT BE LISTENING
ONLINE OR WATCHING. LET'S DIVE
RIGHT IN. FIRST WHAT IS
FENTANYL? WHY IS IT DIFFERENT
THAN OTHER DRUGS? FANEUIL'S
FIRST SYNTHESIZED IN 1959. IT'S
AN OPIOID LIKE MORPHINE LIKE
OXYCODONE DESIGNED TO RELIEVE
PAIN. BUT HOW IT'S DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER OPIOIDS IS THAT IT'S
A VERY EFFICIENT AT CROSSING THE
BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER. THAT MEANS
IT HAS A VERY FAST AND STRONG
EFFECT. THIS MAKES FENTANYL VERY
USEFUL IN MEDICINE. IF YOU'VE
HAD SURGERY, YOU'VE PROBABLY
BENEFITED FROM SOME FENTANYL.
BUT YOU TAKE A DRUG OUT OF THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND YOU SELL
IT IN ILLEGAL MARKETS, AND IT
CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. THE
ABILITY OF FENTANYL TO PRODUCE
EUPHORIA AT A DOSE AS SMALL AS
1/50 OF STREET HEROIN MAKES IT
VERY ADDICTIVE FOR EVERYBODY,
BUT PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEIR BRAINS ARE
STILL DEVELOPING. WHEN IT'S NOT
TAKEN AT PRECISE DOSES, THE RISK
OF OVERDOSE SORES AND JUST LET
ME MAKE IT CONCRETE FOR YOU. I
HAD A POUND OF PURE FENTANYL
PATTERN IN FRONT OF ME, AND I
CUT IT INTO 500 EQUAL SIZED
PIECES, AND I TOOK JUST ONE OF
THOSE LITTLE PIECES AND I CUT IT
INTO 500 PIECES. ONE OF THOSE
LITTLE PIECES 1 500 OF 1 £500
WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN OVERDOSE
OF FENTANYL. BECAUSE IT IS SO
SMALL AND POTENT IN SMALL
AMOUNTS. THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD
TO INTERDICT EXPERTS AT RAND
ESTIMATE THAT OUR ENTIRE ANNUAL
CONSUMPTION OF FENTANYL ILLEGAL
FENTANYL, THIS COUNTRY IS LESS
THAN 10 TONS. THAT MEANS
LITERALLY, YOU COULD FIT ALL OF
IT ON ANY ONE OF THE 5 MILLION
TRUCKS ACROSS THE MEXICO US
BORDER EACH YEAR. SECOND HOW DID
THIS DRUG BECOME SO DOMINANT?
WELL, WE TALK ABOUT DISRUPTIVE
INNOVATIONS ALL THE TIME.
SILICON VALLEY. THIS IS A
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION IN ILLEGAL
DRUG MARKETS. IT IS UNLIKE
HEROIN, MORPHINE OR ANY OTHER
ILLICIT OPIOID IN THAT IT
DOESN'T REQUIRE AGRICULTURE.
THERE'S NO FARM ANYWHERE. ALL
ALL THE SUPPLY CHAINS ARE GONE.
THAT MEANS IT CAN BE MADE FAR
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND CHEAPLY FOR
TRAFFICKERS, AND THAT WAY IT IS
LIKE METHAMPHETAMINE. IT IS LIKE
ZILLA SCENE. VACUUM TREATED. THE
SUPPLY CHAINS REMOVES A LOT OF
INTERDICTION OPPORTUNITIES AND
MEANS THAT IN THE END FENNEL IS
PROBABLY GOING TO OUT COMPETE
HEROIN TO THE POINT THAT THERE
IS NO HEROIN LEFT IN ILLICIT
DRUG MARKETS IN CALIFORNIA. THIS
HAS HAPPENED BACK EAST. THIS CAN
HAPPEN HERE BECAUSE THE PROFIT
MARGIN IS SO LARGE. THE OTHER
THING ABOUT FENTANYL IS IT'S SO
POTENT THAT PEOPLE USE IT. MORE
AND MORE EACH DAY THAN THEY
WOULD EVEN HEROIN. SO CHEAP TO
MAKE PEOPLE USE IT A LOT THAT
MAKES IT VERY PROFITABLE. THAT'S
WHY MANY PEOPLE ASK ME. WHY
WOULD YOU SELL A PRODUCT IS A
DRUG DEALER THAT KILLS PEOPLE?
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO PROFITABLE
YOU CAN AFFORD TO BEFORE THEY
DIE. YOU MAKE MORE MONEY IN SIX
MONTHS THAN YOU WOULD A DECADE
SELLING PEOPLE HEROIN. THAT IS A
VERY COLD HEARTED CALCULATION.
BUT THESE THESE ARE NOT NICE
PEOPLE. THEY JUST WANT THE
MONEY. HAS BEEN SOLD IN
SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES EASTERN
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOR ALMOST A
DECADE. IT'S MOVED WEST FROM
ABOUT 2017 TO 2019, THE SHERIFF,
FENTANYL DESK. UNITED STATES
THAT HAPPENED, WESTERN
MISSISSIPPI WENT UP 371% AND
IT'S ONLY GONE UP SINCE THAT
POINT THIRD. WHAT DO WE NEED TO
DO DIFFERENTLY IN LIGHT OF
FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC
DRUGS? SO LET'S START WITH STATE
AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. A BIG
PART OF WHAT ARE POLICE OFFICERS
DO IS THEY DO DRUG SEIZURES? AND
UNFORTUNATELY, DRUG SEIZURES DO
NOT HAVE THE SAME IMPACT ON A
SYNTHETIC DRUG AS THEY DO WITH
AN AGRICULTURALLY DERIVED DRUG
BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT.
IF YOUR TRAFFICKER FOR ANOTHER
GROWING SEASON IN COLOMBIA YOU
DON'T HAVE A LONG SUPPLY CHAIN
TO HAVE TO REFILL THINGS YOU CAN
THAT NIGHT MAKE UP THE EXTRA
FENTANYL THAT WAS SEIZED IN A
LAB WHICH MIGHT BE YOU KNOW,
COULD BE IN MEXICO. IT COULD BE
RIGHT HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT STILL
MATTERS, BUT ONLY IF WE GIVE
POLICE A MISSION THEY CAN
REASONABLY FULFILL. SPECIFICALLY
THEY CAN USE EVIDENCE BASED
STRATEGIES TO DETER SOME OF THE
WORST HARMS OF ILLEGAL MARKETS
LIKE STREET VIOLENCE IN THE OPEN
AIR MARKETS THAT ARE DESTROYING
NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOME OF OUR
CITIES. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
THAT DOES NOT MEAN ARRESTING
EVERY PERSON IN SIGHT THERE
EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES THAT
INVOLVE POLICE WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES SIDE BY SIDE WITH
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THAT HAVE
CLOSED DOWN MARKETS AND OTHER
CITIES THAT DOES NOT GET RID OF
DRUG USE IN ORDER TO GET RID OF
DRUG DEALING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE
POINT. THE POINT IS IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FAMILIES
IN THESE VERY TOUGH
NEIGHBORHOODS. I VOLUNTEERED AN
AGENCY IN THE TENDERLOIN. YOU
HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE HOW.
HOW, HOW TOUGH IT IS FOR
FAMILIES TO LIVE IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE CAN MAKE THEM
SAFER, HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER BY
AT LEAST GETTING RID OF THE OPEN
AIR ASPECT OF THE MARKET. THAT
ALSO HELPS BUSINESSES THAT
OTHERWISE MIGHT GO BROKE OR
LEAVE. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
CAN ALSO DO GOOD WORK WITH
PEOPLE WHO OFFEND OVER AND OVER
AND DRUG ADDICTION IS THE CAUSE
BY GIVING THEM THE OPTION OF
DRUG COURT SUPERVISED TREATMENT
INSTEAD OF JUST LOCKING THEM
AWAY. ON THE HEALTH POLICY SIDE.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO WHERE
WE'RE LUCKY THAT ARE FDA
APPROVED MEDICATIONS LIKE COUPON
ORPHAN LIKE NEIL TREKSOHN SEEMED
TO WORK PRETTY WELL FOR TREATING
FENTANYL ADDICTION. WE ALSO HAVE
SOME GOOD BEHAVIORAL TREATMENTS
LIKE CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT NOT
ONLY WORKS FOR FENNEL, BUT ALSO
FOR METHAMPHETAMINE, WHICH IS A
BIG PROBLEM FOR US IN
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THOSE
TREATMENT. WE'VE DONE A REALLY
GREAT JOB IN THE CORRECTIONAL
SYSTEM, AND I JUST HAVE TO
APPLAUD. YOU KNOW,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WALDRON AND
DOCTOR WOULD TO FOR REALLY
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
INCARCERATED ON PAROLE ARE
GETTING THESE TREATMENTS THAT'S
GOING TO BE LIFE SAVING.
EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS THEM TO.
OBVIOUSLY. SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THINGS LIKE WHAT IS MEDICAL
REIMBURSE OUR PROVIDERS ACTUALLY
PRESCRIBING THESE IN ALL ALL OUR
VARIOUS COUNTIES, BECAUSE IF
THEY'RE NOT, IF IT'S IF IT'S NOT
FINANCIALLY VIABLE, PEOPLE WILL
NOT WILL NOT DO IT, AND WE HAVE
TO GET PRIVATE INSURERS TO DO
THEIR PART. WE HAVE GOOD FEDERAL
AND STATE LAWS MANDATING PARITY
IN INSURANCE, MEANING THAT YOU
HAVE TO PROVIDE GOOD BENEFITS
FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT. THE
COMPANIES DON'T ALWAYS FOLLOW
THEM. THAT MEANS WE NEED OUR
REGULATORS TO WORK HARD TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN. IN TERMS OF OTHER
PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES.
THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES ADAPTING
NALOXONE TO THIS NEW WORLD WHERE
PEOPLE MIGHT BE TAKING FENTANYL
METHAMPHETAMINE AND SEEN PUT
TOGETHER BUT IT STILL WORKS
INCREDIBLY WELL. NALOXONE IS A
CHEAP, LIFE SAVING DRUG. WE
SHOULD BE PUSHING IT OUT
EVERYWHERE TO HIGH RISK GROUPS,
BUT ALSO HIGH RISK LOCATIONS.
LIKE LIKE LIBRARIES, LIKE BARS,
LIKE RESTAURANTS, AND I KNOW I
KNOW YOU KNOW THIS CHAIR HANDY.
YOU'VE BEEN YOU'VE BEEN DOING
IT. WE ALSO WANT THIS NEW OVER
THE COUNTER NALOXONE, WHICH IS A
BIG INNOVATION TO BE COVERED BY
INSURANCE, AND I BELIEVE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORTEGA HAS A
BILL TO THAT EFFECT, BECAUSE
IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY. 50 BUCKS
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. WE WANT TO
WANT TO GET IT, SO WE WON'T HAVE
INSURANCE COVER THAT. EVEN AS WE
PRESS FORWARD, THIS IS A VERY
SAD THING TO SAY, EVEN AS WE
PRESS FORWARD WITH TREATMENTS
AND SUPPORT FOR RECOVERY FROM
ADDICTION, WITH OVERDOSE RESCUE
WITH HEALTH SERVICES LIKE
SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, WE
HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT
WE CAN ACHIEVE WITH PEOPLE WHO
ARE CURRENTLY ADDICTED. VERY
TRAGICALLY. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE ADDICTED ALREADY ARE
GOING TO DIE OF AN OVERDOSE, OR
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDICTED FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS, CAUSING GREAT
SUFFERING TO THEM, AND THIS
BRINGS US TO A TRUTH ABOUT
EPIDEMICS, WHETHER IT'S COVID,
OR FENTANYL OR HIV AIDS. IN THE
END, YOU CAN'T END AN EPIDEMIC
BY ONLY WORKING WITH THE MOST
SEVERELY AFFECTED PEOPLE. YOU
HAVE TO PREVENT NEW CASES. AND
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO THANK
PREVENTIVELY EVEN AS WE'RE
TRYING TO KEEP OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS ALIVE. NOW THEY WHEN I
WAS STARTING MY CAREER, THERE
WAS THE DARE PROGRAM. IT WAS
USED A LOT AND DIDN'T WORK VERY
WELL. KIND OF GAVE PREVENTION A
BIT OF A BAD NAME TO SAY THAT'S
NOT FAIR. THERE ACTUALLY ARE
VERY GOOD TODAY, EVIDENCE BASED
PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
BEEN SHOWN TO WORK IN DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES BUT NOT ONLY HELP
KIDS DEVELOP WEALTH IF THEY
DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS,
BUT ALSO LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF
SCHOOL LESS LIKELY TO HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. UM, YOU
KNOW, WE NEED TO BE HAVING THOSE
FOR ALL ALL OUR KIDS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE CAN SUPPLEMENT
THAT WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. I THINK THERE'S STILL
I KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY ARE PRESSED PILLS SELL
IT ONLINE THAT ARE LABELED
ADVENT OR LABORED AT ALL. BUT IN
FACT FENTANYL AND THEY TAKE THEM
AND THEY DIE. THEY HAVE NO
TOLERANCE FOR OPIOIDS AND I
EVERY TIME I GIVE A TALK WITH
THIS, I'M SHOCKED. STILL,
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW THAT WE COULD HAVE PUBLIC
EDUCATION ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO
PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR PARENTS TO
TELL THEM ANY ADDICTIVE
MEDICATION. YOU HAVE NO MATTER
WHAT IT IS. BE SURE IT'S LOCKED
UP. HE WOULD LOCK UP YOUR LIQUOR
CABINET. LOCK UP YOUR MEDICINE.
SO IT'S HARD. YOU SAID IT SO
WELL, DOCTOR WOULD. IT'S HARD TO
INVEST IN PREVENTION BECAUSE YOU
HAVE TO BE PATIENT TO SEE THOSE
BENEFITS ACCRUE, BUT THEY REALLY
WILL ACCRUE AND I'VE WORKED WITH
A NUMBER OF YOU AND I KNOW YOU
DO HAVE THE VISION AND
LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS FOR THE LONG TERM
BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE REALLY
WANT TO HELP CALIFORNIANS WHO
ARE ADDICTED, OBVIOUSLY EVEN
BETTER. WE CAN HELP THEM NOT GET
INTO THAT VERY AWFUL SITUATION
IN THE FIRST THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR HAVING HERE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR. I'M PRESENT
AGAIN. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD
QUESTIONS FOR DR HUMPHRIES UNTIL
THE END OF THE PANEL. AND I
WANNA WELCOME MISS DID HERE.
THANK YOU. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
BE HERE TODAY. UM, SO MANY OF
YOU I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO GET
TO KNOW WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ASSEMBLYMAN
PATTERSON. UM, MY SON DIED. IN
IN JOE'S DISTRICT, AND HE HAS
BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER ON THIS
CRISIS AND FOR MY FAMILY. GREAT
VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU,
ASSEMBLYMAN HANEY FOR INVITING
ME TO BRING MY VOICE TO THIS
DISCUSSION. I'LL GET THROUGH
THIS. I PROMISED MY NAME IS
LAURA DID HERE. AND ON DECEMBER
20/5 OF 2020. I WAS ENJOYING THE
HOLIDAY WITH MY PARENTS AND MY
THREE BELOVED CHILDREN, ALI SAM
AND SACK. MY CHILDREN ARE MY
WORLD AND I WAS EXTREMELY PROUD
OF THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. THAT
THEY WERE GROWING INTO. ZACH MY
BABY ON MY PEN HERE. HE WAS 17.
HE WAS A SENIOR AT WHITNEY HIGH
SCHOOL IN ROCKLAND. HE WAS A
STRAIGHT A STUDENT AND ATHLETE,
A SELF TAUGHT MUSICIAN. KIND
FRIEND, ALL LOVING BOYFRIEND.
ALL AROUND. AMAZING KID. TWO
DAYS AFTER THAT. FUN. FESTIVE
HOLIDAY. I WATCHED A CORNER TAKE
MY SON OUT OF HIS BEDROOM. ZACH
HAD NO MEDICAL CONDITIONS, NOR
WAS HE STRUGGLING WITH ANY
SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE. WE WERE
BLINDSIDED BY HIS UNEXPECTED AND
TRAGIC DEATH. THERE WERE NO
DRUGS FOUND IN HIS ROOM. IT
WASN'T UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO
OPEN HIS PHONE THE NEXT DAY THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE PIECES
TOGETHER OF THOSE FAITHFUL LAST
TWO DAYS OF SLEITH. ZACH
PURCHASED WHAT WAS BEING
MARKETED. HAS A PERCOCET PILL
DEALER WAS OPERATING ON SNAPCHAT
PUTTING UP MENUS OF THESE DRUGS.
CONNECTED WITH MY SON AT THE
GALLERIA MALL IN BROOKLYN. HE
AND A BUDDY EACH CITED TO
EXPERIMENT. TRY PERCOCET PILL.
THOSE PILLS MUST NOT HAVE HAD
MUCH FENTANYL IN THEM. THAT'S
WHAT'S SO SINISTER ABOUT THESE
PILLS. THEY'RE NOT MADE WITH ANY
CONTENT UNIFORMITY. ONE PILL
MIGHT CONTAIN VERY LITTLE.
UNFORTUNATELY TWO DAYS LATER,
ZACH DECIDED ON HIS OWN TO TRY
ONE MORE. AND THAT PILL KILLED
HIM VERY QUICKLY IN HIS BEDROOM
OVERNIGHT. AND THERE ARE NO
WORDS TO EXPRESS THE
EXCRUCIATING PAIN OF LOSING
SOMEONE SO YOUNG SO PRECIOUS.
WITH SUCH PROMISE TO A DANGER
YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.
AND ZACH'S STORY IS BECOMING ALL
TOO COMMON IN OUR STATE.
SENTINEL HAS IRREVERSIBLY
CHANGED THE DRUG LANDSCAPE INTO
THIS NIGHTMARE THAT WE ARE
WITNESSING TODAY. I'M NOT THE
ONLY MOM WHO HAS FOUND THEIR
CHILD DEAD IN THEIR BEDROOM. AND
BEREAVED PARENTS LIKE MYSELF AND
ZAC'S DAD, WE'RE SHARING OUR
STORIES TO WARN OTHER FAMILIES
TO WARN OTHER PARENTS TO WARN
KIDS. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO
HEAR ASSEMBLYMAN WOULD TALK
ABOUT THE NEED FOR PRIMARY
PREVENTION. IT DOES WORK SINCE I
LOST ZACH. I BEGAN WORKING WITH
A NONPROFIT CALLED SONG FOR
CHARLIE. WE ARE DIRECTLY, UM,
FOCUSED ON EDUCATION PRIMARY
PREVENTION, CREATING CONTENT
AIMED AT STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. TO EDUCATE KIDS ON
WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'VE CONDUCTED
TARGETED RESEARCH TO FIND THAT
ONLY TWO THAT TWO THIRDS OF
STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13
AND 17 ARE NOT AWARE OF
COUNTERFEIT PILLS TO ECHO WHAT
MR HUMPHREY SAID. WE THINK.
EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW RIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S IN THE NEWS A LOT
MORE, BUT A LOT OF THESE KIDS
DON'T AND THEIR PARENTS DON'T
BUT FENTANYL IS WHAT'S KILLING
THEM, YET THEY STILL RANK HEROIN
AND COCAINE AS MORE DANGEROUS.
THIS KNOWLEDGE GAP IS KILLING
OUR KIDS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
WE FILL THAT GAP WITH
INFORMATION AND I KNOW THAT THEY
ARE RESPONSIVE TO IT. I KNOW
BECAUSE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I HAVE SPOKEN
IN FRONT OF PROBABLY UPWARDS OF
70,000 HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE
SCHOOL KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS.
THEY RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION
WILLINGLY AND GRATEFULLY. THEY
KNOW THAT THIS IS KILLING THEIR
PEER GROUP. THEY NEED TO SEE
THAT ARE AS ADULTS CARE ABOUT
THEM. AND ITS SONG FOR CHARLIE.
WE'VE KIND OF TAKEN THAT JUST
SAY NO. AND OH, AND WE'VE
CHANGED THAT. TO JUST SAY NO
WITH A K N O W KNOW WHAT'S OUT
THERE KNOW ABOUT THE DECEPTION
KNOW HOW LETHAL THESE DRUGS ARE
. NO WHAT AN OVERDOSE. LOOKS
LIKE NO ONE TO CALL FOR HELP
WHEN YOUR FRIEND IS IN TROUBLE,
NO, THAT YOU WON'T GET IN
TROUBLE FOR CALLING FOR HELP.
AND THESE KIDS COME UP TO ME
AFTERWARDS. AND THEY SAY THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING ME
AND ALL OF US PARENTS THAT DO
THIS WORK. THANK YOU FOR LETTING
ME KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE. I HAD
PARENTS CALLED ME IN TEARS TO
SAY MY SON WAS AT YOUR ASSEMBLY,
AND IT OPENED UP A CONVERSATION
. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAD
TRIED SOME THINGS. AND THEY SAID
. I DON'T WANT WHAT HAPPENED TO
THAT BOY THAT HAPPENED TO ME. SO
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
INVEST IN OUR KIDS AND WE INVEST
IN EDUCATING THEM AND PROTECTING
THEM AND WE SEND THE MESSAGE TO
THEM THAT WE CARE. SO I REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE
TODAY. THANK YOU, MR LEAR. AND
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE,
WE'RE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND
THANKFUL FOR, UH DOING TO
EDUCATE OTHERS AND FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY, AND WE'RE VERY
GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING
ME HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS AMY
DUNKEL. I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE
SOLAS FOUNDATION. I'M ALSO ON
THE BOARD OF BROKEN ARM OR AN
INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION WALKING TO WORKING
TO CHANGE HARMFUL POLICIES
AFFECTING PEOPLE WHO USE
SUBSTANCES. ADDITIONALLY I AM ON
THE BOARD OF GRASP AND
INTERNATIONAL GREECE SUPPORT
GROUP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A
LOVED ONE TO SUBSTANCE USE WITH
ALMOST 20,000 MEMBERS. MY LIFE
HAS BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
ALL THREE PHASES OF THE OPIOID
CRISIS. MY HUSBAND AND I LOST
OUR 20 YEAR OLD SON TO AN
OVERDOSE. BEN'S FIRST OVERDOSE
OCCURRED AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL WHEN
HE WAS 16. WE HAD NO IDEA ARE
SON WAS USING SUBSTANCES THAT HE
WAS BATTLING DEPRESSION OR THAT
HE WAS BEING BULLIED. ALL THIS
BECAME APPARENT WHEN HE WAS
RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. BEEN
ACQUIRED PILLS FROM HIS BEST
FRIEND, THE SAME FRIEND WHO SAT
WITH US AS BEN DIED FOUR YEARS
LATER. THE SAME FRIEND WHOSE
LIFE WAS LATER SAVED WITH THE
UNLOCK SIN I DISTRIBUTE. THE
TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD WAS A
DIFFICULT ONE FOR BEN IN
NOVEMBER, 2010. HE BROKE HIS ARM
AND WAS PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS. AT
THE TIME, HE WROTE A POEM ABOUT
HOW GOOD THEY MADE HIM FEEL. HIS
SUBSTANCE USE BECAME MORE
PROBLEMATIC. IN MARCH, 2011, A
FRIEND WHO HAD BEEN SUPPLYING
HIM WITH PILLS, OFFERED BEN A
CHEAPER, OPIOID. HE CALLED IT B
T. H BEN SMOKED IT, OBLIVIOUS
THAT THE ACRONYM STOOD FOR BLACK
TAR HEROIN. HE SANK DEEPER INTO
THE ABYSS. HE WAS NOW PHYSICALLY
DEPENDENT ON HEROIN. FOLLOWING
SEVEN SEVERAL OVERDOSES AND
MONTHS OF DESPAIR, THEN ENTERED
THE WORLD OF TREATMENT FOUR DAYS
INTO HIS FIRST DAY IN A SOBER
LIVING HOME, WE FOUND OUR SONS
SNORING LOUDLY AT THE FACILITY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON.
BY THE TIME WE GOT HIM TO THE ER
, HIS OXYGEN LEVELS WERE
DANGEROUSLY LOW. WE HAVE NO IDEA
HOW LONG BEN WAS STARVED OF
OXYGEN. BEN CYCLED IN AND OUT OF
AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM USED SUBOXONE BUT
ONLY FOR DETOX. I KEPT NOTICING
THAT BEN WAS MORE LIKE HIS OLD
SELF. EACH TIME SUBOXONE WAS
INITIATED, THEN TAPERING WOULD
BEGIN RELAPSE WOULD FOLLOW. THE
PATTERN CONTINUED, THEN FELT SO
MUCH BETTER. EACH TIME HE
STARTED SUBOXONE PROTOCOL AND
ASKED IF I COULD STAY ON IT. THE
PROGRAM DENIED HIS REQUEST, SO I
TOOK HIM OUT OF NETWORK. HE
STARTED BUPRENORPHINE
MAINTENANCE, HOWEVER. HE MISSED
THE STRUCTURE OF THE OUTPATIENT
PROGRAM AND THE FRIENDS WITHIN
IT. HE WAS LONELY AND ISOLATED
AND ASKED TO RETURN. HE WAS
ALLOWED BACK UNDER CONDITION
THAT IS SUBOXONE WAS SURRENDERED
, THEN HANDED IT OVER, AND THE
FACILITY USED IT TO DETOX HIM.
ANOTHER OVERDOSE FOLLOWED, WHICH
LED TO SEVERAL MISDEMEANOR
CHARGES RELATED TO HIS SUBSTANCE
USE. THESE CHARGES WITH USED TO
COERCE SPEND INTO TREATMENT.
BEN'S FIRST INPATIENT TREATMENT
RESULT. INTEREST SORRY. BEN'S
FIRST INPATIENT TREATMENT
RESULTED IN HIS TRANSITION FROM
SMOKING TO BE AN INJECTED WITH
HEROIN IN THE FACILITY, THEN HAD
BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THIS
FACILITY STRAIGHT FROM A
PSYCHIATRIC HOLD. HE WAS AT HIS
MOST VULNERABLE BOTH PHYSICALLY
AND MENTALLY, HE HAD GIVEN UP ON
LIFE, HE OVERDOSED AGAIN WITHIN
DAYS OF LEAVING THE FACILITY.
BEN SPENT 54 DAYS IN A
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER
BEFORE HIS DEATH. THE OVERDOSE
OCCURRED IN A CAR WITH THREE
OTHERS. A FRIEND FROM HIGH
SCHOOL SUPPLIED AND INJECTED
THEM WITH THE HEROIN. THE FRIEND
WAS IN A DRUG DIVERSION PROGRAM.
WHEN BEN STOPPED BREATHING, HE
PANICKED, HE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE
OTHER TO CALL 911. HE WAS
TERRIFIED OF BEING RETURNED TO
JAIL. WE LATER LEARNED THAT BEN
WAS INJECTED WITH WHAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT REFERRED TO AS A HOT
SHOT OF HEROIN. BEN'S FRIEND HAD
NO WAY OF KNOWING THE STRENGTH
AND PURITY OF THE SUBSTANCE. HE
HAD NO INTENT TO KILL HASSAN.
THEY USE SUBSTANCES TOGETHER
MANY TIMES BEFORE. IN THE FINAL
MOMENTS OF BEN'S LIFE. I HELD
HIM AND I PROMISED HIM THAT
BEAUTIFUL THINGS WOULD HAPPEN
BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS IN LIFE.
THE SALAS FOUNDATION IS MY GIFT
TO BAN I HAVE DISTRIBUTED MORE
THAN 50,000 DOSES OF NALOXONE
AND I'VE RECORDED OVER 2600
OVERDOSE REVERSALS. THE FIRST
TIME I ADMINISTERED NALOXONE TO
SAVE THE LIFE WAS AN
EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT FOR ME. THE
YOUNG MAN I SAVED RETURNED WITH
FLOWERS FROM HIS MOTHER IN
GRATITUDE. SADLY TWO YEARS LATER
, HE RELAPSED. HE FOUND HIMSELF
BACK ON THE STREETS. HE DIED THE
SAME NIGHT HE WAS ARRESTED IN A
JAIL CELL. IT BROKE MY HEART.
MORE RECENTLY, I ADMINISTER THE
LOCKS IN TO REVIVE A FENTANYL
OVERDOSE. THE YOUNG MAN
COLLAPSED JUST YARDS FROM ME. BY
THE TIME HE HIT THE GROUND, HE
WAS ALREADY BLEW HIS UPPER TORSO
RIGID AND HIS EYES ROLLED BACK
IN HIS HEAD. IT TOOK TWO DOSES
OF NALOXONE TO GET HIM BACK. I
CRADLED HIM IN MY ARMS AS A
SECOND DOSE TOOK EFFECT, A
CHILLING REMINDER OF THE
RAPIDITY OF ATTENTIONAL
OVERDOSE. WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL
MOMENT. HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WILL
DETERMINE WHO LIVES AND WHO
DIES. THERE WILL BE NO PERFECT
SOLUTION, BUT WE CAN PROTECT
MORE OR WE CAN HURT MORE. MY
HEART GOES OUT TO EVERYONE WHO
HAS LOST A LOVED ONE TO
FENTANYL. I UNDERSTAND THE PAIN
THAT MANY PARENTS ARE FEELING
THAT LOSING A CHILD TO AN
OVERDOSE. HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT
LET OUR EMOTIONS CLOUD THE
VISION OF SOLUTIONS THAT COULD
HELP KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. WE HAVE
CHILDREN PURCHASING WHAT THEY
THINK OF OPIATE PILLS AND
GETTING LETHAL DOSES OF FENTANYL
. THIS IS TRAGIC. WHEN YOU
PURCHASE AN ILLICIT SUBSTANCE ON
THE BLACK MARKET, THERE IS
ALWAYS THE RISK OF DECEPTION.
THESE CHILDREN MAY WELL HAVE
BEEN DECEIVED, SO WE'RE ALL OUR
CHILDREN. MY CHILD, TOO. THIS IS
WHAT A BLACK MARKET DOES IT
DECEIVES BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE
A REGULATED ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLY
. WE NEVER HAVE THE CALL FOR
MORE PUNITIVE PUNISHMENTS, ADDS
ANOTHER LAYER OF FEAR FOR
PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE
STRUGGLING WITH AN OPIOID USE
DISORDER. ANOTHER LAYER OF SHAME
FOR THE PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN
ARE INCARCERATED. ANOTHER LAYER
OF DESPAIR FOR THE PARENTS OF
THE BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN WHO
BEAR THE BRUNT OF INCARCERATION.
TO PROPAGATE STIGMA AND SHAME IN
THIS THIRD AND MOST DEADLY PHASE
OF OUR COUNTRY'S OPIOID CRISIS
IS WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE AND WILL
LEAD TO MORE DEATHS AND FAR MORE
SUFFERING. IT WILL NOT PROTECT
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
ILLEGALLY ACCESS PRESCRIPTION
PILLS ANY MORE THAN IT WILL
PROTECT THE ADULT WHO SUFFERS AN
UNTREATED OR POORLY TREATED
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THE WORD
USED TO DESCRIBE HOW A CHILD
DIES, POISONING OR OVERDOSE DOES
NOT MAKE THE LOSS ANY LESS
AGONIZING TO A PARENT. MY HEART
IS NO LESS BROKEN. OUR PAIN IS
THE SAME. THE. WE NEED TO FOLLOW
THE SCIENCE AND FUND WHAT WORKS.
FENTANYL KILLS, BUT SO DOES
SHAME. CRIMINALIZATION FEAR,
STIGMA AND SILENCE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
UNCLE AND WE'RE SO SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS AND THANKFUL FOR YOUR
WORK, YOUR LIFE SAVING WORK AND
ADVOCACY. UM ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS HERE WHO HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES AND ALSO WHO
HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING ADDICTION. AND WE
WELCOME YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND FOR AND FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY. AH I WANT TO OPEN IT
UP TO THE COMMITTEE. NOW I KNOW
DOCTOR WOULD HAD A FEW QUESTIONS
TO START AND THEN I WILL WORK
THROUGH THE OTHER FOLKS. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH TO THE WITNESSES. I DON'T
SEE HOW ANYBODY CAN SIT HERE AND
NOT BE MOVED BY WHAT WE'VE HEARD
TODAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING
FORWARD. ENSURING THAT WITH WES
, I KNOW HOW PAINFUL THAT MUST
BE. UM MY QUESTIONS. UM ARE
INITIAL I'M GONNA. IN RESPECT TO
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE ASKING
QUESTIONS TO START BY ASKING A
COUPLE QUESTIONS TO DR
HUMPHRIES. UM YOU KNOW, WE'RE
DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT, BUT I WANT TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT. UM UM AND I JUST LIKE
TO GIVE IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN
IDEA, I KNOW YOUR WORK EXTENDS
FAR BEYOND CALIFORNIA. UM CAN
YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT IS
WORTH WHAT MIGHT BE WORKING IN
OTHER STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES
? UM AND ARE THERE ANY
STANDOUTS? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE
TIME TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. SO IF THERE ARE
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND
WORKING, WHAT ARE THOSE, AND CAN
YOU POINT US IN THE DIRECTION OF
SOME THINGS WE MIGHT BE WANTING
TO CONSIDER SO I THINK WE CAN
TAKE A SOME LEARNING FROM WHAT'S
CALLED HUB AND SPOKE MODELS OF
CARE, WHICH HAD BEEN STARTED IN
NEW ENGLAND AND THERE'S BEEN A
LITTLE BIT EXPERIMENTATION IN
CALIFORNIA. AND WHAT THIS DEAL
WITH IS. THE REALITY IS A HUGE
NUMBER OF CLINICAL PROVIDERS ARE
NOT COMFORTABLE TREATING
ADDICTION. THEY'RE SCARED OF THE
PATIENTS WHERE THEY MAYBE THEY
DON'T LIKE THE PATIENTS AND THEY
FEEL THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR DEPTH,
AND THEY SHUN THEM. AND THEN
PEOPLE PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT.
SO THE WAY THEY SET THIS UP WAS
THEY HAD SPECIALISTS, PEOPLE WHO
MAYBE WORKED IN THE METHADONE
CLINIC OR THEY WERE AN
ADDICTION, PSYCHIATRIST OR
ADDICTION SPECIALIZING NURSE TO
BACK UP PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
ALL OVER THE STATE. SO THE AND
SAY LOOK, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND
PRESCRIBE THE PEOPLE ORPHAN, BUT
I'M HERE FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, I
WILL COACH YOU. YOU GET A
DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH THE
PATIENT. I'VE DEALT WITH THESE
MANY TIMES. I'LL TALK TO YOU,
AND THEY FOUND HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS STARTED
GETTING INTO CARE. ONCE DOCTORS
FELT THERE WAS SOMEONE BEHIND
THEM TO BACK THEM UP AND WE AND
WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THAT MANY
SPECIALISTS YOU KNOW, IN IN THE
UNITED STATES. YOU'VE GOT TO
ACTIVATE A PRIMARY CARE AS WE
WOULD FOR ANY OTHER CONDITION.
PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT FOR DEALING WITH
DEPRESSION DEALING WITH HIV, BUT
THEY HAVEN'T HAD THAT ENGAGEMENT
ON ON THIS ISSUE QUITE SO MUCH.
I ALSO THINK YOU KNOW, IN TERMS
OF EXPANSION OF NALOXONE
EVERYWHERE THAT HAS DONE THAT,
YOU KNOW, HAS HAS PROFITED IN
TERMS OF REVERSING OVERDOSES
GETTING OUT AS MANY PLACES AS
POSSIBLE. I JUST TRY TO THINK
LIKE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. YOU
KNOW, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A
FIRE. BUT IF THERE'S A FIRE, I
WANNA HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
SO WHEN I WALK INTO A LIBRARY OR
A HOUSE OR OR, YOU KNOW, I WANT
TO SEE SEE ONE OF THEM THERE. IT
NEEDS TO BE THAT I GUESS
MUNDANE, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS
JUST SOMETHING WE DO SURE. AS WE
GOT FIRE SERVICE. WE HAVE THOSE
SHOCK PADDLES TO THOSE THINGS
WORK. I THINK THAT'S WORKED IN
OTHER STATES. AND THE FOLLOW UP
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND I'LL JUST EDITORIALIZE
ON SOMETHING BEFORE I GO TO
THAT. UM THE LUXAN IS NOT A VERY
EXPENSIVE DRUG AT 22
MANUFACTURER RIGHT NOW, IT'S
PRETTY INEXPENSIVE. I WILL SAY I
AM PRETTY APPALLED AT THE PRICE
THE COST OF NALOXONE TO PEOPLE
AND I AS A HUGE IMPEDIMENT TO
GETTING THAT OUT THERE. UM, I
BELIEVE WE COULD BE DOING A LOT
BETTER THAN THAT, AND I'M REALLY
DISAPPOINTED THAT TO SEE THE
PRICE SO HIGH ALSO HIGH, SO FROM
IN MY FINAL QUESTION, UH, FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT SHOULD
WE AVOID? WHAT'S WHAT POLICIES
HAVE ENDED UP BEING REALLY
DETRIMENTAL TO TRYING TO FIGHT
THIS CRISIS IN OTHER AREAS. SO I
UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE GET VERY
ANGRY AT STREET CORNER DRUG
DEALERS. I DON'T I DON'T LIKE
STREET CORNER DRUG DEALERS,
EITHER, PARTICULARLY, BUT TO
YIELD TO THAT IMPULSE OF ANGER
TO SAY LET'S START PUTTING THOSE
FOLKS IN PRISON FOR 5 10 20
YEARS. THAT WILL FILL UP UH,
PRISONS FOR SURE, BUT IT WILL DO
NOTHING TO ALTER THE COURSE OF
DRUG MARKETS. YOU KNOW THAT THAT
IS THE MOST REPLACEABLE LABOR ON
EARTH. I MEAN, LITERALLY, YOU
CAN FIND A NEW STREET CORNER
DRUG DEALER FASTER THAN YOU CAN
FILL IT FILL, UH, JOB, YOU KNOW,
FLIPPING BURGERS. AND WE DID
THAT IN THE IN THE EIGHTIES AND
NINETIES, AND IT HAD NO POSITIVE
EFFECT, AND IT DESTROYED A LOT
OF COMMUNITIES WHO WERE JUST
DISPROPORTIONATELY PUNISHED.
WHERE YOU WANT TO USE YOUR POWER
TO PUNISH IS ON PEOPLE WITH
UNIQUE TALENTS AND SKILLS WHO
ARE VERY HARD TO REPLACE. SO IF
YOU KNOW AN ACCOUNTANT WHO CAN
TAKE $10 MILLION IN SMALL BILLS
OUT OF THE CITY'S DRUG MARKET,
WIRE IT TO EUROPE CONVERTED TO
EUROS, GET IT INTO AN ACCOUNT IN
THE CAYMANS AND NO ONE CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW THEY DID IT THAT
CASE. YEAH, YOU WANT TO GO AFTER
THAT PERSON, BECAUSE THAT'S
REALLY DAMAGING TO A DRUG
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION. PEOPLE
AT THE BOTTOM, UM YOU CAN. YOU
CAN PUNISH THEM ALL DAY, AND
THEY'LL JUST JUST BE IMMEDIATELY
REPLACED. AND OTHER THING, OF
COURSE, IS IF YOU IF YOU
PRIORITIZE DOING THAT YOU'RE
FILLING UP CELLS THAT YOU MIGHT
WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DONE OTHER THINGS IN RIGHT IF WE
SUPER CRIMINALIZED LOW LEVEL
DRUG CRIMES, WE EFFECTIVELY
DECRIMINALIZED GOING AFTER RAPE,
ARSON MURDER BECAUSE THERE'S
ONLY SO MUCH RESOURCE IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THAT I
THINK WAS THE BIG MISTAKE OF THE
EIGHTIES AND EARLY NINETIES THAT
I WOULD HOPE HE WOULD NOT
REPEAT. MR MURATSUCHI. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR
ALLOWING ME TO JOIN THIS VERY
IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY, AND I
WANT TO START BY BY THANKING MRS
DIDI AND MISS DUNKEL FOR SHARING
YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS A
FATHER OF A TEENAGER. I HAVE
DEFINITELY HAD THAT CONVERSATION
. MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL
THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL AND HOW
IT'S, UH INEXTRICABLY RELATED TO
THE OVERALL OPIATE CRISIS. UM I
WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON DR WOOD AND
ASKING, UH, PROFESSOR HUMPHREYS.
SO UM, I THINK YOU JUST HEARD A
LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THAT WE
SHOULD NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES
OF THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES BY
FOCUSING ON LOCKING UP LOW LEVEL
, UM AH, OFFENDERS AND DEALERS
AT THE SAME TIME. UM YOU AND
YOUR OPENING COMMENTS YOU TALKED
ABOUT HOW THE DRUG SEIZURE
APPROACH IS INEFFECTIVE FOR
DRUGS THAT CAN BE EASILY
MANUFACTURED LIKE FENTANYL. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME YOU SAID THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR POLICE AND
COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO
CRACK DOWN ON THE OPEN AIR
MARKETS. COULD YOU EXPAND ON
WHAT EXACTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU
WOULD PROPOSE AND IN TERMS OF
THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO
CRACK DOWN ON THESE OPEN AIR
MARKETS? YES I'D BE. I'D BE
HAPPY TO SO WE WOULD FOLLOW THE
EXAMPLE OF CITIES LIKE HIGH
POINT NORTH CAROLINA. OR WOULD
BOSTON DID WITH THE BOSTON GUN
PROJECT? THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE A
REALISTIC APPRAISAL THAT THERE'S
ALWAYS GOING TO BE CRIMINALS IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE DRUG USE IN
DEALING, BUT YOU CAN SHAPE THEIR
BEHAVIOR THROUGH DETERRENCE, AND
THEY USED A PROGRAM CALLED COLIN
, WHERE THEY WOULD BRING IN THE
DRUG DEALERS. CALL THEM IN AND
SAY, LOOK, WE'VE GOT PHOTOS OF
YOU ON BY BY BUS. WE COULD
ARREST ALL OF YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT
WE'D RATHER NOT DO THAT, BUT WE
WANT TO DO IS CHANGE YOUR
BEHAVIOR AND GET YOU OUT OF THIS
BUSINESS AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE
HERE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
THEM AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
SEE YOU OUT OF THIS BUSINESS.
AND IF YOU NEED MENTAL HEALTH OR
JOB SERVICES, WE HAVE THOSE
PROVIDERS THERE TO HELP YOU WERE
GIVING YOU AS MANY OPTIONS AS
POSSIBLE. WE KNOW THAT SOME OF
YOUR GOING TO CONTINUE, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE CARRYING A GUN YOU
YOU ARE. I'M SORRY, DEALING
DRUGS AND ALL THAT, BUT WE'RE
TELLING YOU OUR NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS
OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS AND
VIOLENCE. AND SO IF YOU DO THAT,
WE WILL COME AFTER YOU FOR
EVERYTHING. EVEN YOUR OVERDUE
LIBRARY BOOKS WERE GIVING THE
GAME AWAY. WE'RE TELLING YOU THE
RULES RIGHT NOW. YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET BUSTED
FOR. WE'RE SAYING THAT IS OUR
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SHARES
THAT PRIORITY. PLACES THAT HAVE
DONE THAT HAVE HAD DRAMATIC
DROPS IN GUN VIOLENCE AND
DRAMATIC DROPS IN COMMUNITY
DISRUPTION NOW WANT TO BRING
THIS UP, THEY SAY, BUT AREN'T
ISN'T THEY'RE STILL DRUG USE IN
DEALING? YES, THEY'RE STILL DRUG
USE IN DEALING. I WISH THAT
WEREN'T TRUE. BUT IT IS TRUE,
BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY
COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE DRUG USE AND HAVE
DEALING AND DON'T HAVE VIOLENCE.
THEY'RE CALLED SUBURBS. EVERYONE
DESERVES TO LIVE IN THAT KIND OF
COMMUNITY. I'M SURE THERE'S
DRUGS WHERE I LIVE, AND YET THE
STREETS ARE SAFE. FAMILIES CAN
RAISE THEIR KIDS. WE SHOULDN'T
GIVE THAT TO EVERY PERSON IN
CALIFORNIA. SO WHEN, WHEN, WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
FOCUSING ATTENTION ON, YOU KNOW
WHETHER IT'S TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS
AND BRINGING THEM ALL AND I
MEAN, THERE'S THAT AS PART OF
THAT SOLUTION, PART OF THAT
APPROACH AND INCREASED PRESENCE
OF POLICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE OPEN AIR
MARKETS. YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO
COMMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESOURCES, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO
COMMIT HEALTH RESOURCES. A LOT
OF THE PEOPLE THAT KNOWS MARKETS
ARE ADDICTED. THEY NEED
TREATMENT. IF YOU GIVE THEM
IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CARE, THEY
WILL. THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF IT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY KNOW
THE MARKET IS CLOSING DOWN. AND
YOU NEED YOU NEED FAMILY
INVOLVEMENT BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE
ARE TRYING TO RECONNECT. YOU
KNOW, WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
FAMILIES ALSO NEED TO RECLAIM
THE STREETS FOR THEMSELVES. BUT
EVERYONE HAS TO WORK TOGETHER.
WHAT IT IS NOT TRUE. YOU CAN
JUST PARACHUTE IN A BUNCH OF
POLICE AND DO A BUNCH OF ARRESTS
AND A COMMUNITY GETS BETTER THAT
NOTHING REALLY CHANGES WHEN YOU
WHEN YOU DO THAT, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. UM CHAIR. THANK
YOU FOR HOSTING TODAY. HEARING.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
MOTHERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY. I
WANT TO SAY BEN. AND CHARLIE ARE
HERE WITH US. THAT SORRY, ZACK.
UM HI. BEFORE I BECAME A
LEGISLATOR. I WAS I'M A MOTHER.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS. AND MY
YOUNGEST JUST WENT TO PROM
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND THIS IS
MY WORST NIGHTMARE. LISTENING TO
YOUR STORIES. AND WHILE I CAN
SAY I COMMAND YOUR COURAGE. I
CANNOT SAY I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PAIN THAT ANY
PARENT EVER EVER WANTS TO FEEL.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS
A LEGISLATOR. I WANT TO THANK
THE DOCTOR, UH, FOR MENTIONING A
B 10 60. IT'S A BILL THAT I
AUTHORED AS SOON AS, UM I HEARD
THAT THE FDA WAS GONNA MAKE
NARCAN AVAILABLE OVER THE
COUNTER. UNFORTUNATELY WHILE
IT'S A MEDICINE THAT'S CHEAP TO
PRODUCE EXPENSIVE TO THEIR
AVERAGE FAMILY. AND TO A MOTHER
WHO'S STRUGGLING TO JUST PUT
FOOD ON THE TABLE. TO BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE A MEDICINE THAT THEY
MAY OR MAY NOT USE BUT COULD
SAVE A LIFE. COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. AND WHILE WE, YOU
KNOW, THINK ABOUT AS LEGISLATORS
AND THE GOVERNOR AND WE LOOK AT
THE COST. RIGHT A LOT OF THINGS
THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS BODY
IS COST AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A
DEFICIT. I THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH
DOES IT COST TO REALLY SAVE A
LIFE? HOW MUCH IS MY DAUGHTER'S
LIFE WORTH? HOW MUCH IS YOUR
SON'S LIFE WORTH? AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT I HOPE THE
GOVERNOR'S LISTENING TO. WHAT
OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE ARE
LISTENING TO. WHEN THEY THINK
ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY? TO
SAVE LIVES WHILE THINKING ABOUT
THE FUTURE AND ADDRESSING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE STOP THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THESE DRUGS AND
HAVING THEM COME IN. AND SO I
HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DOCTOR.
UM YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING
ABOUT HOW CHEAP IT IS TO PRODUCE
. UH NARCAN. HOW WOULD UH,
INSURANCE COVERAGE OF THIS, UM,
DRUG HELP THIS EPIDEMIC? THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND THANK
YOU FOR INTRODUCING THAT BILL.
SO UM, MANY PEOPLE, UH, DON'T
NECESSARILY KNOW THAT USUALLY
YOUR INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER
OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION LIKE
WHEN YOU GO INTO BY YOUR COUGH,
MEDICINE OR INSURANCE LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN'T OR ASPIRIN. IT WON'T.
IT WON'T SO ACTUALLY, FOR SOME
PEOPLE, IT ACTUALLY IS MORE
EXPENSIVE OVER THE COUNTER.
BECAUSE IF YOU GET IT FROM THE
PHARMACIST, THEN YOU CAN GET
REIMBURSED BY AETNA OR BLUE
CROSS. SO THESE ARE BEING
MARKETED AT ABOUT 50 BUCKS FOR
22 DOSE PACKET. THAT'S A LOT OF
MONEY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO
HAVE AGAIN AS YOU AS YOU SAY FOR
SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW IF
THEY'RE GOING TO USE UM, AND SO
IF IT'S INSURED, IF YOU IF WE
SAY THAT, IF YOU WANT TO DO
BUSINESS INSURANCE IN
CALIFORNIA, YOU HAVE TO
CONTRIBUTE. LET'S SAY 50 BUCKS
TO THE COST OF THAT, THEN PEOPLE
COULD PICK IT UP. YOU KNOW, FOR
NOTHING OR NEARLY NOTHING, AND
WE COULD DO THAT IN MEDICAL AS
WELL. IT'S VERY IT WOULDN'T COST
THAT MUCH AND YOU KNOW, AND YOU
KNOW IT SAVES A LOT OF LIVES. I
MEAN, THERE'S VERY FEW THINGS IN
MY ENTIRE CAREER. I'VE SEEN THAT
HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN
HEALTH LIKE NALOXONE DOES. IT'S
REALLY MIRACULOUS. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THIS MEETING TODAY. UM I DO WANT
TO START OFF BY THANKING THE
MOMS FOR BEING HERE AND I KNOW
THE STRUGGLE THAT YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH, AND I ALSO COMMEND YOU
FOR YOUR COURAGE IN BEING ABLE
TO SPEAK OUT AND HELP. YOU KNOW
OTHER FAMILIES BACK IN. I THINK
IT WAS 2000. I FIRST BECAME
INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE OF
OPIOIDS WHEN I WAS SERVING ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND UH,
PARENTS WIELD IN THEIR SON WHO
WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL, UH,
FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK NOW IN A
WHEELCHAIR DUE TO OPIOID, THEN
HEROIN ADDICTION. AND I WASN'T A
MOM. YES BUT I AM NOW AND I
REMEMBER SITTING THERE AND I HAD
NOT HEARD A THING ABOUT THIS AND
IT WAS ON THE EAST COAST AND IT
WAS STARTING TO COME TOWARDS THE
WEST COAST AND THEY WERE WARNING
US ABOUT IT. SOME OF THE LOCAL
SHERIFFS HAVE PUT OUT THE
INFORMATION WAS HOLDING MEETINGS
AROUND THE COUNTY. AND EDUCATION
BECAME THE BIG THING. I MEAN, WE
CAN AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU
MENTIONED THE BLACK MARKET AND
THE BLACK MARKET. THERE'S
INDIVIDUALS THEY COULD NOT NOT
EVEN BE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE
LACING THESE DRUGS EVEN INTEND
TO DO SOMETHING. THEN WE HAVE
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE
STREET. THEY'RE SELLING IT.
THAT'S JUST ONE SEGMENT. BUT I
THINK. THE BIGGEST WAR THAT WE
HAVE IS THE EDUCATION PART OF IT
, BECAUSE IF WE COULD GET
EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
GOING ON WE CAN FIGHT THAT BLACK
MARKET BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HOW
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
WHEN THEY'RE THESE FOR MERAL
GROUPS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY
THAT WE CAN'T EVEN GET OUR
FINGERS ON. UM YOU KNOW THAT
BEING SAID AH, THE EDUCATION
PART IS SUCH A BIG THING AND
PARENTS. AS MR MURATSUCHI SAID,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION WITH YOUR KIDS. BUT
IF THE PARENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW
ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW THAT'S I
THINK IT'S CRITICAL STEP AND
TALKING TO THE KIDS ABOUT IT.
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT IN THIS
BATTLE THAT WE'RE IN, UM TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE OPIOID DRUGS CAME
AND THEY USE FROM THE EAST
COAST. YOU HAVE MENTIONED
PROFESSOR HUMPHREYS ABOUT
FENTANYL. NOW THE SAME THING
WE'RE SEEING. UM WHAT, SINCE
IT'S NOT A NEW DRUG BY ANY
MEANS, WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THIS
SPIKE AND FENNEL? NO USE AT THIS
TIME. SO YOU KNOW, INITIALLY, IT
WAS UNINTENTIONAL. FOR MOST
PEOPLE. THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS
CALLED FOR IT REALLY CAME FROM
THE SUPPLIER SIDE BECAUSE THE
COSTS ABOUT 1% OF THE PRICE OF
HEROIN TO MAKE FENTANYL SO
TRAFFICKERS WANTED TO MAKE MORE
MONEY, AND THEY STARTED TO
INTRODUCE IT WITHOUT TELLING
PEOPLE AND SO WE HAD A WAVE OF
OVERDOSES. AND PEOPLE IN SOME OF
THEM, BY THE WAY, PEOPLE KNOWING
USING OPIOIDS, BUT ALSO
SOMETIMES PEOPLE USING
METHAMPHETAMINE AND COCAINE AND
GETTING EXPOSED TO FEND THEM.
BUT THOSE WHO SURVIVE IT, THEN
BECOME ADDICTED TO IT AND THEN
ASKED FOR IT BY NAME. SO IF YOU
LOOK IN EAST COAST MARKET WHERE
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE,
IT'S NO LONGER PEOPLE BE EXPOSED
TO FENTANYL BY ACCIDENT. IT'S
ACTUALLY ASKING. I WOULD LIKE TO
BUY FENTANYL. THAT'S WHAT I
WANT. AND SO THAT THAT'S WHERE
IT CAME FROM, AND IT'S JUST VERY
PROFITABLE FOR THEM. IT'S AN
AWFUL THING. YOU KNOW, THEY SAY
THEY'RE AWFUL PEOPLE RIGHT? IT
WAS MORE LUCRATIVE, SO THEY DID
IT. JUST ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP. UM
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
TREATMENT OPTIONS. WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO INTO
TREATMENT. UM, BUT IN ORDER TO
HAVE GOALS WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW,
MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING
ACTUALLY IS EFFECTIVE IN THE
SAVING LIVES INSTEAD OF JUST,
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MONEY IS
GOING INTO THIS WAR ON DRUGS OR
AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THE RESULTS
. WE NEED TO SEE. HOW CAN WE
MEASURE UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED
SOME KIND OF METRICS ON THE
TREATMENT AND BASICALLY PATHWAYS
FOR RECOVERY. UM NOT JUST
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS. I
MEAN, HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE
ACTUALLY ACHIEVING SOMETHING?
HOW COULD WE MEASURE? IS THERE
ANY TYPE OF TEMPLE FOR THAT?
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IS OF
COURSE, WE DON'T WANT THERE TO
BE OVERDOSES. BUT THE LIMITS OF
OUR AMBITION CAN'T BE. LET'S
JUST HAVE FEWER PEOPLE
OVERDOSED. BUT THEN WE'RE GONNA
HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
ADDICTED. BEING ADDICTED IS
TERRIBLY DIFFICULT FOR
INDIVIDUALS FOR FAMILIES. AND SO
WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE GET INTO
RECOVERY. I THINK THE MOST
FUNDAMENTAL THING WE NEED TO DO
TO MAKE THE QUALITY OF ADDICTION
CARE BETTER IS TO MOVE IT.
BOLDLY INTO THE REST OF THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IT'S SORT OF
EXISTS OUT THERE IS A COUNTRY
COUSIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF
LESS CONNECTED, LESS RESOURCED,
LESS PRESTIGIOUS, STIGMATIZED
AND IF WE DID THAT, WITH CANCER
CARE, THERE WOULD BE RIOTS. UM
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO BITE THAT
BULLET AND SAY THIS NEEDS TO BE
A PART OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
WORKS HOW EVERY DOCTOR'S TRAIN
HAVE EVERY EVERY NURSES TRAINED
EVERY EVERY PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL
WORKER AND THEN WE CAN USE THE
QUALITY MECHANISMS WE HAVE IN
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ALREADY
BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF THEM
, YOU KNOW THE INSPECTS QUALITY
OF CARE, PATIENT SATISFACTION,
YOU KNOW, OUTCOMES COST ALL THAT
KIND OF STUFF THAT I THINK IS
WHY THERE'S BEEN THESE ALREADY
PROBLEMS. WE'VE SHOVED IT OUT
THERE AS A 2ND 2ND CLASS SYSTEM.
THANK YOU. BEFORE I CALL HIM ON
THE NEXT COLLEAGUE. I JUST WANT
TO REITERATE FOR EVERYBODY. WE
HAVE 11, MORE WITNESSES AND
THREE MORE PANELS. AND I KNOW
THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT
QUESTIONS BEING BEING ASKED. BUT
IF PEOPLE COULD TRY TO KEEP
THEIR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO
UNDER TWO MINUTES, IF POSSIBLE,
SO WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL OF
THAT. THAT THAT, UM WITH THAT WE
HAVE SEVEN MORE. SEVEN MORE
FOLKS WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS
ONE. SO, MR JONES I'LL MAKE THIS
AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T
WANT TO THANK UM MR DID HERE AND
DON'T GO FOR TESTIFYING AT
PUBLIC SAFETY. I WANT TO THANK
YOU PERSONALLY, I HAVE A SON
THAT'S IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW. AND
WHEN HE WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE, AS
A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
FAMILIES, DO WE TELL THEM YOU
KNOW THE FATHER, YOU KNOW?
PREMARITAL SEX. MAKE SURE YOU'RE
PROTECTED GAVE HIM SOME CONDOMS.
WHEN I SAID IF YOU GET STOPPED
BY THE POLICE IS 10 O'CLOCK TWO
O'CLOCK, MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS
ARE VISIBLE. AND THEN I TOLD HIM
DRINK SOME WATER. IF YOU'RE
GOING TO DRINK SO YOU CAN DILUTE
IT NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT TALKING
TO HIM ABOUT TAKING DRUGS. I
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FEELING,
BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED HIM AND I
HAD THAT DIFFICULT DISCUSSION HE
SAID. WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME
ABOUT THIS? AND THEN IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT BECAUSE HE GOT
REALLY FRUSTRATED. HE SAID.
OKAY, DAD, BUT WHAT'S FENTANYL?
AND I WAS DEVASTATED. DEVASTATED
THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
MY SON REALLY DIDN'T KNOW. THE
EFFECTS OF FENNEL. SO ON THE
PREVENTION SIDE AND MY QUESTION
. THE DOCTOR IS. WHAT ARE THOSE
SIGNS? WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN
SEE WHAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THESE
FAMILIES TO KNOW? HAD TIME AT
THE. TRAUMAS DEPRESSION IS WHAT
IS IT THAT YOU YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO SEE THAT COULD HELP. STOP
PEOPLE FROM BUYING ILLICIT DRUGS
BECAUSE HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE NOT PRESCRIBED DRUGS BUT
BUYING HIS REALISTIC DRUGS THAT
ARE LACED WITH FENTANYL. HOW CAN
WE HOW CAN WE FIGURE THAT OUT SO
WE CAN HAVE THAT DIFFICULT
CONVERSATIONS. I WILL TELL YOU.
IT'S DIFFICULT HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION WITH MY SON. WELL
ONE OF THE THINGS IS JUST SO
SCARY. IT'S SOMETIMES THERE ARE
NO SIGNS THERE'S LITERALLY YEAH,
KID HAS BEEN DOING GREAT AT
EVERYTHING HAPPY, ACHIEVING
LOVING AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW,
REALLY HORRIFYINGLY BAD LUCK.
YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE A PILL AT A
PARTY. A FRIEND. A FRIEND WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO HURT THEM, GIVES
THEM AND SAYS YOU SHOULD TRY
THIS AND IT TURNS OUT TO HAVE
FENTANYL IN IT. THAT'S WHY IT'S
SO SCARY. AND I SAY THIS AS A
PARENT, I HAVE TWO TEENAGE SONS.
AND WE HAD WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHEN I WAS A
KID DRUG PREVENTION WAS VERY WAY
TOO SCARY. JUST YOU KNOW, IF YOU
IF YOU TOUCHED CANNABIS, YOU
WERE GOING TO END UP, YOU KNOW,
DYING OF A HEROIN OVERDOSE. AND
ONE PILL COULD KILL YOU. AND I
TELL THEM NOW IS I HATE TO TELL
YOU THIS, BUT THE LIES YOUR
MOTHER AND I HEARD WHEN WE WERE
LITTLE OR NOWT. TRUE ONE PILL
CAN CARRY YOU IN THERE AND THERE
AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TIME
BETWEEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND
WHEN, WHEN YOU UM, ARE LOST LOST
TO US FOREVER. AND THAT THAT'S
WHY. EVERYONE'S STILL SCARED. I
MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE IT'S
DEFINITELY TRUE. YOU KNOW, KIDS
, KIDS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH
STRUGGLES, KIDS WHO ARE ISOLATED
, HAVE HIGHER RATES OF RISK FOR
ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT IT'S
ALSO TRUE. SOMETIMES IT REALLY
IS. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS
SAID VERY BEAUTIFULLY, JUST LIKE
LIGHTNING STRIKE. THANK YOU.
PETRIE-NORRIS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR, AND I TOO WANT TO
SPEAK IN MY COMMENTS JUST BY
SAYING THANK YOU TO MISS DID
EARLIER AND UNCLE FOR BEING HERE
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING EACH AND
EVERY DAY AS I HAVE SAID TO YOU
BEFORE, UM YOU ARE YOU GET UP
EACH AND EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE
OUR KIDS AND TO SAVE OUR KIDS
AND, UM, MY COMMITMENT TO YOU AS
A MOM AND AS A LEGISLATOR IS
THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER. TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING
CALIFORNIA KIDS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE. UM WITH THAT.
I FEEL LIKE THE CENTRAL
CHALLENGE BEFORE US AS WE'RE
GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO RESPOND TO
THIS CRISIS IS HOW DO WE ENSURE
THAT WE ARE INVESTING MORE IN
TREATMENT? IN PREVENTION, UH,
INVESTING MORE IN NARCAN AND
EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THAT CAN
SUPPORT UH, FOLKS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND
LOW LEVEL DEALERS. WE NEED TO
ALSO BALANCE THAT IN MY VIEW,
AND DR HUMPHRIES, I THINK I
HEARD YOU SAY THE SAME THING. WE
NEED TO BALANCE THAT WITH
STRONGER PENALTIES AND
ENFORCEMENT AND DETERRENCE LEVEL
TRAFFICKERS WHO ARE KNOWINGLY
LEANING INTO A TREMENDOUS
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS
KILLING KILLING CALIFORNIA KIDS
. I MEAN, I GUESS MY QUESTION
AND THE CHALLENGE THAT, UM, THAT
I'VE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH IS HOW
DO WE DRAW THAT LINE,
PARTICULARLY WITH A PRODUCT THAT
IS SO LETHAL AND SO DEADLY AND
IN YOUR OPENING COMMENTS YOU
OUTLINED FACT THAT I THINK IT'S
2 MG, SO 2 MG OF FENTANYL
ATTITUDE. GRAINS OF SAND IS
ENOUGH TO KILL SO IN THIS PACKET
BEFORE THIS IS 2000. 2000 LETHAL
DOSES OF FENTANYL. SO HOW DO WE
DRAW THAT LINE BETWEEN? WHO
NEEDS. SUPPORT WHO NEEDS
TREATMENT? AND WHERE DO WE NEED
DETERRENTS TO KEEP TRAFFICKERS
FROM IMPORTING THIS STUFF AND
KILLING OUR KIDS? YEAH THAT'S A
VERY HARD QUESTION. AND I ALWAYS
TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE WHO MAKES
ME MAD AND WHO I WANT THE LAW TO
COME AFTER, BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS
OF PEOPLE MAKE ME MAD. UM UH,
BUT THEN I THE WORLD WILL NOT BE
A BETTER PLACE IF EVERY EVERY
PERSON WHO YOU KNOW, DOES A
FENTANYL DEAL ENDS UP IN ENDS UP
IN JAIL? I MEAN, PART OF THIS IS
ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE
CALIFORNIA CAN'T REALLY SECURE
INTERNATIONAL BORDERS ITSELF. I
MEAN, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
DOING LOTS OF THINGS. BUT AS I
MENTIONED, IT'S REALLY IS A
NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK KIND OF
SITUATION WHEN YOU ONLY
PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, TOTAL
CONSUMPTIONS MAKE 5678 TONS. YOU
KNOW, WE IMPORT MILLIONS OF TONS
OF AVOCADOS. AND JUST TRY TO
IMAGINE FIND WHERE THAT FENTANYL
IS. THAT'S THAT'S I THINK. WE
HAVE TO ACCEPT THE LIMITED
ABILITY TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, WE
SHOULD TRY, BUT I DON'T THINK
WE'RE GOING TO MEANINGFULLY DENT
SUPPLY SO. UM YOU KNOW, THERE
ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE OUT AS I
MENTIONED UNIQUE MAJOR PLAYERS,
SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE YOU KNOW WHO
CAN IMPORT HUGE QUANTITIES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE
CONNECTIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE PEOPLE WHO CAN ENCRYPT YOU
KNOW COMMUNICATIONS. EXTREMELY
WEALTHY PEOPLE CAN MOVE ENORMOUS
QUANTITIES OF MONEY AROUND THE
WORLD. THOSE PEOPLE ARE WHEN YOU
REMOVE THOSE PEOPLE IN QUESTION
THAT REALLY HURTS TRAFFICKING
NETWORKS, AND IT'S WORTH PUTTING
THOSE PEOPLE AWAY. BUT THERE
AREN'T THAT MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE
ARE MORE COMMON PERSON IS
SOMEONE WHO'S EXTREMELY
REPLACEABLE. AND PROBABLY ALSO
REDEEMABLE QUITE QUITE A FEW OF
PEOPLE WHO DEAL IN LOW LEVEL
DRUGS ARE ALSO THEY MAY HAVE,
LIKE A REGULAR JOB AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES,
AND I DON'T APPROVE OF WHAT
THEY'RE DOING, BUT, UM, THERE'S
STILL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY
COULD TURN OUT TO BE A DECENT
CONTRIBUTING. YOU KNOW CITIZEN
AT SOME POINT, WHICH WILL NOT
HAPPEN IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR 20
YEARS INTO A INTO A CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY, AND THERE'S THE
TREATMENT. I JUST AGREE WITH
YOU. I THINK I THINK WE'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS BEFORE ABOUT THE
NEED FOR QUALITY TREATMENT IN
CALIFORNIA. AND I JUST THINK WE
NEED TO THINK OF IT. LIKE OTHER
FORMS OF HEALTH CARE. WE DO NOT
GO IN THE CHEAP FOR CANCER FOR
HEART DISEASE FOR OTHER
ILLNESSES AND EXPECT GOOD
RESULTS, BUT WE OFTEN GO FOR THE
CHEAP IN OUR SUBSTANCE USE
TREATMENT AND SURPRISED WE DON'T
GET GREAT RESULTS. JUST HAVE TO
RESOURCE IT LIKE ANY OTHER
HEALTH CARE SERVICE, ANY OTHER
LIFESAVING HEALTHCARE SERVICE?
MR PATTERSON, JIM PATTERSON, UH
AND THANK YOU, CHAIR.
APPRECIATE, UH, THAT THE HEARING
AND AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER,
THERE WILL BE OTHERS AS WE DIG
DEEPER INTO THESE, BUT I DID
WANT TO REMIND US THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE
THAT COULD BE DONE AND IS
AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
LAST YEAR THIS, UH, LEGISLATURE,
THE GOVERNORS OFFICE WORKED
TOGETHER ON A BILL THAT I
AUTHORED 23 65. IT WAS
ESTABLISHING SIX PILOT PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOCUSED ON
INCREASING AWARENESS AND
EDUCATING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF
FENNEL. IT WAS PATTERNED AFTER
THE FORT, UH, PROGRAM IN FRESNO
COUNTY F O R T FENTANYL OVERDOSE
RESPONSE TEAM. AND THIS HAS SORT
OF BEEN THE BLUEPRINT FOR THESE
PILOT PROJECTS. NOW THERE'S $5
MILLION IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
. WE ASKED FOR THREE. HE GAVE US
FIVE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S
LIKE 1.7 MILLION FOR THE THREE
REGIONS. TWO OF THESE PILOT
PROJECTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
TO AND CENTRAL AND TWO IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THEY
BRING TOGETHER EDUCATORS, HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS, UH, LAW
ENFORCEMENT. AND IT CREATES AND
MESSAGES AND IMAGES AND
COMMUNICATION IN THE IDIOM AND
ON THE NETWORKS, UH, THAT PEOPLE
IN THE AGE GROUP THAT ARE GOING
TO BE SO HEAVILY HURT. UH
UNDERSTAND. UM AND SO I WANTED
TO JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT
I APPRECIATE THE. WORK THAT IN
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND
SAILED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR GAVE
US MORE THAN WE THAN WE ASKED
FOR. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT MY OFFICE STANDS READY TO
HELP IN ESTABLISHING A THE GRANT
PROGRAM, UH, ASKING FOR HELP IN
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. AND IN, UM. SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IF THESE
PILOT PROJECTS ARE AS EFFECTIVE
AS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FRESNO
COUNTY WE HOPE TO SEE A WHOLE
LOT MORE OF THOSE BEING
ORGANIZED UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
AND SO I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY
IF THERE ARE OTHERS KNOW THEIR
NONPROFITS HERE FROM THESE
VARIOUS AREAS THAT OUR OFFICE IS
OPEN AND READY TO HELP AS THAT,
UH, FUNDING PROCESS WORKS AT ITS
WAY THROUGH. IT'S IN THE BUDGET
IT WAS IN THE MAY REVISE. WE
THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO
SURVIVE. THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR
ALL THE GOOD REASONS THAT I'VE
JUST I'VE JUST MENTIONED, UM AND
SO WE WANT TO HELP AS THE
GUIDELINES ARE UNFOLDING AND AS
AS THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES TO BE
IN THAT, UH, COMPETITIVE
CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH THE
VARIOUS NONPROFITS SAY LOOK THIS
GIVE IT TO US, AND WE CAN DO
SOME WONDERS WITH IT. AND HERE'S
HOW HOW. SO THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S ON THE TABLE. IT'S
HAPPENING NOW, AND IT'S GOING TO
BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
STREETS. I THINK VERY, VERY
SHORTLY BECAUSE IT IS IN THE
BILL AND THE BUDGET AND WE'RE
READY TO PUT IT TO WORK. THANK
YOU, MR PATTERSON. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR ZUBER. THANK
YOU. I WANTED TO THANK BOTH OF
THE PARENTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY
FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I
APPRECIATE IT FROM BOTH
PERSPECTIVES. I HAVE UM, AN 18
YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WORRY
ABOUT EVERY DAY. I HAVE HAD
DISCUSSIONS WITH HER, AND I KNOW
THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
HAPPENING IN HIGH SCHOOLS AS THE
KIDS ARE USING ADDERALL AND ADD
EVEN THAT'S A PRETTY COMMON
THING THESE DAYS AND I CAN SEE
HOW EASY IT WOULD BE FOR KIDS
WHO ARE INITIALLY GETTING THOSE
FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT THEIR
PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT. BUT
THEN START USING THAT AT PARTIES
BY GIVEN TO THEM BY SOMEONE
ELSE, AND THEN THAT OBVIOUSLY
WOULD BE LACED WITH FENTANYL. UM
AND HOW THE RISKS CAN BE VERY,
VERY GREAT. UM YOU KNOW, WHILE I
KNOW WE HAVE TO DO MUCH, MUCH
MORE IN TERMS OF PREVENTION, UM
, AND EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS, I
THINK AT ALL LEVELS AND MAKING
SURE THAT NALOXONE AND OTHER YOU
KNOW AS READILY AVAILABLE IN
SCHOOLS AND IN CLUBS AND ALL THE
PLACES WHERE THAT COULD BE AN
INTERVENTION. MY QUESTION, I
THINK REALLY GOES TO, UM THE YOU
KNOW SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT
WE'VE DEALT WITH IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. YOU KNOW WHEN I
SERVED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, UM YOU KNOW, I KNOW
THAT, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY
POSSESSING ANY AMOUNT OF FENNEL,
ALL WITH THE INTENT TO SELL HIS
POTION PUNISHABLE BY UP TO FOUR
YEARS IN JAIL, SELLING PET AND
ULTIMA MINOR CURRENTLY UNDER
CURRENT LAWS PUNISHABLE BY NINE
YEARS IN PRISON 12 YEARS IF THE
SELLER IS AT LEAST FOUR YEARS
OLDER THAN THE MINOR. UM
EXISTING SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS
CAN ADD UP TO 25 ADDITIONAL
YEARS AND MAKE THE OFFENSE A
STRIKE UNDER THE STREETS. THREE
STRIKES LAWS HERE IN CALIFORNIA
, LEADING TO A LIFE SENTENCE,
AND EXISTING LAW ALLOWS FOR
HOMICIDE PROSECUTIONS FOR
HOMELESS FOR OVERDOSES. SO THE
QUESTION I ACTUALLY HAVE IS. DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT ADDITIONAL
SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS AT LEAST
AT LEVELS THAT ARE AT THE STREET
POSSESSION LEVEL IS INEFFECTIVE
IS EXPECTED AT PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR KIDS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM I VOTED
AGAINST SOME OF THE, UM, PENALTY
ENHANCEMENTS BECAUSE WHEN I
LOOKED AT THEM, THEY WERE NOT
FOCUSED ON FENTANYL. WHAT THEY
DID IS THEY INCREASED CRIMES FOR
A BROAD RANGE OF DRUGS THAT ARE
, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING THINGS
LIKE ILLICIT USE OF OUT, EVEN
WHICH WHICH I DON'T WANT MY KIDS
USING OR ANY KIDS USING. I THINK
THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S OUT
THERE. AND SO MANY OF THE
PROPOSALS I THINK WOULD HAVE
ACTUALLY CRIMINALIZED THE
VICTIMS AND WOULD HAVE RESULTED
IN YOU KNOW. L G B T Q. KIDZ
PEOPLE FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES, UM, AND THE VICTIMS
OF MANY OF THESE THINGS ACTUALLY
BEING CRIMINALIZED, SO I THINK
THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS OUR
ADDITIONAL PENALTY ENHANCEMENT,
SOMETHING THAT'S EFFECTIVE. AND
THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE
OF UM HOW WE I HAVE VOTED FOR
SOME, UH, PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS
FOR FOLKS THAT WERE DIRECTED AT
THE AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT LACING
THESE FENTANYL PILLS AND PUTTING
THEM IN THE STREAM OF COMMERCE
AND MAKING THIS AVAILABLE AND I
THINK THIS IS A SORT OF A FOLLOW
UP TO, UM AH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S,
UM PETRIE-NORRIS QUESTION. WHERE
DO YOU ON ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM? HOW DO YOU SORT
OF DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE
STREET LEVEL CRIMES WHERE I
THINK WE KNOW THAT THE WAR ON
DRUGS AND BASED ON WHAT I'VE
JUST READ TO YOU, WE HAVE REALLY
SIGNIFICANT PENALTIES HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. THOSE HAVEN'T
PREVENTED WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
SO WHERE? WHERE IS THERE A LINE
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT? IN
TERMS OF ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL,
UM, JUSTICE REFORMS. THAT'S A
VERY GOOD QUESTION AND VERY
COMPLICATED ONE. YOU KNOW IT.
WHY DO WHY DO WE PUT PEOPLE IN
PRISON AT ALL? I MEAN, SOMETIMES
IT'S DETER AND SOMETIMES IT'S TO
DISABLE BECAUSE WE THINK THEY'RE
SO DANGEROUS THEIR THREAT TO THE
PUBLIC THAT IT'S WORTH KEEPING
THEM OUT OF THE SOCIETY FOR A
LONGER PERIOD. THINK FOR
SOMEBODY ON THE STREET CORNER
WHO'S NOT DETERRED BY FOUR YEAR
SENTENCE, MAKING IT EIGHT YEARS
12 YEARS, I THINK WOULDN'T MAKE
ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL. I DOUBT
THEY THINK THAT FAR AHEAD. ABOUT
MUCH OF ANYTHING. UM NEITHER
WOULD KEEPING THEM FOR YOU KNOW,
EIGHT OR 12 YEARS REALLY HELP
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY WOULD
JUST BE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. AS
YOU GO UP THE CHAIN I WOULD
START THINKING ABOUT DO PEOPLE
HAVE UNIQUE AND DESTRUCTIVE
SKILLS THAT WOULD CRIPPLE AN
INDUSTRY. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE
MAJOR IMPORTERS. THEY ARE
CONNECTED TO INTERNATIONAL
NETWORKS. THEY ARE BRILLIANT AT
MOVING MONEY OR PRODUCT IN THE
WAY THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN DO.
IN THAT CASE, YOU WOULD WANT TO
INCREASE PENALTIES. EVEN THOUGH
THEY MAY NOT BE DETERRED, BUT
BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST SO
DESTRUCTIVE. YOU WANT THEM OUT
OF THE GAME FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE. AND A LOT OF THIS IS,
YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE CASE BY
CASE AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M
SURE YOU KNOW I'VE INTERACTED IN
, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR
YEARS. I'M SURE YOU HAVE TO AND
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS MANY,
MANY CIRCUMSTANCES TWO WAY, BUT
IT'S JUST I THINK IT'S A SMALL
PROPORTION OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM
LONGER SENTENCES ARE GOING TO
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
OVERWHELMINGLY, I THINK IT WON'T
SCREAM. THREE MORE PEOPLE ALSO
WANT TO REITERATE WE HAVE 11
MORE WITNESSES, AND WE DO NOT
HAVE THIS ROOM ALL DAY. AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH
ALL OF THIS. SO, UH AND DR
HUMPHRIES IS DOING A GREAT JOB
ADDRESSING A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT
WE DO HAVE WITNESSES WHO ARE
HERE SPECIFICALLY ON A LOT OF
THE QUESTIONS REALLY GREAT
QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP. SO
I HAVE MR KALRA AND MR PATTERSON
AND MR COLONIES AND THEN I'D
LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON IF WE
CAN THANK YOU SHARE HANDY AND
OUR CHAIRS FOR, UM, PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER. UM AND I WANT TO, YOU
KNOW, OF COURSE. THANK THE MOM'S
HERE AND ALL THE PARENTS THAT
ARE HERE ARE WATCHING OR SHOW UP
TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAVE
SUFFERED SO MUCH. I WROTE THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR 11 YEARS
OVER HALF THAT TIME AND DRUG
TREATMENT COURT AND SO I'VE SEEN
PARENTS FIRSTHAND GO FROM
DESPERATION TO DEVASTATION. UM
Dð TOUGH LOVE AND CUT THEIR KIDS
OFF TO SET SPENDING THEIR LIFE
SAVINGS TRYING TO GET TREATMENT
AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. UH
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT UM, THE SENSE THAT IT
DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD IF UM, IF
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO
CALL AN AMBULANCE OR TAKE THEIR
FRIEND TO THE HOSPITAL UM AND IT
WAS IT JUST LEADS TO MORE DEATH
AND MORE PAIN AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE, UM ALLOW FOR THAT
SPACE IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS
TO LET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW
IT'S OKAY TO COME FORWARD. IT'S
OKAY. UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO COME TO YOUR YOU KNOW YOUR
YOUR FRIENDS' PARENTS. WE HAVE
TO GIVE THAT SPACE AND THAT
SPACE. THAT SENSE ISN'T THERE
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FEAR
AND THE STIGMA AND HOW WE DEALT
WITH CRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS IN
THE PAST THAT YOU KNOW THAT THAT
WE HAVE TO CREATE A NEW WAY OF
DOING THINGS AND I DO WANT TO,
UM YOU KNOW, MAKE MENTION OF YOU
KNOW, OVER THE YEARS OVER THE
DECADES WHETHER IT'S QUITE
ALLUDES OPIOIDS, YOU NAME IT.
THESE DRUG MANUFACTURERS HAVE
MADE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT
THE EXPENSE OF US THROUGH PAIN
AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE. WE
WERE TIME AND AGAIN WHEN WE KIND
OF PUSHED BACK OR TRY TO FIND
AVENUES. THEY SLOW THE PROCESS
SO THEY CAN MAKE AN EXTRA
DOLLAR. AN EXTRA PENNY CAN
SQUEEZE THAT MONEY OUT, AND I
THINK IT'S A IT'S A SHAME, AND I
THINK THAT WE CANNOT LET THAT
HAPPEN AGAIN. UM IN THE CASE OF
THIS FENTANYL CRISIS NOW, I HAVE
, UM UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE. UM
DR HUMPHRIES AND KIND OF REALLY
FOCUSING THIS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE AND TO GET RID OF THAT
STIGMA TO ALLOW US TO BRING IT
UNDER THAT UMBRELLA OF EVIDENCE
BASED AND NOT ANGER BASED,
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS AND SHOULD
BE ANGER ANGRY, BUT IT DOESN'T
GET TO THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT
TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES OUR
COMMUNITIES BY JUST LETTING THE
ANGER DICTATE OUR OUR POLICY. UM
AND SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. THAT'S ALSO FOR THE
NEXT PANEL. SO AN INTERESTING
TIME NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT, SO
THE FOLKS ARE ON THE NEXT PANEL.
THEY HAVE ANY INSIGHT AS WELL.
ONE THING YOU MENTIONED WAS THAT
WE HAD TO INCENTIVIZE MORE
SPECIALIST TO GO IN THIS VERY
DIFFICULT AREA. AND SO HOW DO WE
DO THAT? I THINK ONE THING YOU
SAID, IS BY GETTING RID OF THAT
STIGMA. AND ALL THAT CAME IN
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. BUT ONE
OF THE THING IS THAT THE
GOVERNOR UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE IS, UM PRODUCING OUR
OWN INSULIN. TO GET THESE DRUG
MANUFACTURERS OUT OF THE
PICTURE. THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO
LET GO OF THEIR OF THEIR
PROFITS. UM AND SO, UM, THE IDEA
AND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING TO
FOLLOW UP WITH OUR PUBLIC OR
WHETHER HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR
BUT OF CREATING OUR
MANUFACTURER, OAN NALOXONE,
SINCE IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE TO MAKE
, AND SO I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE AS A POTENTIAL IDEA AND
HEAR FROM OUR NEXT PANEL IS WHAT
THEY THINK THAT MIGHT BE. WHAT
MY THOUGHTS THEY MIGHT HAVE AS
WELL AND AS WELL AS ANY THOUGHTS
THAT ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE. THANK
YOU. I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW
QUICKLY. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC
HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN
CALIFORNIA THAT THAT YOU, YOU
AND YOUR COLLEAGUES OVERSEE. IT
COULD BE A REQUIREMENT FROM ALL
THE UCS AND SEE SUS TO INCLUDE,
UH ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR
ADDICTION FOR ANYONE WHO'S GOING
TO BECOME A HEALTH PRACTITIONER
IN CALIFORNIA. WE COULD ALSO DO
A LOT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO DO OTHER CAREERS. THEY'RE
GOING TO BE FIREFIGHTERS OR
POLICE OFFICERS. THEY CAN ALSO
GET THAT TRAINING AS WELL. THANK
YOU, MR PATTERSON. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AND UH, MR CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING AH, ONE OF
MY CONSTITUENTS HERE, MISS
TIDIER. AH UM YOU KNOW, I'VE
OFFERED AUTHORED SEVERAL PIECES
OF LEGISLATION ON THIS FRONT.
YOU KNOW, NARCAN IN SCHOOLS, UM
AH, YOU KNOW, PROBATION PROGRAM
AND ALSO, UM EDUCATING PEOPLE IN
GUARDIANS IN SCHOOLS THROUGH
EXISTING PROCESSES THAT SCHOOLS
GO THROUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I
ONLY KNOW ABOUT FENTANYL AND
UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE WE LOST
HIS ACT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UM
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW,
I'VE KIND OF COMMITTED MYSELF TO
THIS THIS CAUSE, AND IT TURNS
OUT AFTER I STARTED BEING PUBLIC
ABOUT THIS, THAT MY COUSIN WHO
AH, UM I, MY FAMILY STARTED
BEING MORE VOCAL ABOUT THE FACT
THAT MY COUSIN PASSED AWAY FROM
FANEUIL AS WELL. UM LARA, IF YOU
WOULD MIND IF I ASK A QUESTION,
UH, WOULD ADDICTION CARE OR
TREATMENT HAVE PREVENTED, UH,
ZACH PASSING AWAY. I APPRECIATE
THAT QUESTION. UM THAT'S WHY
IT'S SO STRAIGHT. UM IMPORTANT
THAT WE ADDRESS THIS ON ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT FRONTS. BECAUSE AS
WAS ASKED BEFORE, UM THERE ARE
VICTIMS WHERE THERE AREN'T RED
FLAGS. YOU KNOW WHERE THEIR
TYPICAL TEENAGERS DOING TYPICAL
TEENAGER THINGS. I MEAN, I WAS
INCREDIBLY PLUGGED IN WITH SAC.
MY OLDER TWO KIDS ARE DOING
PHENOMENALLY WELL, AND WE
THOUGHT WE'D HAD EVERY
CONVERSATION THAT WE NEEDED TO
HAVE. UM SUBSTANCE USE IS NOT
IMPACTED MY FAMILY OR MY EX
HUSBAND'S FAMILY. WE THOUGHT
WE'D HAD EVERY APPROPRIATE
CONVERSATION. AND SO WELL. ALL
OF THE THINGS WERE DISCUSSING
ABOUT TREATMENT IS SO IMPORTANT
. UM I JUST DON'T WANT THE
PRIMARY PREVENTION PART OF IT TO
BE NEGLECTED IN THE CONVERSATION
BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE YOUTH
THAT ARE DYING UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE MY SON. UH
WOULDN'T WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN
THAT ADDICTION CARE SYSTEM
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE THEY
WERE. IN IN THEIR JOURNEY. UM
AND SO THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO
PASSIONATE ABOUT THE EDUCATION
AND PREVENTION. I'D NEVER HEARD
OF THIS UNTIL UNTIL I LOST ZACH.
AND NOT EVERYBODY THAT DIES FROM
FENTANYL. GOT IT. EVEN YOUNG
PEOPLE GOT IT FROM A FRIEND OR
SOMEONE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USED TO SORT OF THE
PERSON THAT SOLD. ZACH WAS A
BUSINESSMAN. OPERATING ON
SNAPCHAT. SELLING AND TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF NAIVE PEOPLE LIKE
MY SON. HE WAS ON PROBATION FOR
OTHER CRIMES IN SACRAMENTO. AND
INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO TURN HIS
LIFE AROUND WHILE ON PROBATION,
HE CONTINUED SELLING DRUGS AND
SOLD AT THE PILL THAT KILLED MY
SON. SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
DISCUSS ALL OF THESE WAYS THAT
PEOPLE ARE DYING ALL OF THESE,
UM THESE SITUATIONS THAT ARE
HAPPENING. AND WHEN I WHEN I USE
THE WORD POISONING TO DESCRIBE
ZACKS DEATH, IT'S IN NO WAY TO
MAKE ANY DISTINCTION BETWEEN OUR
PAIN OR OUR LOSS. I'M
HEARTBROKEN. FOR ANY PARENT WHO
WAS BURIED A CHILD, NO MATTER
WHAT THEIR AGE. BUT WE DO NEED
TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT
WAYS AND I JUST USED THAT WORD
POISONING BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN,
WHEN I WAS STILL ABLE TO RAZAK.
I MIGHT NOT HAVE PAID ATTENTION
TO A STORY ON THE NEWS. IF IT
THEY WERE PREVIEWING A STORY
ABOUT OVERDOSE, I MIGHT THINK.
OH, I DON'T. I DON'T REALLY NEED
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. NONE
OF MY KIDS ARE STRUGGLING IN
THAT WAY. BUT IF I HAD SEEN A
STORY, SAYING YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
BEING DECEIVED AND POISONED AS
WE ARE SEEING MORE STORIES
FRAMED THAT WAY. I MIGHT HAVE
SAID, OH, I HAVE TEENAGERS. I DO
NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS STORY. IT
IS HAPPENING TO GOOD KIDS, AND
IT ALWAYS WAS RIGHT. I MEAN,
EVERYBODY THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE
LOST. IN WHATEVER WAY TO A DRUG
. A DRUG RELATED DEATH IS A GOOD
PERSON. BUT. IT'S IMPERATIVE TO
GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND TO
NOT NEGLECT THAT PIECE OF IT. I
APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. UM YOU KNOW, AND
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, PERSON
WHO SOLD ZACH HIS PILL.
ACCORDING TO HIS OWN STATEMENTS
WAS NOT A DRUG USER HIMSELF. HE
HAD USED AN AX ON OCCASION. UM
BUT DIDN'T CONSIDER HIMSELF A
DRUG USER. AND YOU KNOW, I'M
AFRAID THAT TREATMENT WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT. UM AND YOU KNOW, I
HAVE TO SAY, ALSO ZACK. YOU KNOW
HE WAS I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. BUT HE
EVERYBODY WHO DID. HE WAS A ROLE
MODEL. AND, UM YOU KNOW REALLY
BOTHERS ME THAT WE ARE. WE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME. I MEAN, WE HAVE
TO ADDRESS PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. I MEAN,
WE NEED TREATMENT FOR THAT. I
MEAN, I DON'T KNOW MY COUSINS
ENTIRE PAST, YOU KNOW, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT WAS A ONE PILL
CAN KILL SITUATION. AND THERE'S
TWO DIFFERENT TRACKS, THOUGH,
AND I THINK PART OF THAT HAS TO
BE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
PROBLEM PROSECUTING CRIMES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR VARIOUS
REASONS, AND THE SO MUCH AN
EXTENT THAT THE DEA HAS STEPPED
IN ON A LOT OF THESE INSTANCES,
AND SO, UM YOU KNOW, I DON'T I
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE
SOLUTION IS. I'VE OFFERED SOME
SOLUTIONS, BUT I HOPE WE CAN GET
TO THE POINT. TO WHERE WE
UNDERSTAND THAT BUSINESSMAN ARE
GOING TO BENEFIT FROM SOME OF
THE ADDICTIONS TREATMENT THAT WE
HAVE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
BENEFIT FROM EDUCATION, EITHER.
THEY DON'T CARE. AND THEY'RE
CRIMINALS AND THEY SHOULD BE
PUNISHED FOR IT. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND TO BOTH
OF YOU. I MEAN, HONESTLY, UM YOU
KNOW, WE CAN'T DO ENOUGH IN THIS
BUILDING AND WE CAN'T BRING YOUR
LOVED ONES BACK. BUT AH WE'LL
MAKE SURE NOBODY ELSE. DO OUR
BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
BRIAN. AND THEN MR ALLEN EASE,
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO
THE NEXT THING. I WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE FOR HIS COMMENTS. I
KNOW THIS IS A VERY PASSIONATE
ISSUE FOR HIM. AND FOR ALL OF
US, UM HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO WAS
FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN NORTH
PARK, SAN DIEGO. FACE DOWN ON
THE PAVEMENT. HE HAD TAKEN
SOMETHING THAT WAS LACED UM, HE
WAS REVIVED IN THE EMERGENCY
ROOM. UM THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN
AGAIN AGAIN. I SIT ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE AND I HAVE
HEARD BOTH OF YOUR STORIES. MANY
TIMES, AND THEY NEVER STOPPED
LOSING THEIR POTENCY OR THEIR
POWER TO IMPACT THE WAY THAT WE
THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES. AND
SO, UM, THANK YOU. BECAUSE I
KNOW IT CAN ALSO BE INCREDIBLY
TRAUMATIC. AND SO I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
POWER THAT COMES WITH YOUR
PRESENCE TO ALL THE FAMILIES WHO
ARE HERE. DR HUMPHRIES. I DON'T
THINK YOU KNOW ME, BUT I STUDIED
UNDER MARK KLEIMAN AT U C L A. I
DID KNOW THAT AND, UH AND SO
VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK AND
HIS AND A LOT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
IN THIS AREA. I'M THINKING ABOUT
THE SPOKEN WELL, COMMENT YOU
MADE EARLIER AND THINKING ABOUT
BOSTON NORTH CAROLINA MODELS.
WAS THERE A STATE ROLE. IN KIND
OF DEVELOPING AMPLIFYING OR
CULTIVATING THOSE CONDITIONS
BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT THE
GUN BUYBACK OR NOT BUY BACK, BUT
THE SITUATION YOU EXPLAINED IN
BOSTON IS THAT SOMETHING WHERE
THE STATE FACILITATED RESOURCES
FOR LOCAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO
BE INNOVATIVE OR, YOU KNOW,
DIDN'T MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO
PREEMPTION FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
I MEAN WHAT I'M THINKING. WHAT
CAN WE DO TO INSPIRE KIND OF
LOCAL CHANGE? IN COMMUNITIES
WITH LOCAL PARTNERS. YEAH SO THE
BOSTON GUN PROJECT WAS LED BY
THE CITY OF BOSTON, BUT THEY HAD
BACKUP FROM BOTH THE FEDS AND
THE STATE. AND THAT WAS PARTLY
SO THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE
DETERRENCE CREDIBLE, SAYING, YOU
KNOW, WE REALLY ARE GOING TO
TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, IF WE IF
YOU SHOOT SOMEBODY, UM, YOU
KNOW, AND IF IT'S ILLEGAL
FIREARM DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS
CAN BE CHARGED? FEDERALLY. AND
YOU WILL BE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW,
SENT FAR AWAY AND BE WAITING
YOUR FAMILY AND YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT, AND WE DON'T WANT TO
HAVE TO DO THAT. SO IT MADE THAT
PART MORE IMPORTANT. AND AS YOU
KNOW, FROM BEING BEING A STUDENT
OF THE GREAT MARK CLIMATE, IT'S
THE CERTAINTY OF PENALTIES THAT
MOTIVATE PEOPLE FAR MORE THAN
HOW SERIOUS THAT THEY ARE. SO
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK
THE STATE COULD DEFINITELY
HELPED BY BRINGING IN PEOPLE WHO
DIDN'T LIKE PEOPLE RAN THE
BOSTON GUN PROJECT AND RAN. YOU
KNOW THE HIGH POINT, NORTH
CAROLINA. DRUG MARKET
INTERVENTIONS, YOU KNOW, FIND
THEM TO COME IN WORK WITH OUR
OUR COMMUNITIES WORK WITH OUR
HEALTH. OUR POLICE ARE MAYORS,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PEOPLE
LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND
YOU KNOW, DO THESE PROJECTS,
CREATE A GRANT PROGRAM AND LET'S
LET'S TRY TO REPLICATE THAT
SUCCESS HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY
ALINGHI'S AND THEN MISS DAVIES.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. DR
HUMPHRIES. YOU'RE ASKED BY SOME
MEMBERS ON THIS COMMITTEE ABOUT
WHERE IS THAT? WE CAN DO THINGS
DIFFERENT HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
ONE MY COLLEAGUE JUST ASKED YOU
ABOUT WAS ABOUT BOSTON, AND YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOW THE
DRUG DEALERS WERE BROUGHT IN AND
OLD PICTURES AND WE'RE GONNA
WE'RE GONNA COME AFTER YOU AND
THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND THEN
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ALSO TALKED
TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE
CONSEQUENCES THAT WE HAVE HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. WHAT DO YOU
THINK? UM WHAT DO YOU THINK,
HELPED BOSTON SO MUCH AS FAR AS
WITH THEIR CONSEQUENCES THERE.
THAT THEY DID IT IN ALLIANCE
WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO RATHER
THAN THE POLICE, SEEMING LIKE AN
INVADING ARMY AND SOMEONE ELSE'S
NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY HAD ALL THE
NEIGHBORS RIGHT THERE. THEY HAD
FAMILIES THERE, INCLUDING PEOPLE
RELATED TO THE MEMBERS OF THESE
GANGS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO
DO NOT WANT THIS TO GO ON, YOU
KNOW, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE POLICE AND WE ARE WORKING
WITH HEALTH AND WE WANT TO HELP
YOU. SO YOU KNOW IN IN THE END,
THE BEST ENFORCEMENT NEVER HAS
TO BE USED RIGHT? YOU DETER THE
BEHAVIOR AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
ARREST ANYONE BECAUSE NO CRIME
HAS BEEN COMMITTED. AND IT WAS
THAT COMMITMENT. I THINK TO
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND
NOT SORT OF PARACHUTING IN WHICH
WHICH JUST CAN'T WORK. I MEAN,
AND THAT WAS BACK BOSTON GUN
PROJECT WAS WHEN TRUST BETWEEN
POLICE AND COMMUNITIES WAS
HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW. SO YOU
REALLY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO PUT
IN THE HARD YARDS BUILDING THOSE
ALLIANCES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS SO
THAT THEY AND THE POLICE AND
HEALTH ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER
. IT'S HARD WORK, BUT IT REALLY
IS WORTH IT TO TRANSFORMED A LOT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THOSE
CITIES. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO
BELIEVE IN THAT I HAVE A HISTORY
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER 20 PLUS
YEARS AND, UH, WORKING IN THE
COURT SYSTEMS WORKING AS A
DETECTIVE AND SEEING HOW
CONSEQUENCES DO DETER AND I
STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THAT AND I
ALSO DO BELIEVE THAT WITH THE
DETERRENCE OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES
THAT THE CRIMES WILL NOT AND
SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, BUT
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE
INSIGHT ON BOSTON WITH THEIR
LAWS AND WHAT THEIR CONSEQUENCES
ARE, UH, FOR THEIR FIRST PRIOR
CONVICTION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT
2.5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS IN STATE
PRISON. ALRIGHT ON THEIR SECOND.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT 3.5 TO 15
YEARS IN STATE PRISON, AND AS
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES POINTED OUT
EARLIER YOU'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE
FOUR YEARS AND THAT'S A LOCAL
TIME HERE IN CALIFORNIA. YOU
ALSO HAVE ANOTHER THING JUST FOR
FENTANYL ITSELF. IF YOU WERE TO
TRAFFIC 10, G OR MORE, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT 3.5 TO 20 YEARS IN
STATE PRISON. SO I THINK THAT
ALSO COULD HELP IN BOSTON, AND
PROBABLY COULD ALSO HELP US
HERE. YEAH, WE DON'T NEED TO
HAVE TO LOCK THEM UP. BUT I
THINK ALSO TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE
CONSEQUENCES HERE. IF THEY DO
THAT, THEN I THINK THE PROGRAM
THAT YOU EXPLAINED THAT HAPPENED
IN BOSTON WOULD PROBABLY HELP
HERE ALSO. AND THANK YOU TO THE
MOMS THAT WERE BEING HERE, UH
AND TESTIFYING. AND JUST KNOW
THAT WE'RE HERE WITH YOU. THANK
YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MR HANEY. AGAIN THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING OF. WE KNOW
THAT THROUGH THE CITY, SEE ABOUT
TWO THIRDS RIGHT NOW OF SCHOOLS
, HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE
SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING
EDUCATIONAL CLASSES. AND FOR THE
LAST 13 YEARS, WHETHER I WAS ON
CITY COUNCIL HERE, I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR LOVED ONES. EDUCATORS
DOCTORS TRYING TO DO THIS, AND
THIS WAS BACK WHEN WE HAD OPIOID
PROBLEMS, WHICH WE STILL DO. AND
NOW WE HAVE THIS FENTANYL
CRISIS. UM THIS QUESTION IS FOR
YOU, MR DUDE, ER AS WELL AS
WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING
SUPERVISOR THURMAN DOWN THE LINE
, BUT OBVIOUSLY, EDUCATION IS
IMPORTANT. I HAD A BILL OUT
THERE THAT WOULD MANDATE
EDUCATION, INTER MIDDLE SCHOOLS
AND HIGH SCHOOLS. WHAT TYPE OF
EDUCATION YOU FINDING IS
ACTUALLY BEST THAT WORKS AT THE
SCHOOLS THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND
THEN I'LL BE FINISHED. SO THANK
YOU. JUST SPEAKING ANECDOTALLY
FROM MY EXPERIENCE THIS PAST
SCHOOL YEAR. THE FEEDBACK THAT I
GET FROM THE KIDS IS THAT THEY
FEEL WHEN THEY ARE BEING TALKED
TO NOT TALKED DOWN TO BUT BEING
TALKED WITH ABOUT THESE THINGS.
UM LIKE I SAID ABOUT, UM, JUST
SAY NO WITH IKNOW, LIKE, KNOW
WHAT'S OUT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO
EDUCATE YOU ON WHAT IT'S GOING
TO LOOK LIKE WHEN I TALK TO THE
KIDS. I TRY TO, YOU KNOW, KIND
OF TALKING THEIR LANGUAGE LIKE
I'LL SAY, HEY, IF YOU SEE A MENU
ON SNAPCHAT OR INSTAGRAM OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND YOU SEE
PERCOCET XANAX, I WANT YOU TO
SPELL CHECK THAT IN YOUR HEAD TO
FENTANYL. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT
IS, SO IT'S TRYING, YOU KNOW, TO
KIND OF TALK TO THEM IN THEIR
LANGUAGE. UM RESPECTING THEM
RESPECTING THEIR INTELLIGENCE,
EMPOWERING THEM JUST TO MAKE
THOSE GOOD DECISIONS. UM AND
THEY REALLY RESPOND TO THAT. YOU
KNOW, THEY'LL COME UP AFTERWARDS
TO SAY I'M SO GLAD YOU TALKED
WITH ME ABOUT THIS. I'VE HEARD
THE WORD FENTANYL, BUT I DIDN'T
REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IT LOOKED
AND WHAT? HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN,
BUT, UM IT NEEDS TO BE
COMPREHENSIVE. YOU KNOW ABOUT
THIS CHANGED AS AS DR HUMPHRIES
MENTIONED BETWEEN GOING FROM THE
FARM TO THE LAB AND HOW THAT HAS
PROFOUNDLY AND, UM, FOREVER
CHANGED THE DRUG LANDSCAPE AND
WHAT THEY I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE
EDUCATED ABOUT HOW SUBSTANCES
AFFECT THEIR BRAINS, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEIR BRAINS ARE
DEVELOPING. AND WHY THEY'RE SO
MUCH MORE VULNERABLE AT THEIR
AGE. IF THEY DO EXPERIMENT
OURSELF MEDICAID AND THEN JUST
ANYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND YOU
JUST WRAP IT IN THAT WE'RE HERE
DOING THIS BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT
YOU GUYS. WE'RE NOT DOING THIS
BECAUSE WE WANT TO DICTATE TO
YOU OR WE WANT TO CONTROL YOU IN
SOME WAY. WE'RE DOING THIS
BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW CRISIS
THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN OUR
COUNTRY. YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC HAS
NEVER BEEN IMPACTED BY SOMETHING
LIKE THIS IN THE WAY YOU'RE
BEING IMPACTED NOW. AND WE CARE
TO INFORM YOU AND WRAP YOU UP IN
A PROTECTIVE BLANKET OF
INFORMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL. DR
HUMPHRIES. MR DEAR MISS DUNCKEL
. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND FOR YOUR COURAGE
, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. AND
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU
HERE TO MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS AND
INTO YOUR SPIRIT OF FOCUSING ON
SOLUTIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON NOW TO THE NEXT PANEL.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PANEL IS
FOCUSED ON BOTH THE STATE AND
LOCAL HEALTH RESPONSE. WE HAVE
IN ORDER OF TESTIMONY, DR. DAVID
KAHN, A BOARD CERTIFIED
PHYSICIAN IN GENERAL, AND
FORENSIC, PSYCH, PSYCH
PSYCHIATRY AND IN ADDICTION
MEDICINE. ROBIN CHRISTENSON,
CHIEF OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
SUBSTANCE ADDICTION PREVENTION
BRANCH. NATHAN BLACKSMITH, THE
CHIEF TRADITIONAL HEALTH OFFICER
AT THE SACRAMENTO NATIVE
AMERICAN HEALTH CENTER, AND
MICHAEL MASON, CHIEF OF
ADMINISTRATION IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
COMMUNITY PARA MEDICINE DIVISION
. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE 3 TO
7 MINUTES FOR YOUR TESTIMONY,
AND, UM MISS HECKMAN, WHO'S HERE
NEXT TO ME WILL HOLD UP WHEN YOU
HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING. AND
WITH THAT, MR KHAN. THANK YOU,
UH, JERRY HANEY, CHAIR WOOD
CHAIR SAWYER JONES FOR INVITING
ME. I REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA
SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
AND WANTED TO PRESENT THE
PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS STANDPOINT
OF TREATMENT. NEXT SLIDE. THERE
WAS A LANDMARK STUDY THAT WAS
DONE THAT LOOKED AT THE 40 YEAR.
NATURAL HISTORY OF OPIOID USE
DISORDER. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS
PRIMARILY HEROIN, AND WHAT THEY
FOUND IS THAT THEY MANAGED TO
MAINTAIN 88% OF THE STUDY
POPULATION, BUT OVER TIME HEROIN
USE DISORDER WAS A FATAL
DISORDER. MORE THAN 50% OF
PEOPLE WERE DEAD. STATISTICALLY
IF YOU USE HEROIN, YOUR LIFESPAN
WAS SHORTENED BY 18 YEARS. AND
THIS ISN'T THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF
HEROIN. WHICH MAKES ME FEEL
STRANGE TO SAY THAT IS ADDICTION
PSYCHIATRIST, BUT HEROIN WAS
EASY COMPARED WITH FENTANYL.
NEXT SLIDE. WHAT IS THE MAJOR
TREATMENT GOALS OF OPIOID USE
DISORDER TREATMENT OR OPIOID?
UH, PEOPLE WHO TAKE OPIOIDS NEXT
SLIDE. IT'LL OVERDOSE PREVENTION
NEXT. IT'LL OVERDOSE PREVENTION
AND NEXT FINALLY FATAL OVERDOSE
PREVENTION. NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE
MEDICAL EFFECTIVE MEDICATIONS
FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER. THERE'S
GENERALLY THREE MEDICATIONS THAT
ARE CONSIDERED FOR THE TREATMENT
FOR PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION. THERE
IS METHADONE, MORPHINE AND
NALTREXONE AND HIT THE BUTTON
TWO MORE TIMES. THIS IS SMALL,
BUT I'LL COVER THE HIGHLIGHTS.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT OPIOID USE
DISORDER. THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART I THINK OF IS THAT
MEDICATIONS ARE LIFESAVING,
PLAIN AND SIMPLE. IF I THINK
ABOUT DIFFERENT ADDICTIONS, FOR
EXAMPLE, STIMULANT ADDICTION
SUCH AS COCAINE OR
METHAMPHETAMINE, WE DON'T HAVE
GREAT MEDICATIONS FOR IT YET 80%
OF THE BENEFIT IN OPIOID USE
DISORDER IS MEDICATIONS ALONE.
AND WE I HEARD THE HEARTBREAKING
STORY OF THE CHILD WAS FORCED TO
TAPER DETOX, AND THAT'S NOT THE
ANSWER THAT WE THINK OF THIS
ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC CONDITION
AND THE WAY THAT I THINK OF
MEDICATIONS IS TANTAMOUNT TO
INSULIN FOR DIABETES. METHADONE
IS A MEDICATION IS THE GOLD
STANDARD MEDICATION. AH IT
PRODUCES FATAL OVERDOSE BY 80%
BUT IT'S FENCED TO FEDERAL
METHADONE PROGRAMS. ENDORPHIN IS
MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE TO
SPECIALISTS, PRIMARY CARE
PROVIDERS AND MANY MANY OF YOU
HAVE HEARD THAT THE D A
REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SPECIAL
REGISTRATION WAS ELIMINATED LAST
YEAR. THIS ALSO REDUCES FATAL
OVERDOSE RATES BY 80. THE
MEDICATION. NALTREXONE WHICH
BLOCKS THE EFFECTS OF OPIOIDS
ARE VERY EFFECTIVE. HOWEVER IT
DOES NOT SURPRISINGLY DOES NOT
RELATE. REDUCE THE RATES OF
FATAL OVERDOSE ITSELF. NEXT
SLIDE. WE HAVE SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID
USE DISORDER. HOWEVER THERE'S A
DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDICATIONS AND
ACCESS FEWER THAN 20% OF
MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ACCESS TO
TREATMENT YET OVERDOSE. DEATH
RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB. SO WHAT
IS THE ANSWER? NEW SOLUTIONS?
EXCELLENT. WE'RE GONNA HAVE
OTHER SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT
ACCESS TREATMENT IN YOUTH, AND
THE CONCEPT OF POISONING IS THE
CONCEPT THAT I'VE SEEN OVER AND
OVER AGAIN. NOT EVERY YOUTH WHO
DIES, DIES AS A RESULT OF A
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THEY
TOOK A DRUG THAT WAS LETHAL, BUT
THEY DID NOT KNOW. ADOLESCENTS
ACCORDING TO THE ACCOUNT,
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
SHOULD BE OFFERED MEDICATION
TREATMENT FOR THE DISORDER.
MEDICATIONS KEEP KIDS IN
TREATMENT. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
I WOULD SAY THAT PSYCHOSOCIAL
TREATMENT COUNSELING FAMILY
INTERVENTIONS, SCHOOL BASED
INTERVENTIONS ARE TRULY CRITICAL
AND CHILDREN FOR THE PURPOSES OF
PREVENTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF
TREATMENT AND THE PURPOSES OF
DISSUASION, SO WORKING WITHIN
THE SCHOOLS IS REALLY CRITICAL
AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES THAT
THE KIDS ARE IN. WHEN IT COMES
TO ADULTS. COUNSELING CAN BE
PROFOUNDLY HELPFUL. HOWEVER,
IT'S THE MEDICATIONS THAT REALLY
ACCOUNT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF
THE EFFECT SIZE AND PREVENTING
FATAL OVERDOSE. EXCELLENT. I WAS
ASKED TO SPEAK ON MEDICATIONS
FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER IN THE
CDCR AND AS AN ADDICTION
PSYCHIATRIST FOR THE LONGEST
TIME I USED TO JOKE THAT THEY
ARE IN CDCR WAS SILENT CHANGED
MY TUNE. THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS
EFFORTS BY THE STATE TO
INTRODUCE TREATMENT, INCLUDING
MEDICATION TREATMENT. UH IF WE
LOOK AT CARSON INCARCERATED
POPULATIONS THERE 40 TIMES
GREATER RISK OF DYING FROM
OVERDOSE UPON RELEASE THAN THE
GENERAL POPULATION, AND THIS
RISK CONTINUES FOR AT LEAST A
YEAR AFTER BEING RELEASED. THE
INTEGRATED SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM AND
CDCR. AS OF JANUARY, 2022. THE
PROGRAM STARTED IN 2019 2015.
THEY HAD ACCESS TO NALTREXONE
OVER IN 2019. THEY STARTED USING
BUPRENORPHINE. OVER 22,000
INMATES WERE TREATED. 90% WHO
WERE OFFERED ACCEPTED TREATMENT
, WHICH WAS A STUNNING NUMBER.
THE ASSUMPTION WOULD BE MAYBE
50% OF TOPS. OVERDOSE DEATHS
DROPPED BY 58% WITHIN CDCR FROM
2019 TO 2020. THOSE EFFECTS
PERSIST TO THIS DATE. ALSO AN
IMPORTANT PIECE OF DATA IS
HEPATITIS C, WHICH HAS BECOME A
VERY TREATABLE ILLNESS.
REINFECTION RATES DROPPED BY 30.
EXCELLENT. WE TALKED ABOUT
BARRIERS AND STIGMA IS A
TREMENDOUS BARRIER. STIGMA
SILENCE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
PHYSICIANS I PRACTICE IN SAN
FRANCISCO IN THE 19 NINETIES.
THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY TRAINING.
AND WHAT I SAW IS THE ECHOES OF
THE HIV CRISIS BEING BROUGHT
OVER TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS, AND
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT STIGMA.
HEAD ON MEDICATION TREATMENT IS
REAL SOBRIETY. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THERE WERE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC
POLICY RESPONSES. AND I WAS
PLEASED TO SEE DR HUMPHRIES HERE
BECAUSE THIS IS THIS IS CAME
FROM HIS PAPER. UH THERE ARE
ACTIONS THAT CAN REDUCE OVERDOSE
. DEATH NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION OF
PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS MEDICATION
TREATMENT, SYRINGE SERVICE
PROGRAMS AND HARM REDUCTION AND
HARM REDUCTION IS NOT
ANTITHETICAL TO RECOVERY. YOU
NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE
BECAUSE THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR
RECOVERY IS LIFE. AND THEN
PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT. THEIR
INTERVENTIONS THAT INCREASE
DEATHS SUCH AS CRIMINALIZATION.
PARADOXICALLY PRESCRIPTION DRUG
MONITORING PROGRAMS WHEN YOU
TAKE PEOPLE OFF OF CONTROLLED
REGIMENTS FOR CHRONIC PAIN,
DRIVE THEM TO THE STREETS. YOU
DRIVING INTO HEROIN. YOU DRIVING
THE FENTANYL. AND ALSO
CRITICALLY UNSAFE SUPPLY, WHICH
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. NEXT
SLIDE. SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS
, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN
SUPPORTIVE OF IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. I WAS TESTIFYING FOR
SENATE BILL 57, WHICH WAS THE
SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES BILL LAST
YEAR AND I MET WITH SENATOR
GLASER'S OFFICE. I SAID TO HIM,
I WORRY MORE ABOUT THE PATIENT
WHO IS NOT IN CARE AND THE
PATIENT WHO ENDS IN CARE. AND
THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO REACH ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN
TREATMENT. SO SYRINGE SERVICE
PROGRAMS THE ONES WHO REACH OUT
TO THEM, AND THE MOST CRITICAL
NEED THAT THEY HAVE IS LOW
BARRIER ACCESS. AND THE LAST
SLIDE THAT I'LL GO OVER IS THAT
UM, THERE ARE NEW PROGRAMS,
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. WE TALKED
ABOUT OPEN AIR DRUG DEALING OR
OPEN AIR DRUG USE. WELL, WE
SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITES,
THOUGH UNFORTUNATELY THE BILL
WAS VETOED, HAVE BEEN
DEMONSTRABLY EFFECTIVE IN
REDUCING OPEN AIR DRUG USE, AND
THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE
ACCESS TREATMENT. SO WITH THAT I
WILL FINISH MY FINAL SLIDE AND
SUMMARY FATAL OVERDOSE
PREVENTION IS FOREVER GOAL.
MEDICATIONS WORK. THE
MEDICATIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH. WE
NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE
CAN TO ADDRESS THIS TOPIC. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
CHRISTENSEN. CHAIRS AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
ROBIN CHRISTIANS IN I AM THE
CHIEF OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
SUBSTANCE AND ADDICTION
PREVENTION BRANCH. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR INVITING ME HERE TO
JOIN YOU HERE THIS MORNING. AND
2021 MORE THAN 71,000 PEOPLE
DIED FROM SYNTHETIC OPIOID
RELATED OVER DRUG OVERDOSE IN
THE UNITED STATES. RECENT DATA
SUGGEST THAT THAT NUMBER
CONTINUES TO INCREASE EACH AND
EVERY YEAR TODAY, I WILL BE
SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THE CD PHS
ROLE TO ADDRESS RESEARCH,
PRIMARY PREVENTION AND HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGIES. CD PH IS
OVERDOSE PREVENTION INITIATIVE,
OR OPIE WAS FORMED IN 2014 WHEN
WE BROUGHT TOGETHER AN
INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP TO
ADDRESS WHAT WAS THEN OUR
PRESCRIPTION DRUG OVERDOSE
EPIDEMIC. SINCE 2015. THE O. P
HAS BEEN SUPPORTED PRIMARILY FOR
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION. AND OVER TIME
THAT DRUG OF FOCUS HAS SHIFTED
FROM PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO
HEROIN AND NOW TO FENTANYL. O P.
I LEADS OUR DEPARTMENTS TO
APPROACH TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC,
WHICH HAS SEVEN OBJECTIVES,
WHICH AIM TO IMPROVE AND PROMOTE
BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
PREVENTION STRATEGIES. WE FOCUS
ON INTER AGENCY COLLABORATION,
IMPROVING OUR ACCESS TO DATA AND
SURVEILLANCE AND PROVIDING THAT
DATA TO THE PUBLIC. AND OUR
PRIMARY PREVENTION STRATEGIES OF
INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY
RESILIENCY, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
EDUCATION AND OUR SECONDARY
PREVENTION STRATEGIES OF
BOOSTING ACCESS TO NALOXONE.
INCREASING ACCESS TO HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES AND
STRATEGIES ACROSS THE STATE AND
IMPROVING ACCESS TO STIGMA FREE
TREATMENT. AS PART OF GOVERNOR
NEWSOM'S MASTER PLAN FOR
TACKLING THE FENTANYL AND OPIOID
CRISIS. CD PH HAS RECEIVED AN
ADDITIONAL INFLUX OF FUNDING
FROM THE STATE TO HELP BOLSTER
THIS PLAN. AND THIS SUPPORT HAS
MOST RECENTLY ALLOWED US TO
EXPAND OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
OUR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS. NOW,
WITH RESPECT TO SURVEILLANCE,
THE O P I HAS DEVELOPED AND
PROVIDES TO THE PUBLIC ONGOING
SUPPORT FOR THE CALIFORNIA
OVERDOSE SURVEILLANCE DASHBOARD
. THIS PROVIDES STATE AND LOCAL
DATA ON FATAL DRUG RELATED
OVERDOSES, AS WELL AS OUR
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS RELATED TO NON
FATAL OVERDOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN
2021. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE
MORE THAN 7000. 7 7000
CALIFORNIANS DIED FROM AN OPIOID
RELATED OVERDOSE. OVER 80% OF
THOSE WERE RELATED TO FENTANYL.
FENTANYL RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS
HAVE SKYROCKETED, AND THEY
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT MALES
THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
ADULTS, VULNERABLE ADULTS
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 AND 44. A
NATIVE AMERICAN, ALASKA, NATIVE
RESIDENTS AND BLACK CALIFORNIANS
, RURAL COUNTIES. WE SEE
EXPERIENCE LOWER LOWER TOTAL
OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE COUNTY,
BUT THEY EXPERIENCE MUCH HIGHER
RATES PER CAPITA OUR PREVENTION
STRATEGIES FOCUS ON PRIMARY
PREVENTION AND SECONDARY
PREVENTION SOLUTIONS, AND WE USE
THIS TO ADDRESS LARGE SCALE
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND
OUR HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES.
CD PH ADMINISTERS THE STATEWIDE
STANDING ORDER FOR NALOXONE,
WHICH AUTHORIZES ENTITIES IN
CALIFORNIA SUCH AS SCHOOLS,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND LIBRARIES TO ADMINISTER AND
TO DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE TO OTHERS
WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. THIS IS
A SISTER PROJECT TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION
PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES FREE
NALOXONE TWO ENTITIES THAT ARE
THAT APPLY AND ARE APPROVED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. AS
PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE
ACCESS TO NALOXONE AND TO
PROMOTE THOSE HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES. CD PH ALSO SUPPORTS
A NETWORK OF 71 SYRINGE SERVICES
PROGRAMS, OR SPS THAT ARE IN 42
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. THESE
PROGRAMS FORM THE BACKBONE OF
CALIFORNIA'S WORKFORCE DEDICATED
TO WORKING WITH MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS TO PREVENT
BOTH INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND
OVERDOSE. THE DEPARTMENT'S
CALIFORNIA HARM REDUCTION
INITIATIVE PROVIDES FUNDING FOR
FRONTLINE NAVIGATOR STAFF AT 37
OF THOSE 71 LOCATIONS. FARM
REDUCTION IS EFFECTIVE AND THE
SUCCESS OF THIS WORK CAN BE
MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF
SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAMS IN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAVE NEARLY
DOUBLED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS
AND A 2022 SURVEY OF OVER 1500
SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAM CLIENTS
WHO REPORTED THAT MORE THAN HALF
OF THEM HAD USED NALOXONE TO
REVERSE AN OVERDOSE IN THE IN
THE PRIOR SIX MONTHS. AND 95% OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD RECEIVED
THEIR NALOXONE DIRECTLY FROM AN
SSP. NOT ALL CORNERS OF OUR
STATE HAVE ACCESS TO HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES. CD PH ALSO
WORKS WITH A DISTRIBUTION
PARTNER TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING
HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES AND
TREATMENT INFORMATION TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACROSS THE
STATE AT RISK OF OVERDOSE OR
HARM FROM SUBSTANCE MISUSE WHO
MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AN SSP
AND THEIR SERVICES. NOW THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
23 24 ALSO INCLUDES AN
ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION FOR
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO MAKE
FENTANYL TEST STRIPS AND
NALOXONE MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE.
IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR CD PH
HAS RECEIVED FUNDING TO SUPPORT
A STATEWIDE MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH
THREE PRIMARY AIMS AND AUDIENCES
. THIS IS OUR PRIMARY PREVENTION
APPROACH TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE
MISUSE AMONG TEENS AND YOUNG
ADULTS TO STOP OVERDOSE AND
OVERDOSE DEATHS AMONG THE
VULNERABLE ADULTS WITH A HARM
REDUCTION LENS. AND TO RAISE
AWARENESS, SHARE LIFE SAVING
INFORMATION AND REDUCE STIGMA
AMONG FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
SO THAT WE REDUCE OVERDOSE DEATH
IN OUR STATE. SEPARATE FROM THIS
CAMPAIGN AND ITS CORE PREVENTION
MESSAGES. WE DO ALSO WORK TO
PROVIDE CLEAR INFORMATION TO
STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC ON
EMERGING TOPICS SUCH AS RAINBOW
FENTANYL AND SILENT SCENE. CD PH
WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE AND
LOCAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC. WE WORK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO
PROMOTE THE STATE'S PRESCRIPTION
DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM. WE WORK
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES TO SUPPORT FIRST
RESPONDERS AND OTHER OTHER WORK
WITH THE HCS, AND WE ALSO WORK
WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS TO
EXPAND RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS, COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES. WE WORK WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CURRENTLY ARE
WORKING WITH NORTHERN CALIF.
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH
INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS
TO SHARE DATA PERTINENT
INTELLIGENCE AND TO PROMOTE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE ARE ALSO
CURRENTLY PREPARING FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF 2022 IS A B 23
65, WHICH WILL FUND THE SIXTH
REGIONAL GRANTEES TO IMPLEMENT
STRATEGIES ON EDUCATION,
TESTING, RECOVERY AND SUPPORT
SERVICES. GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
RECENTLY RELEASED MASTER PLAN
OUTLINES THE STEPS THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING TO
SUPPORT OVERDOSE PREVENTION
EFFORTS HOLD THE INDUSTRY
ACCOUNTABLE. AND RAISE AWARENESS
AMONG BOTH YOUTH AND THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AROUND THE DANGERS OF
OPIOIDS, INCLUDING FENTANYL. CD
PH IS JUST ONE DEPARTMENT AMONG
MANY. WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPAND OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
BOTH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND WITH
OTHER STATE AGENCIES, AND I'M
HAPPY TODAY TO RESPOND TO ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND
I'M ALSO JOINED HERE TODAY BY
MARLEY'S PEREZ, WHO IS CHIEF OF
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES. WHO'S ABLE TO RESPOND
TO ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING DHC S
AND IT'S NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM. 10. MR BLACKSMITH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE FOR TAKING THIS TIME
TO SAY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GO
OVER THIS IMPORTANT UM, HEARING
HARM REDUCTION PRINCIPLES ARE
FOCUSED ON PROVIDING STRATEGIES
AIMED AT REDUCING THE NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH
DRUG USE. THE STRATEGIES
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE, UH OR
APPLYING SPECIFICALLY TO OPIOIDS
AND FRIENDLY INCLUDE EDUCATION
AND ALL TEST STRIPS, MEDICATION,
ASSISTED TREATMENT AND NALOXONE.
HOWEVER OPIOID OPEN OVER DOSES
AND DEATHS CONTINUE TO RISE,
WHICH INDICATE THAT THESE
STRATEGIES MAY NEED TO BE RE
EVALUATED. OR DELIVERED IN
DIFFERENT MANNER, SOME OF THE
ISSUES BEING EXPERIENCED WITH
THE CURRENT STRATEGIES ARE
ACCESS TO EDUCATE THE YOUTH
ACCESS TO FENTANYL TEST STRIPS
AND NALOXONE AS WELL AS
ADDRESSING COMMUNITY STIGMA.
MANY SCHOOLS IN SACRAMENTO AND
SURROUNDING AREAS REFUSED TO
ALLOW, UH AND DISTRIBUTE OR THE
ALLOW AND DISTRIBUTE TEST STRIPS
AND THE LOCKS IN THE LOCKS IN
AND TEST STRIPS SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS
WITHOUT HAVING TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH UNNECESSARY GRANT
REQUIREMENTS. UM AND ACCESS TO
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO EXPAND TO
ALLOW ACCESS WITHOUT HAVING TO
EXPEND TO ATTEND. SPECIAL EVENTS
ARE COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND
WHERE THEY USUALLY TYPICALLY GET
ACCESS. NALOXONE SHOULD BE IN
EVERY FIRST AID KIT AND EASILY
ACCESSIBLE AND COMMUNITY
SETTINGS AND SCHOOLS. SERVICE
PROVIDERS NEED SUPPORT TO
PROVIDE GREATER EDUCATION TO THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE LIFE
SAVING STRATEGIES. INDIVIDUALS
NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER
AS A COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES ARE NEATH. OUR YOUTH NEED
US TO DO MORE TO PREVENT THE
NEXT OVERDOSE DEATH? UM JUST TO
ADD ON TO THAT, UH, WORKING. I
WORK IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
FACILITIES. UM, FOR A GOOD PART
OF MY CAREER, AND UM,
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE AMERICAN
INDIAN POPULATION, AND SO WHAT
WE FOUND EFFECTIVE IN WORKING
WITH OUR POPULATION IS FRAMING
OUR CARE AND RECOVERY AS AS A
CEREMONY OF RECOVERY AND HEALING
. UM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE
PAST, YOU KNOW? DECADE AND A
HALF THAT CEREMONY HAS BEEN KIND
OF CUT DOWN FROM LIKE A THREE
MONTH TREATMENT STATE TO
ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 30 DAYS. AND
SO, UM, ON THE FIRST PANEL, DR
HUMPHREY HUMPHRIES MENTIONED,
YOU KNOW, GROUPING ADDICTION
TREATMENT WITH UNDER THE
UMBRELLA OF MEDICAL CARE, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I ALSO
SUPPORT AND I THINK IT'S TIME
THAT WE MAKE THAT TYPE OF
INVESTMENT WE USED TO CONSIDER
SOMEBODY MAKING IT INTO
TREATMENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO POTENTIALLY SAVE A LIFE
NOW WHEN YOU'RE AT A TABLE, AND
SOMEBODY TAKES A, UM DOSE OF
NALOXONE AND WALKS AWAY WITH IT,
THAT IS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY. TO
SAVE A LIFE AND IT GIVES ME THE
SAME GRATITUDE AS I WOULD WHEN
WE WOULD RECEIVE PEOPLE IN
TREATMENT. SO UM, THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO US, UM THANK
YOU, MR BLACKSMITH. MR MASON.
THANK YOU. COMMITTEE CHAIRS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND COLLEAGUES
GATHERED TODAY. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL MASON. I SERVE AS THE
SECTION CHIEF ADMINISTRATION IN
THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENTS COMMUNITY MEDICINE
DIVISION. I AM A PARAMEDIC
FATHER, A HUSBAND AND A
COMMUNITY MEMBER. AND LIKE
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, THIS
STATE AND THIS NATION, I HAVE
BEEN DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. MY GOAL FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES IS TO SHARE
THROUGH THE LENS OF A FIRST
RESPONDER. THE NOVEL AND UNIQUE
ROLE THAT EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SYSTEMS
HAVE TO PLAY IN THIS CRISIS.
EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES THAT
RMS AND 911 SYSTEMS ARE
IMPLEMENTING IN YOUR DISTRICTS
CURRENTLY OR COULD BE
IMPLEMENTING ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE FIRST
RESPONDERS SO URGENTLY NEED TO
CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN THIS
AREA. NEXT SLIDE. OUR BEST MEANS
OF KNOWING HOW MANY OVERDOSES
ARE OCCURRING IN OUR COUNTIES IN
STATE STARTS WITH THE DATA
COLLECTED FROM OUR PARAMEDICS
AND EMTS IN THE FIELD. CMS DATA
IS AGGREGATED IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS
THE NATIONAL EMS INFORMATION
SYSTEM, A NEMESIS AND IT'S ONE
OF THE BEST REAL TIME
SURVEILLANCE TOOLS. WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THE FREQUENCY
LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
DRUG OVERDOSES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. SAN FRANCISCO.
FIRST RESPONDERS ARE
ENCOUNTERING THIS SCENE OVER 14
TIMES A DAY. AND AS CHAIR HEANEY
MENTIONED ON AVERAGE, TWO PEOPLE
ARE BEING DECLARED DEAD EVERY
DAY FROM DRUG OVERDOSES IN SAN
FRANCISCO. IT SHOULD BE NOTED
THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO PARAMEDICS
OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL ARE THE
INDIVIDUALS REQUIRED TO DECLARE
DEATH. AND WHILE THIS TRAGIC
SCENE PICTURED HERE IS OCCURRING
OUTDOORS IN SAN FRANCISCO'S
TENDERLOIN DISTRICT, IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE MAJORITY OF OVERDOSE
DEATHS OCCUR INDOORS IN PEOPLE'S
HOMES. I CAN TELL YOU'RE
LOOKING. THAT'S LARKIN AND EDDIE
. IF YOU'RE THINKING CHAIR, HE
ANYWHERE THAT IS MY FELLOW
PARAMEDICS, EMTS AND
FIREFIGHTERS HAD LITTLE ROLE TO
PLAY IN THE DECADES OF POLICY
AND REGULATORY FAILURES OR THE
DEEP RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC
INEQUALITIES THAT HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EPIDEMIC. WE
ARE THE ONES TASKED WITH
RESPONDING TO THE DAILY REALITY
OF WHAT WE SEE HERE. NEXT SLIDE.
AS I STATED. IN MY INTRODUCTION
PMS PROVIDERS HAVE A UNIQUE AND
NOVEL ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS
EPIDEMIC AND LET ME ILLUSTRATE
THAT TO YOU WITH TWO PIECES OF
DATA. FIRST SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS ARE
PARAMEDICS HAVE CONTACT WITH THE
MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS WILL GO
ON TO DIE FROM DRUG OVERDOSES
PRIOR TO THEIR DEATH. SO WE ARE
ENGAGING IN THE BACK OF OUR
AMBULANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PARAMEDIC UNITS, FOLKS WHO WE
KNOW ARE GOING TO GO ON TO DIE
IN THE PRECEDING OR FOLLOWING
YEAR OR TWO. SECOND HERE
REVIEWED STUDY FROM
MASSACHUSETTS SHOWS THAT OF
THOSE FOLKS THAT GO ON TO DIE
AFTER EXPERIENCING A NONFATAL
OVERDOSE. 5% WILL DIE IN THE
SUBSEQUENT 48 HOURS AND 20% WILL
DIE. SUBSEQUENT MONTH. WHAT DOES
THIS DATA NARRATIVE TELL US?
FIRST RESPONDERS ARE FREQUENTLY
IN CONTACT WITH THE POPULATION.
WE'RE ALL SEEKING TO SAVE. AND
THERE ISN'T AN HOUR OR A DAY TO
SPARE IN TRYING TO PROVIDE THEM
CARE AND CHANGE THEIR
TRAJECTORY. NEXT SLIDE. SO WHAT
DO WE KNOW? THAT AMONGST
PROVIDERS WORKING IN THIS FIELD
, FIRST RESPONDERS ARE FILLING
THE GAPS IN OUR SYSTEMS OF CARE
AND PLAYING A UNIQUE ROLE. WE
CAN ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE VERY
INDIVIDUALS WERE SEEKING TO
TREAT WITHOUT WAITING FOR FOLKS
TO PASSIVELY SEEK OUT CARE OF
THEMSELVES. THE NATURE OF OUR
WORK, AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS
ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE NEAR REAL
TIME RESPONSES AND SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS WE KNOW ARE AT
EXTREME RISK OF NEAR TERM
MORTALITY. AND AGAIN THE NATURE
AND VALUES OF FIRST RESPONDERS
IS THAT WE GO EVERYWHERE AND
ANYWHERE, WHETHER THAT BE A
SHELTER, HOME AND RV OR HIGHWAY
UNDERPASS. WE RESPOND 100% OF
THE TIME 24 73 65. WE'RE NEVER
CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS, AND WE
NEVER TURNED DOWN A CALL FOR
HELP. LASTLY PARAMEDICS HAVE
PROVEN THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE
DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO CARE.
WHETHER THAT BE FROM STREET TO
SHELTER OR FROM A HOME
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
OVERDOSE SURVIVORS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER CAN BE PROVIDED WITH A
SPECTRUM OF HARM REDUCTION AND
WITHDRAWAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES
BY MÁS PROFESSIONALS. I'LL
EXPAND UPON THIS IN THE NEXT
SLIDE. I'D LIKE TO TAKE TO
BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT AND EXPAND ON
THE EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS AND
CONCEPTS HIGHLIGHTED HERE, SOME
OF WHICH ARE ALREADY BEING
IMPLEMENTED IN MANY OF YOUR
DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY PARA
MEDICINE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
PROGRAMS IN CHAIR HEANEY'S
DISTRICT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
COMMUNITY PARA MEDICINE IS
DEVELOPING FIELD OF PRE HOSPITAL
CARE I NEED HERE IN CALIFORNIA,
WHICH PROVIDES PARAMEDICS WITH
ADDITIONAL TRAINING, TRAUMA,
INFORMED TRAINING, CULTURAL
COMPETENCY AND STIGMA, TRAINING.
IN AN EXPANDED SCOPE OF PRACTICE
. WE SEE COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS
BEING UTILIZED AND ALTERNATIVE
TO POLICING AND MENTAL HEALTH
RESPONSE TEAMS SUCH AS SAN
FRANCISCO STREET CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM AS WELL AS OVERDOSE
SPECIFIC TEAMS SUCH AS OUR
STREET OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM,
WHICH HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL
ATTENTION. MÁS NARCAN
DISTRIBUTION. IN SAN FRANCISCO
AND OTHER COUNTIES. WE SEE GREAT
BENEFIT FROM FIRST RESPONDERS,
PROVIDING NARCAN AND TRAINING TO
PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY AT
THE SCENE OF AN OVERDOSE. TRULY
TARGETED DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CRUISE HERE IF
I GOT ONE MINUTE. OKAY UH, LOW
BARRIER SHELTER. HOUSING IS
HEALTH CARE IS A WELL TURNED
PHRASE, BUT DURING COVID, WE
PROVED IT. THANKS TO THE WORK AT
SAN FRANCISCO'S DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND DR BERRIES,
SEVEN AND HIS COLLEAGUES WE CAN
SHOW A STRONG CORRELATION
BETWEEN PROVIDING EMERGENCY
SHELTER AND REDUCTION IN
REDUCTIONS IN MORTALITY.
ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS. UH ARE
NON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
LOCATIONS THAT PARAMEDICS CAN
TRANSPORT PATIENTS TO IS CAN
INCLUDE ALCOHOL OR DRUG SOBERING
CENTERS AND MENTAL HEALTH
FACILITIES BEYOND BENEFITING
PATIENTS. THEY SERVE AS A
PRESSURE RELIEF OUTLETS OR
HISTORICALLY OVERCROWDED
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND
HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. OVERDOSE
RECEIVING FACILITIES DESIGNATED
OVERDOSE RECEIVING CENTERS, UH,
PIONEERED BY CALIFORNIA BRIDGE
FOUNDATION, ESPECIALLY DR JEAN
HERN, DR ANDREW HERRING AND DR
MARY MERCER OR HOSPITALS, WHICH
HAVE INCREASED SERVICES AND
STAFFING SPECIFICALLY TAILORED
TO INDIVIDUALS AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. PRE HOSPITAL
BUPRENORPHINE. ALSO KNOWN AS
SUBOXONE. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT
ALREADY AT THIS HEARING IN SAN
FRANCISCO AND OTHER COUNTIES
AROUND CALIFORNIA PILOT PROGRAMS
HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR
PARAMEDICS TO INDUCE OR INITIATE
AND ADMINISTER SUBOXONE DIRECTLY
IN THE FIELD DIRECTLY IN THE
TIME WINDOW THAT FOLKS MIGHT BE
IN WITHDRAWAL AND AMENABLE TO
THESE SERVICES. DATA SHARING A
MULTI AGENCY COORDINATION SPEAKS
FOR ITSELF. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
MÁS PROVIDERS IN 19 1 SYSTEMS
ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE NOW
THAN EVER BEFORE. 911 IS THE
SAFETY NET OF LAST RESORT, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S BECOMING
OVERWHELMED AS FAILURES FROM OUR
CURRENT SYSTEMS OF CARE END UP
BEING HANDLED BY OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. I'VE SHARED HOW ARE
UNIQUELY POSITIONED AND I'D LIKE
TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A NEW
CRISIS. ONE WHO'S LIKE WE'VE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND ONE
THAT'S REQUIRED MÁS PERSONNEL TO
ADAPT AND FILL SYSTEM GAPS TO
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES IN NEW AND
NOVEL WAYS. NEXT SLIDE. I WOULD
ASK THE MEMBERS HERE TO CONTINUE
THEIR SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PARA
MEDICINE AND PILOTS IN THE M S
PROGRAMMING PILOTS. ALLOW FOR
POLICIES THAT SUPPORT
SUSTAINABLE CMS SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE
NOT CURRENTLY REIMBURSED, SUCH
AS AMBULANCE CREWS, BRINGING
PATIENTS TO NON EMERGENCY ROOM
DESTINATIONS. AND RECOGNITION
AND CARE FOR THE M S PROVIDERS
WHO SERVED AS OUR COMMUNITIES
ULTIMATE SAFETY NET AND THINK
ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND
RESILIENCY. NEXT SLIDE. I SHARE
THIS PHOTO TO REMIND EVERYONE
THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE
WORKING IN SOME OF THE MOST
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS WE CAN
IMAGINE. DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND
WHILE THIS VALUE IS PART OF THE
OATH THAT MANY OF US TAKE THE
DAY WE DON OUR UNIFORMS THE WAY
THINGS ARE IS NOT THE WAY THEY
HAVE TO BE. ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS
MY GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE IN THIS
ROOM WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKING
TOWARDS CHANGE. AND THEN MY TIME
BY SHARING THE UNOFFICIAL MOTTO
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENTS COMMUNITY PARA
MEDICINE DIVISION. IF NOT US,
WHO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS AND FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. UH YOU KNOW, AS YOU
AS YOU KNOW, THOSE PHOTOS ARE
JUST BLOCKS FROM WHERE I LIVE.
AND I CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF
TIMES. I'VE ALSO WITNESSED THAT
SCENE AND HAD TO, UH, IN SOME
CASES, ADMINISTER NARCAN MYSELF
, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND
YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AND I, YOU KNOW THE
NUMBER OF LIVES THAT YOU ALL
HAVE SAVED THAT I'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND JUST IS EXTRAORDINARY,
AND I'M SURE IT'S TRUE FOR ALL
OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ALSO FOR
EVERYONE WHO IS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THIS EPIDEMIC. I WANT
TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES
FOR QUESTIONS, AND I KNOW IF I
FIRST HAVE DOCTOR RAMBLER THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. I'M GOING TO
BEGIN WITH AN APPRECIATION OF
THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE ON
THE FRONT LINES, HAVING WORKED
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOU
FOR A DECADE AS AN EMERGENCY
ROOM, DOCTOR. I KNOW THE HARD
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. OUT
THERE IN COMMUNITY MEETING
PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. AND SO
I WANT TO START BY JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING AND FOLLOWING UP,
THAT, IF NOT YOU WHO BUT IF NOT
NOW, WHEN IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR US
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THE
NECESSARY CHANGES TO PROGRAM SO
THAT WE CAN SAVE LIVES. AND SO
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MR
BLACKSMITH HAD SAID ABOUT THE
POWER OF BEING ABLE TO
DISTRIBUTE AND TO GIVE NOW LOCK
SIN AND NARCAN INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND HOW THAT HAS THE
ABILITY TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO SAVE LIVES JUST LIKE
YOU'RE DOING ON THE FRONT LINES
AS PARAMEDICS, AND SO I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION IF I CAN TO
EXPOUND ON THE NALOXONE
DISTRIBUTION PROJECT. THE AMOUNT
OF MEDICATIONS THAT WE'VE HELPED
TO DISTRIBUTE, AND I'LL BRING
ALL MY QUESTIONS INTO ONE IF I
CAN, MR CHAIR, BUT I WANT YOU TO
TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS
IF YOU CAN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
CALIFORNIA BRIDGE PROGRAM, YOU
SPOKE ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA HARM
REDUCTION AND THE DOUBLING OF
THE SYRINGE PROGRAMS IN OUR
STATE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU MAY WANT TO BRING UP THE
CALIFORNIA AIM THE ADVANCING AND
INNOVATING MEDICAL, THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PAYMENT REFORM
THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT
WE'RE NOT TREATING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER ANY DIFFERENT IN HEALTH
CARE AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT
WE'VE EVOLVED IN OUR LEARNING
FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ACT, WHICH ORIGINALLY ONLY
FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH, AND
NOT ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO
EVOLVE THAT AS WE TAKE THAT BACK
TO THE VOTERS WOULD ELEVATE
SINCE DR KHAN TALKED ABOUT THE
NEED FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT
, THE CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE AS
WELL AS SINCE WE'VE SEEN SUCH
SUCCESS WITHIN BUPRENORPHINE,
AND WITHIN CDCR, THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE PATH PROGRAM WHICH WILL
ALLOW US TO ENROLL INMATES INTO
MEDICAL PRIOR TO THEM BEING
RELEASED. AND FINALLY, SINCE OUR
COLLEAGUE ASKED ABOUT IT EARLIER
, THERE IS A PROPOSAL ON THE
TABLE FROM THE GOVERNOR FOR US
TO START TO MANUFACTURER
NALTREXONE OUR SELF AND SO WHAT
ARE NALOXONE OURSELVES? EXCUSE
ME THAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM THE REST
OF THE PANEL WHO ARE HERE ABOUT
ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT ARE
BEING DONE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE NEED TO
BE DOING AND WORKING ON THIS
FRONT. I WANT TO AT LEAST GIVE
YOU A CHANCE TO DESCRIBE IN
BREATH. SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS
RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU
DID A WONDERFUL JOB YOURSELF. SO
THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT SOME
OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN
UNDERTAKING OVER THE YEARS AND I
DO WANT TO START WITH THE
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM TO DATE AS WE'VE
ALL HEARD ABOUT TODAY, UM JUST
TO GO BACK REALLY QUICK AND A
LUXAN BUT WE ARE DISTRIBUTING IS
THE NARCAN VERSION. IT'S 4, MG.
THERE'S TWO DOSES THAT COME IN
THE KIT. IT'S REALLY FOR NON
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. UM WE
STARTED THIS PROJECT BACK IN
2018 WAS COMING TO OUR ATTENTION
. THERE WERE A LOT OF OVERDOSES
IN LIBRARIES, WHICH WAS REALLY
PRETTY ALARMING TO US. THIS WAS
YOU KNOW, LIBRARIES AREN'T A
TYPICAL PLACE THAT YOU THINK OF
I'M HAVING AN OVERDOSE. AND BUT
THE MORE WE PUT RESEARCH OUT, WE
OPENED IT UP TO OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS TO OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES TO SCHOOLS
, SO WE REALLY HAVE IT QUITE
QUITE WIDESPREAD, SO ENTITIES
CAN APPLY. IT'S A VERY EASY
APPLICATION. IT'S ONE PAGE. THEY
CAN GET THE STANDING ORDER FROM
OUR SISTER. UH DEPARTMENT AND
THEN THEY CAN RECEIVE THE
NALOXONE. RIGHT, UM, SHIPPED
DIRECTLY TO THEM FOR FREE. UM
AND SO TO DATE, JUST THROUGH THE
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
WE'VE DISTRIBUTED 2.4 MILLION
UNITS. AND FROM THAT THERE'S
BEEN TWO ABOUT APPROXIMATELY
4000 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS ALMOST
MENTIONED HARM REDUCTION
ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ACTUALLY
RECEIVED THE MOST OF OUR
NALOXONE, AND WE HAVE SINCE
ADDED FOR THEM HAVING THE
INJECTABLE NALOXONE. IT IS
CHEAPER, AND IT IS ALSO JUST
SOMETHING EASIER FOR THAT. GROUP
TO UTILIZE. BUT JUST FROM THAT
NALOXONE JUST THROUGH THE
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROJECT,
WE HAVE A REPORTED OVER 170,000
OVERDOSE REVERSALS. JUST FROM
THAT PROGRAM ALONE. SO WHILE IT
IS HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR THE
STORIES THIS MORNING FROM THE
MOTHERS, AND I JUST WANT TO JUST
PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR JUST
SPEAKING TO US TODAY, THOSE ARE
170,000 LIVES THAT COULD HAVE
RESULTED UM, AND UNFORTUNATE
DEATH. UM I DO JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY, THOUGH. UM BUT NALOXONE
IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO ALL MEDICAL
BENEFICIARIES. UM THAT IS, YOU
KNOW, WIDELY AVAILABLE NOW. IT'S
FOR FREE, SO I KNOW THAT CAME UP
EARLIER. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT'S KNOWN. AND THEN
THERE ARE OTHER INSURANCES THAT
ARE STARTING TO CARRY IT. UM BUT
ALSO WE, UM HAVING A LUXAN
COUNTIES AND CITIES HAVE FUNDING
AVAILABLE. UM THROUGH EITHER
LOCAL FUNDS OR FEDERAL OR STATE
FUNDS WHERE THEY CAN PURCHASE
IT, AND THEN, MORE RECENTLY,
OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS THAT ARE
MOST OF THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO
THE LOCAL LEVEL. ALLISON IS AN
AVAILABLE, UM USE OF THOSE FUNDS
. I WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY AND I
WOULD GET THE WARNING SIGN UP
FRONT, SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO
TOUCH ON ALL OF THE VARIOUS
PROJECTS. THAT HAVE BEEN. THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ROLLING
OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
. UM BUT I DO JUST WANT TO TOUCH
ON A FEW OF THEM VERY QUICK. I
DO WANT TO MENTION BECAUSE THE
PRIOR PANEL WAS TALKING ABOUT
THE HUB AND SPOKE MODEL. WE
ACTUALLY WORKED WITH VERMONT AND
DID IMPLEMENT THAT MODEL HERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND PILOTED OUT AND
WE ARE CONTINUING. TO SEE THE
RESULTS OF THAT TODAY WE HAVE
OVER 100. I HAVE SO MANY NOTES.
LOOK AT ALL THIS BECAUSE THERE'S
SO MUCH GOING ON. I KNEW THIS
WOULD HAPPEN. WHERE IS IT? UM
BUT BASICALLY WE HAVE OVER HERE
IT IS 100 AND FIVE SITES WITH
MORE THAN 5. 400 M 80
PRESCRIBERS. THESE ARE NEW
PRESCRIBERS THAT CAN PRESCRIBE
THE MEDICINES THAT DR COMMAS
SPEAKING ABOUT AND WE'VE HAD A
RESULT OF OVER 66,000 NEW
PATIENTS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING
A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR JUSTICE
PARTNERS. WE HAVE GOTTEN
MEDICATION, ASSISTED TREATMENT
AND JAILS AND DRUG COURTS, UM TO
DATE, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH
OUR COUNTY PARTNERS IN JAIL
SYSTEMS. AND 36 COUNTIES NOW
OFFER MEDICATION ASSISTED
TREATMENT IN THEIR JAIL, WHICH
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE,
AND THAT THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO
FORMULATIONS OF THE MEDICATION
ASSISTED TREATMENT. SO NOW TO
DATE WE'VE HAD OVER 30,000
INDIVIDUALS NOW THAT ARE
RECEIVING MEDICATION. ASSISTED
TREATMENT WAS ALSO MENTIONED.
OUR CALIFORNIA BRIDGE PROJECT,
WHICH WE STARTED WITH ONE
HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA, FOR
THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WE
HAVE OVER 400 HOSPITALS. TO
DATE. NOW WE HAVE ALMOST 300 OF
OUR HOSPITALS THAT ARE NOW
PROVIDING MAITI IN THAT SETTING
. SO REALLY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN
LOOKING AT DOING WITH STATE
FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM
YOU AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND THE
SUPPORT OF BUDGETS AND ALL THE
LEGISLATION THAT YOU'VE PASSED,
BUT WE HAVE TAKEN AND LOOKING
LOOKING AT LOOKED AT NOT ONLY
THE HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
THESE MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE. BUT
ALSO ANYWHERE WHERE AN
INDIVIDUAL WITH A SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER MAY TOUCH A SYSTEM.
THEREFORE WE LOOKED AT THE JAILS
. WE LOOKED AT OUR EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE OVER 40
DIFFERENT PROJECTS WITH OUR
CALIFORNIA MEDICATION ASSISTED
PROJECT TO WHERE WE'RE EXPANDING
THAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT
ENTITIES AND NOT JUST TREATMENT
. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT
TODAY ABOUT PREVENTION. THERE'S
A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN AROUND
PREVENTION THAT IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT. WE MUST PROVIDE
TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT
HAVE AN OPIOID USE DISORDER. BUT
FAR MORE IMPORTANT IS GETTING
THOSE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THEY
HAVE AN OPIOID USE DISORDER AND
THEN REALLY HAVING THE CLEAR
DISTINCTION THAT I WANT TO THANK
OUR MOTHERS FOR EARLIER TALKING
ABOUT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH
AN OPIOID USE DISORDER AND THERE
THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL PILLS
AND THOSE ARE VERY UNIQUE
SITUATION, SO WE HAVE TO
APPROACH THEM SEPARATELY. AND I
DO JUST WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THAT
MRS DEVIER YOUR SPOKE AT MY KIDS
SCHOOL. I HAD TO KNOW. THERE WAS
A FENTANYL AWARENESS NIGHT AND
MY KIDS CAME RUNNING HOME. MOM,
ARE YOU SPEAKING? I SAID, NO,
I'M NOT. BUT I'M GOING TO GO.
AND HER STORY WAS SO TOUCHING
AND THE WORK THAT HER NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT SHE WORKS WITH
SONG FOR CHARLIE REALLY TOUCHED
MY HEART. AND SO I WENT BACK THE
NEXT DAY, AND I SAID, WE'VE GOT
TO SUPPORT THEM. WE HAVE TO
SUPPORT THEM, SO WE DO HAVE A
CONTRACT WITH THEM WHERE THEY
ARE PROVIDING THIS EDUCATION IN
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS BECAUSE IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HEAR IT
RIGHT NOT ONLY FROM THOSE THAT
HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS BUT
ALSO REACHING OUR KIDS. SO LOTS
OF OTHER EFFORTS I DIDN'T TOUCH
ON. I'M OPEN TO ANY SORT OF
QUESTIONS AROUND THEM. BUT THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, MR ZUBER.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
PANELISTS FOR TAKING TIME WITH
US TODAY. I HAD A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FROM HIS CHRISTENSON.
UM. I REPRESENT HOLLYWOOD IN
WEST HOLLYWOOD, WHICH IS ONE OF
THE AREAS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THAT HAS A LOT OF THE CLUB LIFE
IN TOWN, AND I'VE MET WITH, UH,
FOLKS IN THE CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE AND BOTH OF THOSE AREAS
WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO IN ORDER
TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND
REALLY THE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
IS THIS EPIDEMIC OF FENTANYL
LACED IN SUBSTANCES THAT ARE
BROUGHT INTO THESE CLUBS. UM ONE
OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE
RAISED IS ISSUES OF POTENTIAL
LIABILITY RELATED TO HAVING
FENTANYL ON SITE AND SO I WAS
WONDERING IF YOU CAN ADDRESS
WHAT APPROPRIATE PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSE MIGHT LOOK AT WHETHER
YOU'VE LOOKED AT OR THERE'S
OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT
THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH THAT
ARE LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES OF
LIABILITY AND BARRIERS TO
PROVIDING UM, UM, NARCAN IN, YOU
KNOW, IN CLUBS AND, UM OTHER
ESTABLISHMENTS. SO THAT'S FIRST
QUESTION. SECOND QUESTION IS
RELATED TO PROVISION IN SCHOOLS
, OBVIOUSLY, AND THE ISSUE OF
TEST STRIPS. UM IN SCHOOLS.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT RAISES CONCERNS
AMONG MANY PARENTS ABOUT YOU
KNOW HOW IT STRIKING THE RIGHT
BALANCE BETWEEN NOT UM, UM, YOU
KNOW, NOT INCENTIVIZING USE BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, OBVIOUSLY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE DO TO PROTECT OUR
KIDS, AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU
CAN TALK ABOUT UM, WHETHER
THEY'RE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE
THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF SORT
OF THE CHALLENGES IN STRIKING
THE RIGHT BALANCE OF HAVING
BOTH, UM UM NARCAN AVAILABLE ON
SCHOOL SITES, BUT ALSO FENTANYL
TEST STRIPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION. UM LET ME ADD THE HUGE
CAVEAT THAT MY LAWYER IS NOT
YOUR LAWYER. MY LAWYER IS NOT
THE LAWYER OF ANY OF THESE
BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND CD PH
CANNOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE FOR
ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF CD PH. SO
WHAT I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, IS
THAT IF SOMEBODY IS CONCERNED
ABOUT LIABILITY, WHAT THEY
SHOULD FIRST DO IS LOOK INTO
CALIFORNIA'S GOOD SAMARITAN LAW,
WHICH DOES PROTECT THE
INDIVIDUAL FROM INTERVENING IN
THE CASE OF AN OVERDOSE,
INCLUDING PROVIDING NALOXONE IF
THEY ARE HAVING ALL INTENTIONS
OF SAVING A LIFE. SO THAT
RELIEVES THE INDIVIDUAL AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS AND AGAIN, NOT
YOUR LAWYER. BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THOSE
PROTECTIONS ALSO EXTEND TO A
BUSINESS SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT
BUSINESSES FIRST LOOK INTO THE
GOOD SAMARITAN LAW. SECONDLY I
WOULD ALSO LOOK INTO SOME OF THE
TRAININGS THAT ARE PROVIDED
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE
STATEWIDE STANDING ORDER, SO ONE
OF THE COVERAGE IS THAT THE
STATEWIDE STANDING ORDER
PROVIDES IN ADDITION TO THE GOOD
SAMARITAN LAW IS THAT IT DOES
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COVERAGES FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR A
STATEWIDE STANDING ORDER AND
HAVE TAKEN THAT TRAINING. SO
THAT IS CIVIL CODE 17 14.22.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY
CAN LOOK UP AND LOOK INTO AND
SEE IF THAT APPLIES TO THEM AND
THEIR BUSINESS. NOW REGARDING
SCHOOLS. THAT'S A BIT MORE
COMPLICATED. WE HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH SCHOOLS A LOT
ABOUT EXPANDING THE LUXAN ACCESS
THROUGH SCHOOL POLICIES. AND ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS A
FAIRLY EASY ASK IS FOR SCHOOLS
TO HAVE NALOXONE ON CAMPUS. THAT
IS UNDERSTANDABLE, RIGHT? THEY
UNDERSTAND THEY WANT TO HAVE IT
NEAR THEIR A D. THEY WANT TO
HAVE IT NEAR THEIR EPIPEN. IT
MAKES SENSE FOR THE SCHOOL NURSE
FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTION. I
THINK THERE'S A BIT MORE NUANCED
THERE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT I WOULD DEFER TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND EDUCATION TO
RESPOND TO MORE COMPLETELY. BUT
I WILL REMIND FOLKS THAT YOU
KNOW. IN MOST WILL DISTRICTS
EVEN IF NURSE WANTS TO
DISTRIBUTE TYLENOL OR ADVIL,
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DEGREE OF
PERMISSION GRANTED FROM PARENTS
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
A MORE COMPLICATED QUESTION THAT
COULD BE BETTER ANSWERED BY MY
COLLEAGUES LATER TODAY. THANK
YOU. MISS WALDRON'S. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. JUST ONE QUICK
QUESTION. I'LL THROW IT OUT TO,
UH WHOEVER CAN ANSWER REGARDING
RURAL AREAS OF MY DISTRICT IS
VERY RURAL. I HAVE MORE TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS IN MY DISTRICT THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE NATION.
AND I KNOW CHAIRMAN WOULD ALSO
HAS A HUGE RURAL DISTRICT. UM
WE'RE DEALING WITH LACK OF
SERVICES OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENTS. UM
AND I WAS WONDERING, I MEAN,
WE'VE WORKED ON TRYING TO
INCENTIVIZE PROVIDERS TO GO TO
RURAL AREAS. WE DON'T REALLY
HAVE THAT MUCH OF A FOUNDATION
OR FRAMEWORK THAT WORKS. ARE
THERE ANY SUCCESSES YOU CAN
POINT TO, UM OF BEING ABLE TO
GET INTO THESE RURAL AREAS THAT
WORKS AND WHAT MORE CAN WE DONE?
TO ADDRESS THAT, ESPECIALLY ON
TRIBAL LANDS AND IN RURAL AREAS.
I CAN START. UM SO WE ARE ALSO
VERY CONCERNED. THERE'S LIKE OUR
COLLEAGUES HERE MENTIONED THERE
ARE HIGH OVERDOSE RATES FOR
AMERICAN INDIAN ALASKA NATIVE
POPULATION. WE DID START THE
TRIBAL PROJECT. UM AND THAT
PROJECT WAS STARTED BY TRIBAL
MEMBERS. AND SO THERE'S LOTS OF
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT THEY
DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE. WE HAVE THE
FIRST, UM, TRIBAL OPIOID
COALITION THAT IS RUN BY TRIBAL
MEMBERS. THEY ALSO HAVE LOCAL
OPIOID COALITIONS. WE HAVE
INCREASING ACCESS TO MAITI, UM,
FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS. WE HAVE, UM
, INTEGRATING EVIDENCE BASED
PRACTICES BECAUSE WE WANT TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE HONORING
THEIR CULTURAL BELIEFS AND
ENGAGING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
HAVE AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.
THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PREVENTION
PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING
ON. BUT TO YOUR POINT AROUND
ACCESS IN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE THE
FIRST TRIBAL NARCOTIC TREATMENT
PROGRAM THAT JUST OPENED UP AND
I WENT UP TO VISIT IT A FEW
MONTHS AGO, WHICH IS REALLY
EXCITING. IT'S SERVING NOT ONLY
THE TRIBAL MEMBERS BUT ALSO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT'S
IN UKIAH. UM AND THEN ALSO, AS
YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. WERE YOU
DEDICATED $2.2 BILLION TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE USE TO SORT OF
FACILITIES. WE'VE BEEN FUNDING
NEW TRIBAL PROJECTS ALL OVER
CALIFORNIA AND WILL CONTINUE TO,
UM AS THE PROGRAM RUNS OUT, SO I
THINK WE'RE MAKING STEPS FORWARD
, AND THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE TO
DO BUT AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE
EARLIER PANEL THIS IS NOT JUST
AN URBAN CRISIS. IT'S ALSO A
VERBAL RURAL CRISIS AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. I'D
LIKE TO JUST ADD ON ONE OF THE
ISSUES WITH BOTH WITH TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES AND ALSO WITH RURAL
COMMUNITIES ACCESS TO SAFE. HARM
REDUCTION SUPPLIES. WE COULD SEE
DPH CURRENTLY FUNDS NEXT
DISTRIBUTION, WHICH IS THE THIRD
PARTY PROVIDER. I MENTIONED IN
MY NOTES THEY DISTRIBUTE TO A
WIDE VARIETY OF GROUPS AND
INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE WHO
ARE SEEKING OUT SAFE SUPPLIES.
NARCAN. AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT
INFORMATION. IT IS BOTH HARM
REDUCTION AND ALSO CREATING
THOSE LINKAGES TO CARE WITHIN
THEIR REGIONS. SO I WANT TO JUST
MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE AWARE,
INCLUDING LISTENING IN ON THE
PHONE TODAY. NEXT DISTRIBUTION
IS AVAILABLE TO OUR RURAL
PARTNERS. I'LL JUST SHARE THAT
ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND SAN DIEGO AREA
WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT AND NOT
LOCKS ON ACCESSIBLE ON THE RURAL
RESERVATION AREAS VIA VENDING
MACHINES. AND SO THAT WAS AN
AMAZING, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO
CREATE ACCESS, AND THEY DID IT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT
REPLICATED FOR OUR RELATIVES IN
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE
AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. AND ONE
OF THE THINGS FOR THE RECORD.
I'M GETTING OVER A COLD. I'VE
TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID THREE
TIMES. UM UH, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS STATUS AS
A TELEMEDICINE IS AN INCREDIBLY
EFFECTIVE FORM OF TREATMENT.
WE'VE SEEN RESEARCH INTO IT
BEING VERY EFFECTIVE AND IT
PROVIDES LOW BARRIER ACCESS. I
WORK WITH A COMPANY THAT DOES
TELEMEDICINE TO RURAL AREAS,
TRIBES, BUT WE ALSO DO E M S
SURVEILLANCE, MEANING THAT IN
MARIN COUNTY, IF YOU'VE
OVERDOSED, WE'RE GOING TO REACH
OUT TO YOU AND AFFIRMATIVELY
TRYING TO GET YOU INTO
TREATMENT. CONTINUED SUPPORT,
PARTICULARLY MEDICAL FUNDING FOR
TELEMEDICINE. EFFORTS WILL
EXPAND THAT REACH. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GO INTO A CLINIC. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE 50 MILES TO
GET CARE. YOU JUST GET ON YOUR
PHONE AND YOU CAN CONNECT TO
CARE IN THE MOMENT. IF I COULD
EXPAND ON THE MY COLLEAGUE'S
COMMENTS, YOU'RE MY PROFESSIONAL
WORK IS PRIMARILY IN URBAN AREAS
. BUT COMMUNITY PARA MEDICINE IS
A POWERFUL TOOL IN RURAL AREAS,
ESPECIALLY WHERE SOME FOLKS ONLY
CONTACT WITH THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM MIGHT BE 911. AND THE
GOOD DOCTOR HERE. MANY MENTIONS
TELEMEDICINE. THERE ARE PILOT
PROGRAMS UNDERWAY THAT ALLOWED
PARAMEDICS TO OPEN AN IPAD AND
DIRECTLY CONNECT THE RESIDENTS
OF DISTRICT TO A DOCTOR WHO CAN
PRESCRIBE YOU OR TREAT YOUR
ASSESS YOU I WOULD ENCOURAGE
MEMBERS HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH
RURAL DISTRICTS TO WORK WITH OUR
LOCAL E. M S AGENCIES TO EMPOWER
AND DEVELOP ALTERNATE
DESTINATION PROGRAMS, NARCAN
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. THAT
WOULD ALLOW PARAMEDICS TO
DIRECTLY CONNECT FOLKS TO CARE.
SORT OF TAKE IT. UM I JUST WANNA
HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. UM
I'M SORRY. I MISSED YOUR NAME
AND. MERRILEES PREZ FROM
DEPARTMENT. HEALTHCARE SERVICES
. THANK YOU, MARLISE. SO YOU
MENTIONED, UM, THAT NARCAN IS
ALREADY COVERED BY MEDICAL AND
PRIVATE INSURANCE. BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S BY
PRESCRIPTION. IS THAT CORRECT?
SO UM, FOR MEDICAL? UM YOU
ACTUALLY DON'T NEED A
PRESCRIPTION, AND IT IS COVERED
SOME INSURANCES COVERED, BUT NOT
ALL. SO THANK YOU. FOR THAT.
IT'S NOT CURRENTLY COVERED FOR
OVER THE COUNTER SINCE THE FDA
JUST MADE IT AVAILABLE OVER THE
COUNTER. CORRECT SO, YES, THE
FDA JUST DID MAKE IT AVAILABLE,
UM WELL, EXCUSE ME. THEY JUST
APPROVED IT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN
RELEASED YET. MS PONTA. AND I
THINK THE PANEL FOR UH, BEING
ABLE TO ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH
A VERY COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
DOING THAT ALL RIGHT? I THINK
ONE OF THE POINTS OF INCREDIBLE
FRUSTRATION. UH IS THAT, UH, WE
CAN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ENOUGH.
AND I WANT TO ONE HIGHLIGHT,
JUST AND APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON
THE ROLE OF PARA MEDICINE AND
THIS EYE IN MY DISTRICT HAVE IN
OAKLAND, BOTH IN ALAMEDA, BASED
ON AN OAKLAND BASED PARA
MEDICINE UNIT THAT'S BEEN
INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AROUND
COMMUNITY MEDICINE. I THINK FOR
ME ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL TO HERE IS, UH REALLY
THINKING ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH
PERHAPS ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH
AND FENTANYL, WE WERE CAUGHT
FLAT FOOTED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
BUILD AS A STATE THE KIND OF
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEEDED TO
BE ABLE TO REALLY TRULY ADDRESS
THE FENTANYL CRISIS AND THE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. UH IN THIS
PARTICULAR TIME, FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE 25% OR THE
20% OF PEOPLE, EVEN IN SAN
FRANCISCO OR ANOTHER'S, WHERE
THEY'VE BEEN TOUCHED BY SOME
ASPECT OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEM BUT ARE STILL DYING. OH
WHAT CAN WE DO? WHERE THE GAPS
AS POLICYMAKERS? WE ALSO NEED TO
THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE GAPS
RIGHT? WE HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS
AND SO MANY TASK FORCE. MONEY
UNITS GETTING PUT UP AT THIS
POINT, BUT WE'RE STILL
EXPERIENCING THIS INCREDIBLE
CRISIS. SO IF YOU ALL COULD
SPEAK TO SOME OF THE GAPS THAT
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT ARE STILL OUT
THERE IN TERMS OF REALLY
THREATENING TOGETHER A HOLISTIC
SYSTEM THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE ABLE TO CATCH EVERY
INDIVIDUAL, I THINK THAT WOULD
BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL FOR US.
I'M HAPPY TO START. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE DONE A
LOT IN CALIFORNIA. WE WERE THE
FIRST STATE TO PUT IN OUR
MEDICAID PROGRAM, A SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER. WE PUT FORWARD AN
11 15 WAIVER AND ADDED LEVELS IN
OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE. WE DID
THAT IN 2015, WHICH HAS BEEN
PHENOMENAL 30. OTHER STATES HAVE
MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT. I THINK
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, THOUGH. UM AS WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY,
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS HAS A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STIGMA
AGAINST IT. SO IF YOU HAVE
SOMEBODY THAT PASSES AWAY FROM
CANCER OR DIABETES, THAT FAMILY
IS NOT SHAMED. AND I GUARANTEE
YOU THESE MOTHERS THAT WERE HERE
TODAY COULD TALK ABOUT THE SHAME
THAT THEY HAD TO UNDERTAKE AND
EVEN NOW UNDERTAKE TALKING ABOUT
IT PUBLICLY, AND SO I REALLY
WANT TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE JUST
YOU HAVING THIS HEARING AND THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING
PERSONALLY ON THIS IT'S REALLY
BENEFICIAL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
BRING THIS DISEASE OUT OF THE
DARKNESS. IT IS NOT A MORAL
FAILING AND UNTIL IT IS
RECOGNIZED AS A DISEASE, OUR
KIDS ARE GOING TO BE AFRAID TO
SAY THAT THEIR FRIEND IS
UTILIZING DRUGS. ARE OLDER
ADULTS. WE'VE SEEN HIGH RATES OF
ABUSE. THEY'RE THEY'RE AFRAID TO
COME FORWARD, SO REALLY TAKING A
STRONG HIT AT STIGMA IS
ESSENTIAL. THAT IS A HUGE GAP
WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE
STATISTICS EARLIER THIS MORNING
, HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T GET
TREATMENT, AND WE AUTOMATICALLY
THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ISN'T
TREATMENT AVAILABLE. YES WE NEED
TO MAKE MORE TREATMENT AVAILABLE
. YES IT HAS TO BE EVANS BASED,
TOTALLY BELIEVE CALIFORNIA IS ON
THE RIGHT TRACK. THERE'S MORE TO
BE DONE. BUT UNTIL WE REDUCE
THAT STIGMA, PEOPLE ARE NOT
GOING TO COME TO THOSE STORES.
SO STIGMA IS A HUGE, HUGE GAP.
BUT I DO WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR
YOUR EFFORTS TODAY AND YOUR
CONTINUED EFFORTS BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. AND IF
YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY Y'ALL GOTTA
GO HOME AND TALK TO YOUR KIDS
ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THIS RESEARCH
SOS THAT MOST OF KIDS AND YOUNG
ADULTS THAT ARE IN TREATMENT,
SAID THEIR PARENTS NEVER TALKED
TO THEM ABOUT IT. OVER AND OVER
AGAIN THAT STATISTIC, SO THERE'S
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN OUR OWN
FAMILIES AND OUR OWN LIVES TO
JUST DEBUNKED THAT STIGMA, AND
THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO IN THAT
SPACE TO AND THEN WHAT? YOU'VE
HEARD A LOT ABOUT SOME AMAZING
PILOT EFFORTS SOME AMAZING
EFFORTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES IN
CERTAIN AREAS. WE JUST NEED TO
KEEP WORKING FORWARD ON THAT
MOVING FORWARD, MAKING THOSE
THINGS YOU KNOW. NOT JUST A
PILOT AND HAVING THOSE YOU KNOW,
SET INTO THE SYSTEM, SO I THINK
CALIFORNIA HAS MADE A LOT OF
STRIDES FORWARDS. WE HAVE A LOT
OF STATES WATCHING US. WE'VE
DONE A LOT OF INNOVATIONS, WHICH
IS GREAT. WE STILL HAVE A WAYS
TO GO. THIS CRISIS HAS CHANGED
RIGHT FROM YEAR TO YEAR. WE
STARTED OFF WITH GREAT SUCCESS
ADDRESSING PRESCRIPTION DRUG
OPIOID OVERDOSES AND. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE
LEARNED THERE IS THAT WHEN WE
ALL COME TOGETHER AND BRING A
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, AND
WE ARE WORKING WITH HOLISTIC
APPROACHES THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY
BOTH LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE PUBLIC,
AND WE GET PEOPLE BEHIND IT, WE
CAN DO GREAT THINGS, AND WE HAVE
DONE THAT IN THE PAST. THIS
PROBLEM IS NOW NOT JUST 100
TIMES MORE DEADLY. IT IS IN SOME
WAYS, 100 TIMES MORE DIFFICULT
FOR US TO SOLVE. AND SO I'M
REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS GROUP
COMING TOGETHER TODAY TO BE
THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE
CRITICAL GAPS THAT MAY STILL
EXIST AND WHERE WE CAN BE
DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION TO IN
THE FUTURE. THERE ARE EVIDENCE
BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES. I
WILL HONE IN ON THE PREVENTION
STRATEGIES BECAUSE I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT I DON'T I
DON'T WANT TO DOWNPLAY THE
IMPORTANCE OF TREATMENT AND THE
FIRST RESPONSE, BUT PRIMARY
PREVENTION IS KEY TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE AND
AWARENESS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL
AMONG OUR TEENAGERS. AMONG
PEOPLE WHO MAY BE CONSIDERING
EXPERIMENTING WITH SUBSTANCES.
THESE ARE KEY STRATEGIES THAT
ARE EVIDENCE BASED AND ARE
SUPPORTED BY BOTH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND ALSO BY THIS
ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO. WE'VE HEARD
IT AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE PANEL
SO FAR PRIMARY PREVENTION,
SECONDARY PREVENTION AND
TREATMENT AS WELL AS THINKING
ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
APPROACH. WE ARE ALL NEEDING TO
WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. I
APPRECIATE YOUR CANDID QUESTION
. AND UM, I WANT TO, UH,
DOVETAIL ON THE
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
HIGHLIGHTED BY MY COLLEAGUE HERE
AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THE MACRO
PROGRAM IN OAKLAND, WHICH IS A
COMMUNITY PRIME MEDICINE,
EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY PARA
MEDICINE. I RECENTLY SAT ON A
PANEL WITH THEM AT THE NATIONAL
, UM, ASSOCIATION AND
HOMELESSNESS. NOW, WHY IS A
PARAMEDIC HERE TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT SHELTER, ACCESS AND
HOMELESSNESS? IT'S BECAUSE I'M
SURE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE.
WE CANNOT TREAT FOLKS OR CHANGE
THEIR TRAJECTORY IF THEY'RE
LIVING IN A TENT ON THE
SIDEWALK. ALL STOP. UM THANKS TO
CHEER HEANEY'S WORK IN SAN
FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO
PROVIDES MORE PERMANENT,
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PER CAPITA
THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE BAY
AREA, PROBABLY CALIFORNIA. I
CAN'T SAY THAT WITH CONFIDENCE,
BUT CERTAINLY THE BAY AREA, SAN
FRANCISCO PROVIDES MORE SHELTER
BEDS PER CAPITA THAN ANYWHERE IN
THE BAY AREA. AND AS UCSF
BENIOFF HEALTH AND HOMELESS
INITIATIVE. UM UM UM, FIGUREHEAD
DR MARGARET CASHEL WOULD TELL
YOU, UM HOUSING IS HEALTHCARE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHERE THE
GAPS ARE AND WHAT WHERE WE'RE
FAILING AND WHAT WE'RE MISSING,
IT IS HOUSING FOLKS, AND THAT'S
A FUNDAMENTAL WE CANNOT ASK
FOLKS OR TREAT FOLKS EFFECTIVELY
IF THEY ARE NOT HOUSED OR
SHELTERED. AND I WOULD SAY
ACCESS TO TREATMENT IS CRITICAL
. WE'RE RUNNING AN ECONOMY HERE
AND ECONOMICS BECAUSE OF
FENTANYL, HEROIN AND OTHER
THINGS ARE EASIER TO GET TO THAN
TREATMENT. THEN WE'RE GOING TO
LOSE THAT BATTLE. WHATEVER
ACTIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO BOTH
INCENTIVIZED TREATMENT
COMPENSATION FOR THE PROVIDERS,
AS WELL AS INCENTIVES TO
ALTERNATIVES TO CRIMINALIZATION
. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO
BE NECESSARY, BECAUSE IF IT'S A
CHOICE OF EITHER GETTING
FENTANYL FROM THE STREET, BUT
IT'S JUST A TEXT MESSAGE AWAY.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE A DOCTOR THAT
YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR AT
SOME POINT. I THINK ALL THE
EFFORTS SAY HERE. HERE ARE THE
EFFORTS THAT WE NEED TO FILL IN
THOSE GAPS. BUT IN THE END
TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE EASIER
THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. YOU DON'T
MEAN LET ME MOVE TO A LOT LAST
QUESTION AFTERWARDS. YEAH I'LL
BE BRIEF. SO FIRST OF ALL, JUST
TO COMMENT ABOUT TELEMEDICINE.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
TELEMEDICINE. I WILL TELL YOU IN
SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT I
REPRESENT. WE STILL DON'T HAVE
BROADBAND, SO THE IDEA THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO SOME OF
THESE COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE
SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES PER
CAPITA OF OVERDOSE, SO. WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, WE
NEED OTHER MODALITIES AS WELL.
AND WE NEED FLEXIBILITY. SO MANY
TIMES OUR STATE POLICIES ARE
VERY RIGID AND VERY, VERY
PROCESS ORIENTED, WITH LOTS OF
FEEDBACK AND SUCH. AND THEN SOME
OF THE COMMUNITIES. I THINK
WE'RE DOING THAT GROUPS ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT THERE'S
NOT FLEXIBILITY AND I THINK
THAT'S ALWAYS AN APPEAL, SO IT'S
APPEALED TO OUR PARTNERS FROM
DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES
FROM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH. WE NEED FLEXIBILITY. UM
AND THAT AND THEN JUST, UM
UNDERSTAND DEPARTMENT. PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS AN AWARENESS PUBLIC
AWARENESS PROGRAM. AND IN THIS
YOU HAVE DATA ON THIS. HOW IS
THIS WORKING? UM WHAT KIND OF
DATA DO YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT
WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION
, SO OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN WAS ONLY JUST RECENTLY
FUNDED IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
CURRENT BUDGET YEARS, SO WHAT?
WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING IS
DEVELOPING THAT EVALUATION PLAN
IN CURRENT, INCLUDING SETTING UP
ALL OF THE METRICS THAT WE WILL
BE TRACKING OVER TIME. THIS HAS
GOT RECEIVED THREE YEARS OF
FUNDING THROUGH THE OPIOID
SETTLEMENT FUND, AND WE WILL
CERTAINLY BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK
ON SOME OF THOSE METRICS AND
INCLUDING NOT JUST THE
IMPRESSIONS AND IN TERMS OF LIKE
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE
ADS. BUT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY
MINDS WE'VE CHANGED HOW MANY
BEHAVIOR PATTERNS WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO CHANGE AND WHETHER WE
ACTUALLY HAD AN EFFECT, WE ARE
GOING TO BE WORKING WITH AN
EVALUATOR ON THIS PROJECT AND
CERTAINLY WILL BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AT A
LATER DATE. WHEN THAT'S
AVAILABLE. HOW LONG IS THIS
GOING TO TAKE THE ROLLOUT? WELL
THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN ITSELF HASN'T
EVEN BEEN ON AREA SO WE WOULD.
WE'RE ROLLING OUT OUR MEDIA
CAMPAIGN AND EVALUATION
CONCURRENTLY AND WITH THE
CURRENT TIMELINE, WE WOULD
ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD HAVE
SOME DATA AVAILABLE WITHIN THE
NEXT YEAR OR SO. ACTUALLY, I GO.
IS THIS GOING TO ROLL OUT? WHEN
YOU SAID WHEN I HAVE DATA IN
YEAR, BUT I'M TRYING TO IMPART A
SENSE OF URGENCY HERE. SO WHEN
IS THIS CAMPAIGN GOING TO ROLL
OUT? THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A SENSE
OF URGENCY AND WE ARE MOVING
ABOUT AS FAST AS A MEDIA
CAMPAIGN CAN MOVE IN THIS SPACE.
CONSIDERING THAT WE RECEIVED OUR
FUNDS TO LIE OF 2020. SO. AND I
GUESS I WOULD JUST REFLECT MR
DIDIER HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO
SCHOOL GROUPS AND HAS REACHED
ABOUT 70,000 KIDS AND HAVING AN
IMPACT, AND SO, UM. JUST TO JUMP
IN REALLY QUICK. UM WE HAVE BEEN
RUNNING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT
CHOOSE CHANGE CALIFORNIA
CAMPAIGN. UM AND THAT IS BEEN A
STATEWIDE MEDIA EFFORT. UM,
WE'VE HAD OVER 3 BILLION
IMPRESSIONS. BUT WHAT'S UM
IMPORTANT IS IT DIRECTS FOLKS TO
TREATMENT SITES. WE'VE HAD FOLKS
OVER A MILLION TIMES, GO TO
DIFFERENT TREATMENT SITES OR GO
TO OUR TREATMENT LOCATORS. SO
WE'VE BEEN KICKING OFF THAT
CAMPAIGN AND THEN OUR OUR
PARTNERS THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WILL
BE ROLLING UP THEIR CAMPAIGN
CAMPAIGN. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT THERE IS A MESSAGING
OUT THERE. NOW, UM, ABOUT REALLY
DECENT DE STIGMATIZING M 80
DIRECTING FOLKS TO GET TO
TREATMENT SERVICES AND THEN OUR
PARTNERS WILL BE TAKING OVER
WITH THIS CAMPAIGN THAT'S MORE
FOCUSED ON THE AREAS THAT WERE
DISCUSSED. I WANT TO THANK THE
PANEL. I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS AND
ALSO, UM YOU KNOW, COMMON, I, UH
FOLLOWING UP ON ON DR WOODS
POINT. UH I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE
GET HIT. IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME WITH SUCH AN
OVERWHELMING DEADLY EPIDEMIC WE
CAN AND SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE
PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE
RESPONSE AND I THINK WE'RE DOING
A LOT THAT'S INNOVATIVE. WE'RE
DOING A LOT. THAT'S NEW OR
SPENDING A LOT MORE MONEY, BUT
WE'RE ALSO LOSING. AH IF YOU
LOOK AT THE SCALE OF THE DEATH
AND THE DEVASTATION THAT IS
HITTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR
STATE, UH, IT'S OVERWHELMING. I
WE PASSED OUT SOME SOME NUMBERS
HERE. 786 DEATHS FROM FENTANYL
IN 2018. IN 2021. IT WAS NEARLY
6000 IN 2022. WE CAN EXPECT THAT
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE
THAN THAT, AND THE SCALE OF THE
IMPACT IS EXPONENTIAL. AND SO
HOW DO WE? HOW DO WE BRING
OURSELVES TO A RESPONSE THAT
MEETS THAT SCALE? AND THAT ROLLS
OUT AT THE SPEED AND THE PACE
AND THE BREADTH OF THE CHALLENGE
THAT WE'RE FACING. I THINK
THAT'S WHAT WE THAT'S NOT ON ANY
SINGLE ONE OF US WHO'S HERE, BUT
IT'S ON ALL OF US TO DEMAND THAT
LEVEL OF URGENCY SIMILAR TO WHAT
WE DEMANDED WHEN COVID 19 CAME
TO OUR STATE. AND THAT'S WHAT I
HOPE THAT WE CAN STEP UP TO THE
CHALLENGE OF BECAUSE I THINK IF
WE CONTINUE TO ACT IN THE WAY
THAT WE'RE ACTING, EVEN IF IT IS
SO MUCH MORE THAN WE DID LAST
YEAR. WE ARE NOT GOING TO MEET
THE SCALE OF THIS EPIDEMIC AND
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE
AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE
DEATH. OF PEOPLE IN OUR STATE. I
DID ON ON TWO POINTS AND MAYBE,
UH, ANY OF YOU CAN CAN ADDRESS
THE THESE TWO QUESTIONS. YOU
KNOW, ONE IS I DO SUPPORT HARM
REDUCTION. UH I ALSO BELIEVE
THAT HARM REDUCTION WHEN IT
COMES TO FENTANYL MUST BE
DIFFERENT. FENTANYL IS DANGEROUS
AND CAN KILL PEOPLE IN A WAY
THAT ANY OTHER DRUG THAT I'M
AWARE OF THAT WE'VE USED HARM
REDUCTION FOR, UH, IS DIFFERENT
. UH I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE
LONG TERM FENTANYL USERS NOR NOR
WILL THERE BE IF YOU CONTINUE TO
USE FENTANYL, EVEN IF SOMEONE IS
PROVIDING YOU WITH SAFER WAYS TO
USE IT. YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DIE.
AND YOU WILL DIE QUICKLY. BASED
ON ALL OF THE DATA THAT I'VE
SEEN SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I'M WONDERING IS HOW WE ARE
ADJUSTING OUR HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE
URGENCY OF MOVING PEOPLE OFF OF
THIS DRUG THAT WE KNOW
ULTIMATELY KILL THEM, AND IT IS
VERY IT'S DIFFERENT IN THAT WAY
EVEN THAN HEROIN. UH WHEREAS YOU
SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, TRAGICALLY
AND TERRIBLY, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD
OLD DAYS OF HEROIN. PEOPLE USED
HEROIN FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME
AND DIDN'T DIE. THEY WILL NOT
USE FENTANYL FOR VERY LONG THEY
WILL DIE. AND SO HOW? HOW DO WE
CHANGE OUR STRATEGIES IN LIGHT
OF THAT? AND THEN YOU KNOW FOR
MR MASON, I THINK THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE AND MAYBE DR KHAN CAN
ADDRESS THIS AS WELL. HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS
THAT? WHO IS ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS
ARE AT RISK OF AN OVERDOSE. IS
ASSESSED APPROPRIATELY AND
IMMEDIATELY WITH THE LOWEST
BARRIERS POSSIBLE ENROLLED IN
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
WE SEE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY AND THANKFULLY YOU ALL
ARE STEPPING UP AND ACTUALLY
APPLYING, ADMINISTERING SUBOXONE
ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WILL GET
LITERALLY JUMP OUT OF THE
AMBULANCE OR AS SOON AS YOU GET
TO THE HOSPITAL TO RUN AWAY
BECAUSE THEIR BODY IS TELLING
THEM THAT THEY NEED MORE MORE OF
THIS SUBSTANCE BECAUSE IT'S
PHYSIOLOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
RESIST IT. SUBOXONE CAN HELP
WITH THAT. BUT THEN WHEN THEY
GET TO THE TO THE HOSPITAL THAT
WAIT TIME. THOSE BARRIERS THAT
ARE THERE. AND THE FOLLOW UP
THAT DOESN'T EXIST AND WE LOSE
THEM. AND SO HOW DO WE CLOSE
THAT GAP? FOR PEOPLE WHO WE AT
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO ENROLL IN
THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT. HOW DO
WE SET REAL GOALS AND HOLD
OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT
THERE'S A REAL? IF WE LOOK AT
THE DATA? WE HAVE A CERTAIN
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO WE KNOW
ARE ADDICTED, WHO ARE WHO ARE
COMING INTO AND BEING ENROLLED
IN MEDICATION? ASSISTED
TREATMENT? THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH
PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE
ENROLLED IN IT. WHO WE KNOW CAN
SAVE THEIR LIVES. SO UM, THAT'S
A THE ONE LONG COMMENT. I'M
GONNA GONNA MAKE TODAY AS CHAIR.
BUT IF ANY OF YOU COULD, UH, NOT
ALL OF YOU, BUT I HAVE ONE OR
TWO OF YOU ADDRESS THAT AND THEN
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. WHAT I
CAN SPEAK TO YOU IS THAT HARM
REDUCTION IS ON THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE. HARM REDUCTION IS ONE OF
THE BEST SPENDS THAT THERE ARE
BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE
PEOPLE AT VERY GREATEST RISK FOR
OVERDOSE. SO ADEQUATELY FUNDING
HARM REDUCTION IS CRITICAL.
INNOVATIONS SUCH AS THE M S
STARTS FOR BUPRENORPHINE IS ALSO
CRITICAL 50% OF PEOPLE WHO GET
911 CALLED ON THEM. THEY'RE
USUALLY NOT CALLING THEMSELVES
NEVER GO TO THE HOSPITAL, SO HE
M S IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY.
I PRESENTED ONE SLIDE THE ORDER
OF PUBLIC INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN
REDUCE FATAL OVERDOSE DEATHS.
THE NUMBER ONE INTERVENTION IS
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE
WHO USE DRUGS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE
AT RISK OF USING DRUGS. SECOND
PLACE IS TREATMENT AND IT'S A
DISTANT SECOND. THIRD PLACE IS
SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS, ARM
REDUCTION PROGRAMS. SO IN ORDER
OF SCALE WE NEED IF CALIFORNIA
WERE THE MANUFACTURING NALOXONE
ALLOW FOR EASY DISTRIBUTION WITH
EITHER A TEXT MESSAGE OR CLICK
OF WEBSITE THAT IS POTENTIALLY
ONE OF THE MOST LIFE SAVING
THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO. I'VE
SPOKEN TO MY COMMUNITY. I
PERSONALLY WRITTEN OVER 30
PRESCRIPTIONS TO OTHER FRANKLY
FRIENDS FOR THEIR KIDS. THEY'RE
FEARFUL AND SO THEREFORE THERE
IS ACCESS TO THAT LEVEL OF
PROTECTION. BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON THE AREAS AT GREATEST RISK.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE RISK IS
EVERYWHERE. BUT THE
INTERVENTIONS THAT THE STATE HAS
BEEN DOING HAVE BEEN PROMISING,
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE TO
KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. SURE HONEY, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. YOU MAY REMEMBER. WE
RODE TOGETHER FOR A SHIFT
SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON M S 61 OF
OUR COMMUNITY PARA MEDICINE,
FREQUENT UTILIZE ER PROGRAMS,
AND I THINK YOU HAVE A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEEDS OF YOUR
DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA DISTRICTS
, UM, TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE
TOPICS YOU BROUGHT UP. UM WHEN
IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THE
PEOPLE THAT WE ENCOUNTER GET THE
CARE THEY NEED. I WANT TO POINT
OUT THE CALIFORNIA BRIDGE. UH
PROGRAM, AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS
LINKING E. M S AND HOSPITALS,
SPECIAL OVERDOSE, RECEIVING
CENTERS, FUNDING SUBSTANCES,
NAVIGATORS IN HOSPITALS AND
ALLOWING PARAMEDICS TO BRING
THOSE FOLKS DIRECTLY TO
SPECIALIZED SITES THAT HAVE THAT
ENHANCED SERVICES. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE SAN FRANCISCO AND
OTHER COUNTIES IN THE BAY AREA
THAT HAVE DATA SYSTEMS AND
AUTOMATED REFERRAL SYSTEMS AND
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS. SO THAT
ANY TIME A PARAMEDIC KNOWS OR
ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO HAS
OVERDOSED THERE AUTOMATICALLY
FLAGGED AND OUR COLLEAGUES IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RECEIVE A REFERRAL TO FOLLOW UP
WITH THEM. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE ENCOUNTER
AND AN HOUSED UNSHELTERED
INDIVIDUAL WHO OVERDOSES AND WE
CAN'T GET THEM TO SHELTER BED,
IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE FOLKS.
THAT'S JUST BEING PRAGMATIC. AND
UM, I WANT TO END BY BY POINTING
OUT THAT CHAIR HEANEY'S
COMMENTS. WHEN THE OVERDOSE DESK
GO UP. WE ARE FAILING. THERE IS
NO WAY AROUND IT AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE US ALL TO TAKE A
CANDID LOOK AT OUR OUTCOMES AND
OUR INTERVENTIONS AND EVALUATE
RAPIDLY QUICKLY IN CANDIDLY WHAT
IS WORKING, INVEST IN THAT AND
FOCUS ON THOSE FOCUS ON THOSE
INTERVENTIONS. THANK YOU, MR
BLACKSMITH. I CUT YOU OFF
EARLIER. THERE'S EVERYTHING.
ANYTHING YOU WANT. JUST JUST THE
YOU KNOW, ONSET OF THIS, UH
ISSUE AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE
RESPONSES. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW.
NOT NOT FAR BEHIND. SO YOU KNOW,
CONSISTENCY. FOLLOW UP AND, YOU
KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME GOOD
ACTION COMING OUT OF THE
SESSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
WANNA APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU IN
YOUR WORK, AND, UH AND IN THE
YOU KNOW, AND THE PARTNERSHIP
AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE
AS LEGISLATORS TO WORK WITH YOU
ALL TO CONFRONT THIS EPIDEMIC.
UH, WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
UM I AM GOING TO BECAUSE WE HAVE
MR THURMAN HERE IN A MUCH, I
THINK SHORTER AND I APOLOGIZE TO
THE TO THE LARGER PANEL THAT
THAT I KNOW WHO HAS ALSO BEEN
WAITING, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
BRING UP THE EDUCATION UH, AND
YOUTH PANEL, WHICH WHICH I THINK
WILL BE SHORTER, UM AND THEN
SAVE THE LAST PANEL FOR THE
LONGER CONVERSATION AROUND THE
LEGAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE. SO WE HAVE, MR. UH OUR
STATE SUPERINTENDENT, TONY
THURMAN IS HERE AS WELL AS DR
MARTY. ONE CHURCH. IF YOU COULD
PLEASE COME UP AND WE ARE GOING
TO COVER THE ISSUES OF EDUCATION
AND PREVENTION. UH AND. THEN
MOVED TO THE TO THE NEXT PANEL.
SO UM, FIRST WE HAVE, MR
THURMAN. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
TO ALL THE CHAIRS TO ALL THE
MEMBERS TO THE STAFF. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. UM TO
PROVIDE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ON
BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOLS ON THIS
IMPORTANT PANEL. I'D LIKE TO
JUST FIRST START BY JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING, UM FAMILIES
WHO'VE HAD A LOSS WHO'VE LOST A
LOVED ONE. UM, THIS IS
DEVASTATING. AND UM, NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS.
AND AS EACH OF THE LEGISLATORS
HAS POINTED OUT, UM THERE ARE
RESOURCES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS, AND WE MUST MOVE WITH THE
SPEED AND URGENCY THAT EACH OF
YOU HAS SPOKEN TO, UM, TO SAVE
LIVES. UM SCHOOLS ARE VERY MUCH
IN THIS CONVERSATION. AS YOU ALL
HAVE NOTED MORE THAN 6500 OPIOID
DEATHS. UM 5500 OF THEM RELATED
TO FENTANYL, AT LEAST 200
ACCORDING TO 2021 NUMBERS,
TEENAGERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15
AND 19, YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO TURN
ON THE EVENING NEWS TO HEAR THE
HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF YOUNG
PEOPLE. WHO UM, WHO THINK THAT
THEY'RE TAKING SOMETHING, AND
THEN THEY UNFORTUNATELY ARE
CAUGHT UP IN AN EXPERIENCE OF,
UM, HAVEN'T TAKEN A DRUG THAT'S
BEEN LACED WITH FENTANYL. UM AS
THEY SAY, ONE PILL CAN KILL AND
SO THE WAY WE ARE TRYING TO
APPROACH THIS AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS TO DO
JUST THAT. HELP EDUCATE YOUNG
PEOPLE, UM, HAVE OPEN
CONVERSATION ABOUT TREATMENT. UM
AND PREVENTION. AND MAKE SURE
THAT SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO
NARCAN. UM UM, IN THE EVENT OF
THE NEED FOR A LIFE SAVING
EMERGENCY. UM IT'S FREE TO OUR
SCHOOLS THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. UM
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT
HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE
THERE ARE SCHOOLS HAVE IT AND
THAT THEY USE IT AS A SCHOOL
BOARD HAS TO PASS A RESOLUTION.
UH THEY HAVE A POLICY TO SAY
THAT THEY WILL HAVE A NARCAN
POLICY STAFF HAVE TO BE TRAINED
. UM, MANY OF YOU TALKED ABOUT
HAVING HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL IN
OUR SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, MANY OF
OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE A NURSE
OR HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL, AND SO
THERE HAVE TO BE TRAININGS. FOR
STAFF AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
HAVE ACCESS TO THE TRAINING AND
TO BE ABLE TO USE THE NARCAN. I
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THERE'S A
$3.5 MILLION ONGOING AVAILABLE
IN $10 MILLION.01 TIME TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO
DOSES THAT EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE
EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. I WOULD
ALSO NOTE THAT THERE ARE DOLLARS
THAT SCHOOLS CAN USE TO, UM,
EDUCATE, UM, ABOUT THE DANGERS
OF DRUG USE. UM AND TREAT. UM
AND SUPPORT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
EDUCATION, AND I THINK WE ALL
KNOW SADLY, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO TRY THINGS THEY'RE
GOING TO EXPERIMENT AND
SOMETIMES WHAT THEY TRY COULD
COST THEIR LIVES. AND SO THIS
STATE MAKES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PREVENTION. THAT'S $4
BILLION ANOTHER $8 BILLION TO
OUR LEARNING RECOVERY BLOCK.
GRANT UM, THERE ARE FEDERAL
DOLLARS AT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAS ACCESS TO TITLE $4 THAT CAN
BE USED FOR DRUG EDUCATION. UM
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF
COUNSELORS IN OUR STATE AND MANY
OF YOU WORKED WITH US LAST YEAR
ON LEGISLATION THAT WAS FOLDED
INTO THE BUDGET THAT ALLOWS US
TO NOW BE ABLE TO RECRUIT 10,000
MORE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS TO
WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND UNTIL
THEY ARE IN PLACE, WE DO HAVE TO
USE EVERY METHOD THAT'S
AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT BE TELL
THE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH OR
LOCAL COUNCILORS, BUT THERE'S A
NUMBER THAT A STUDENT CAN CALL
ANY TIME OF THE DAY. SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK. IF THEY NEED HELP, UM IF
THEY NEED IF THEY'RE DEALING
WITH DEPRESSION OR MENTAL
HEALTH, OR THEY NEED TO BE
CONNECTED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
AND THAT IS SIMPLY TO CALL OR
TEXT 988. WE CAN'T SAY THAT
ENOUGH. IT'S 24 7. UM THERE'S A
TRAINED COUNSELOR AVAILABLE TO
TAKE THOSE CALLS FROM STUDENTS
IF THEY TEXT OR CALL 988 BY THE
WAY, THAT'S A STATEWIDE NUMBER
FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, BUT IN
THIS CRISIS, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE
INFORMATION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE
CAN USE. WE'VE DONE THREE
STATEWIDE WEBINARS FOR
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO TALK TO
THEM ABOUT THIS. I'LL TELL YOU
THAT SOME PEOPLE IN SOME SCHOOLS
SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED NARCAN.
AND I TELL THEM TAKE ANOTHER
LOOK. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT
STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AREN'T
USING DRUGS AND I'VE TOLD THEM
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. I DON'T CARE
WHAT COMMUNITY OR ZIP CODE YOU
ARE IN. THIS IS A CRISIS THAT WE
MUST ALL BE THINKING ABOUT AS
ADULTS AS LEGISLATORS AS PARENTS
AS EDUCATORS, UM AS PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY WHO CARE AND THIS
CAN IMPACT. UM EVERYONE, THERE
ARE PLENTY OF RESOURCES THAT CAN
HELP. WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
HELP SAVE A LIFE. UM SO WE
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS WHO NEED HELP
TO CALL 988. AND OBVIOUSLY,
ANYONE OF OUR 1000 SCHOOL
DISTRICTS CAN CONTACT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION DIRECTLY FOR HELP ON
HOW TO ACCESS NARCAN DRUG
PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
PROGRAMS. I'LL STOP THERE TO THE
CHAIRS. I'M HAPPY TO SUBMIT TO
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
SUPERINTENDENT THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL
DOCTOR WINCH. HELLO MY NAME IS
MARTHA. ONE CHURCH. I'M SPEAKING
TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF ADDICTION
MEDICINE. I AM A BOARD CERTIFIED
PEDIATRICIAN AND A BOARD
CERTIFIED ADDICTION MEDICINE
PHYSICIAN. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS COMMITTEE. DRILLING DOWN TO
THE REAL FACTS IN THIS CASE AND
WORKING SO HARD TO ADDRESS
SOMETHING THAT IS THREATENING
THE HEALTH OF ALL CALIFORNIANS.
I'VE BEEN TASKED WITH THREE
THINGS TODAY. I'M NOT SURE I'M
GOING TO GET TO ALL THREE. UM
AND, UH, THE FIRST IS TO TALK
ABOUT ADOLESCENTS AND WHY THEY
ARE INHERENTLY AT RISK, AND I
WERE JUST GOING TO LEAVE THAT
SLIDE UP. THAT'S THE ONLY SLIGHT
I NEED. OKAY UM, WE'RE GONNA
TALK ABOUT ADOLESCENTS AND WHY
THEY ARE UNIQUELY AT RISK FOR
GETTING IN TROUBLE SUBSTANCES.
I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU BRIEFLY
ABOUT NEUROBIOLOGY, AND
HOPEFULLY I WILL GET A LITTLE
BIT TO PREVENTION. SO LET'S TALK
ABOUT TEENAGERS. TEENAGERS
ADOLESCENTS BELIEVE THEY ARE
INVINCIBLE, INDESTRUCTIBLE AND
IMMORTAL. IF YOU OWN ONE IN YOUR
HOME, YOU KNOW THIS VERY WELL
AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.
KIDS HAVE TO HAVE THAT TO FACE
WHAT'S AHEAD OF THEM GROWING UP,
WORKING, PARTNERING GETTING A
JOB PAYING A MORTGAGE? ALL THOSE
LIFE TESTS ARE REALLY SCARY WHEN
YOU'RE 15 AND THEY SOMETIMES GO
OFF TO WAR FOR US, TOO. BUT I'LL
TELL YOU NORMAL YOUTH ARE MORE
VULNERABLE BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO
EXPERIMENT. THEY LIKE TO TRY NEW
THINGS. THANK HEAVENS, RIGHT.
THEIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT ISN'T
DONE. YOUR BRAIN'S NOT DONE
DEVELOPING UNTIL YOU'RE 24 YEARS
OLD. THEY HAVE DECREASED CONTROL
IN THEIR FRONTAL CORTEX APPEAR
THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE MORE
RISKS THAN NORMAL AND THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF
THEIR BEHAVIOR. MANY TIMES THEY
HAVE A DECREASED AWARENESS AND
THAT IS DEVELOPMENTAL. WE KNOW
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
FENTANYL TODAY, BUT THE DRUGS
KIDS START WITH OUR ALCOHOL,
TOBACCO AND CANNABIS OR
MARIJUANA. AND FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THIS COUNTRY, THE DRUG
INITIATION MOST COMMON DRUG OF
INITIATION IS CANNABIS. AND THAT
DOESN'T DIFFER IF IT'S LEGAL OR
ILLEGAL OR MEDICAL ACROSS THE
NATION. WHEN WE USE TEENAGER
WHEN WE AS ADULTS SAY THINGS
AREN'T HIGH RISK, WHICH IS WHAT
WE'VE SAID WITH CANNABIS, OUR
CHILDREN SAY OKAY, I GUESS MOM
AND MOM DAD SAID IT'S OKAY. I
GUESS I COULD USE IT. THE OTHER
THING WE KNOW IS THE EXPOSURE
AND USE OF SUBSTANCES DURING
ADOLESCENT ADOLESCENCE INCREASES
YOUR CHANCES OF DEVELOPING FULL
BLOWN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS BY
FOURFOLD IN ADULTHOOD. ALTHOUGH
MALES ARE MORE LIKELY TO
EXPERIMENT AND ADOLESCENTS WITH
SUBSTANCES ARE MORE LIKELY TO
DRIVE FAST, IT COST MORE TO
INSURE THEM. FEMALES WHEN THEY
GET INVOLVED WITH SUBSTANCES
HAVE A TELESCOPING. OF THEIR
ADDICTION. THEY GET SICK REALLY
FAST. SO THOSE ARE NORMAL
TEENAGERS. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT
TEENAGERS. WE REALLY NEED TO
WORRY ABOUT. THOSE WHO ARE
GENETICALLY AT RISK FOR WHOM
ADDICTION RUNS IN THEIR FAMILIES
BECAUSE, LIKE HYPERTENSION AND
DIABETES AND CANCER, NO ONE ASKS
TO HAVE THIS DISEASE, BUT WHEN
YOU HAVE IT, YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR
MANAGING IT. AND WE KNOW THAT
THE EUROPEAN AMERICANS HAVE MUCH
HIGHER RATES OF USE AND
ADDICTION. IT'S THE BLACK AND
BROWN FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES,
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. AFRICAN
AMERICANS, ASIAN AMERICANS WHO
ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HEALTH
AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, AND I'M
SURE I DON'T NEED TO TELL ALL OF
YOU WHY THAT'S GOING ON. I THINK
WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN THERE ARE KIDS WHO
EXPERIENCE TRAUMA PART OF THE
BRAIN THAT HELPS YOU CALM
YOURSELF. IN A CHILD IT'S CALLED
THE HIPPOCAMPUS IS SMALLER. IF
YOU'RE RAISED IN POVERTY, IT IS
SMALLER IF YOU'RE RAISED IN A
PLACE WHERE THERE'S GUNFIRE, AND
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN NEXT, AND YOU'RE SPENDING
ALL YOUR TIME, JUST KEEPING
BALANCED AS A KID. WE KNOW THAT
PARENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS AND PSYCHIATRIC USE
PUT CHILDREN AT RISK. THEY'RE
CALLED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES IN INCARCERATING A
PARENT IS A RISK FOR A CHILD. SO
I'M GLAD TO HEAR ON THIS
COMMITTEE THAT WE'VE DECIDED NOT
TO INCARCERATE OUR WAY OUT OF
THIS PROBLEM. AND CHILDREN WITH
PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS.
DEPRESSION ANXIETY. CHILDREN WHO
ARE LOST IN ADOLESCENTS AND ALSO
STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
CHILDREN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. CHILDREN
INVOLVED IN JUVENILE JUSTICE
SYSTEM. CHILDREN WHO ARE
HOMELESS CHILDREN WHO ARE OUT OF
SCHOOL. THOSE ARE THE KIDS WE
NEED TO GET TO, AND CHILDREN WHO
ARE LEARNING CHALLENGED. I WOULD
LIKE TO AS A PEDIATRICIAN, POINT
TO YOU ABOUT ONE GROUP OF
CHILDREN. NEONATAL WHO ARE
ALCOHOL EXPOSED DURING PREGNANCY
ARE AT SPECIAL RISK FOR GETTING
INTO TROUBLE. THEY MAY HAVE
LEARNING DISABILITIES. THEY'RE
GENETICALLY AT RISK, AND WE
DON'T TALK ABOUT THOSE KIDS AND
THEY'RE IN OUR TREATMENT
CENTERS, AND THOSE KIDS HAVE
PROBLEMS THINKING. SO THAT'S MY
OWN PERSONAL LITTLE PEDESTAL.
I'M GOING TO STAND ON. HOW MANY
MINUTES DO I HAVE LEFT? OKAY
WELL, LET'S BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF ADDICTION.
IMAGINE AN ICE CREAM CONE WITH
THREE SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM ON IT
. THE ICE CREAM CONE IS YOUR
SPINE. AND THEN YOU HAVE GOING
UP IN STATISTIC ATION. YOU HAVE
THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT CENTER.
EVERYBODY HAS IT EVEN A CELL. IF
YOU POKE IT WILL FLY AWAY. AND
THE FIGHTER FLIGHT CENTER IS
WHAT MAKES YOU GO BOOM AFTER YOU
GET IN A NEAR MISS CAR AUTO
COLLISION AND THAT IS WHERE
CHILDREN WHO ARE RAISED IN
POVERTY AND RAISED IN TRAUMATIC
AREAS. THEY DON'T DO REAL ON
THAT AREA. THEY GOT A LOT OF
FIGHTING FLIGHT GOING ON. THE
NEXT SCOOP UP IS THE PLEASURE
CENTER. EVERY HUMAN BEING EVERY
BEING NEEDS TO HAVE WATER, FOOD
AND PROCREATE, AND WE'RE REALLY
LUCKY THAT THOSE THREE THINGS
BRING US PRESSURE. BUT YOU KNOW
WHAT BRINGS US EVEN MORE
PLEASURE DRUGS? AND WHEN YOUR
KIDS BY SPINS ON A, UM MERRY GO
ROUND THERE ALTERING THEIR STATE
OF REALITY, AND WE LIKE TO DO
THAT AS ADULTS, ALSO IN HIS
TEENS. AND THAT IS WHERE
ADDICTION OCCURS. NOW I CALLED
THE LIZARD BRAIN AND YOU CANNOT
TEACH A LIZARD TO WALK ON OTHER
LEASH. YOU CAN. IF THIS IS NOT A
MORAL FEELING THIS IS NOT ABOUT
CONTROLLING YOUR LIZARD BRAIN.
IT'S ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT TOP
ICE CREAM SCOOP WHICH I CALL THE
GORILLA BRAIN. BECAUSE THERE YOU
LOVE THERE. YOU THINK THERE YOU
REASON AND SO MY PATIENTS WILL
CALL ME AND SAY MY LIZARD BRAIN
WAS OUT LAST NIGHT. AND I'LL SAY
IS YOUR GORILLA BRAIN THERE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEARN
STRATEGIES TO BRING FORTH WHEN
YOU'RE TRIGGERED. SO THAT'S ALL
I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU TODAY. I
DID NOT GET TO MY PREVENTION
SLIDES, BUT I HOPE I'VE SHED
SOME LIGHT ON WHY ARE TEENS ARE
SO AT RISK? AND I WILL TELL YOU
OVERDOSE IS THE END OF A TRAGIC
TRAJECTORY THAT BEGINS IN
ADOLESCENCE BECAUSE ADDICTION IS
A PEDIATRIC DISEASE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR WENCH.
UM WE'RE GONNA NOW OPEN IT UP
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MR
MURATSUCHI. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. FIRST OF ALL, SUPERINTENDENT
THURMAN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING
THIS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU FOR SHARING WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN OUR SCHOOLS. I HAVE A
QUESTION, ACTUALLY, FOR DOCTOR
IS AT ONCE. YES, LIKE LUNCH WITH
THE W OKAY? AH! DID YOU SAY THAT
? UM THAT TEENAGERS THAT EITHER
CONSUME ALCOHOL TOBACCO OR
CANNABIS ARE FOUR TIMES MORE
LIKELY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE LATER
IN LIFE. THE YOUNGER YOU START
USING SUBSTANCES, AND MOST OF
THEM START WITH ALCOHOL, TOBACCO
AND CANNABIS, THE MORE LIKELY
YOU ARE TO HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER IN IN ADULTHOOD IF YOU
START USING WHEN YOU'RE 12
VERSUS 18 YOU'RE GOING TO BE
MORE RISK THE 12 YEAR OLD THAN
THE 18 YEAR OLD BECAUSE THE
BRAIN DEVELOPS AND THE EARLIER
KIDS START USING SUBSTANCES, THE
MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO CHANGE
THEIR BRAINS AND MOVE INTO THEIR
ADULTHOOD MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. OKAY?
AND YOU SAID THAT, UH AND IN
TERMS OF CANNABIS, UH YOUR
AVERAGE YOUTH WOULD NOT MAKE THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHETHER IT'S
LEGAL OR ILLEGAL. THEY'RE
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SIGNALS FROM
THEIR PARENTS SAYING, OH, IT'S A
IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO USE CANNABIS
AS I LOVE TO SAY, I'M A MEMBER
OF THAT GENERATION LONG AGO. YOU
KNOW, THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT MY
CANNABIS. THESE KIDS ARE USING
THE CANNABIS WAS 14% THC. I SEE
SOMETHING CALLED DABIR WAX 90%
CANNABIS. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE HIS PARENTS AND ADULTS THAT
OUR MESSAGE IS, YOU KNOW,
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND CANNABIS OR
I'LL REALLY SCARY. FAMILES
TERRIFYING, BUT MOST CHILDREN
WILL EXPERIMENT WITH THOSE
THREE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, SIR? IT DOES. THANK
YOU. SO UH, YEAH, I THINK I'M
ALSO OF THAT GENERATION. UH YOU
KNOW THAT THE CANNABIS THAT I
CONSUMED AS A TEENAGER IS NOT
WHAT APPEARS TO BE ON THE MARKET
NOW NOW. BUT. OH, IT'S OUT THERE
. YEAH BUT, UH, I WANT TO. I
WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. CAN I
MAKE ONE MORE POINT ABOUT
CANNABIS? UH HUH. CANNABIS USE
IS THE NUMBER ONE PRECIPITATING
FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PSYCHOSIS IN MALES 18 TO 24
YEARS OLD. OKAY BOOM, BOOM. SO,
UM. GIVEN THAT THAT THE EARLIER
THE USE, UH YOU KNOW MHM.
SUBSTANCES LIKE CANNABIS. YOU'RE
FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY LATER IN
LIFE. UH THAT, UM, IS THERE
EVIDENCE THAT, UH WITH THE
LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS THAT
THAT HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN
OPIATE DRUG ABUSE, INCLUDING
FENTANYL. UM I DON'T HAVE THE
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. AND I
THINK THE ANSWER LIES IN
DIFFERENT STATES AND DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES. IT'S BEEN VERY
UNEVEN ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES WHAT LEGALIZATION AND
MEDICALIZATION OF CANNABIS HAS
DONE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOUNG
PERSON WHO IS PRESCRIBED A PAIN
AND OPIOID MEDICATION, SAFER,
BROKEN ARM OR BROKEN LEG. EIGHT
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO USE HEROIN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR
FENTANYL. BUT I WILL. I WILL
TELL. I'M JUST FULL OF SCARY
STATISTIC, OKAY? YEAH, WELL, I
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I JUST WANTED
TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE RECORD
THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH I
DO ADMIT TO YOU KNOW, UH, USING
CANNABIS AS A TEENAGER, I
OPPOSED THE LEGALIZATION OF
CANNABIS AND IT'S PRECISELY
BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN THAT, UH,
YOU KNOW, THERE THERE IT CAN BE
, YOU KNOW, A GATEWAY DRUG THAT
IT CAN ALSO, AS YOU INDICATED.
SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS,
INCLUDING, UH PSYCHOSIS AND
OTHER EFFECTS THAT CAN
CONTRIBUTE. THERE'S EVIDENCE,
DOCTOR. YOU'RE YOU'RE INDICATING
THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE THERE IS
EVIDENCE THAT THE CONSUMPTION OF
CANNABIS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO, UH,
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. INCLUDING
THE ABUSE OF OPIATES, INCLUDING
FENTANYL. ANY SUBSTANCE. WE HAVE
MORE DEATHS FROM ALCOHOL AND
TOBACCO IN THIS COUNTRY THAN
OPIOIDS AND STIMULANTS. ANALYSTS
TERRIFYING, BUT WE GOT TO GET A
HANDLE ON ALL OF IT. AND ALL
THREE OF THEM ARE LEGAL, FOR
HEAVEN'S SAKES. ALRIGHT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. DR BAINES. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, UM, YOU
KNOW, BACK TO WHAT YOU GUYS WERE
JUST DISCUSSING AMERICA IS
LOSING ITS WAR ON DRUGS. THAT'S
THE REALITY OF WHAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING. I'M ALSO A BOARD
CERTIFIED ADDICTION DOCTOR
CURRENTLY WORKING. I'VE BEEN ON
THE FRONT LINES OF FENTANYL FOR
VERY MANY YEARS. NOT JUST TODAY
WE HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE COME
AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST THIS
PAST YEAR, SO I WAS VERY AH,
DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THE
CAMPAIGN HAS STARTED JUST THIS
YEAR WHEN WE'VE BEEN
EXPERIENCING IT FOR YEARS. SO
CALIFORNIA IS A REAL LACK OF
PREPARATION AND FORESIGHT OF
WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER. I
THINK THAT'S A REALITY THAT WE
CAN ALL AGREE TO, UM AND SECOND
WHILE WE'RE HERE, SITTING UP
TALKING ABOUT FENTANYL AND
OPIOIDS, THERE'S AN EMERGING
BENZODIAZEPINE THAT ARE KILLING
PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, SO AS WE ARE
BUSILY BUSINESS VERY, UH, YOU
KNOW, TRYING TO GET NARCAN INTO
SCHOOLS. WE GOT TO GET READY FOR
WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS
HIGH POTENCY BENZO HITS OUR
SCHOOLS. THAT'S A REALITY. WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO KEEP HAVING
THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS EVERY
SINGLE SIX MONTHS WHEN A NEW
DRUG EMERGES? THE REALITY OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE LOSING
OUR WAR ON DRUGS, AND A BIG
CRITICAL THING IS WHAT WE HEARD
BEFORE THE PANEL BEFORE IS, YOU
KNOW WE'VE SUBMERGED OUR
CULTURE. WITH DRUGS. BUT WHERE
IS THE ACCESS TO TREATMENT? FOR
OUR PEOPLE. YES WE HAVE GIVEN
CHILDREN ACCESS TO A LOT OF HYPO
THC POTENCY THAT'S OUT THE
WINDOW COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS.
WHERE'S THE TREATMENT? HOW DO WE
OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES FOR
EVERYONE TO HAVE DRUGS, BUT WE
DIDN'T OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES
FOR TREATMENT. THIS IS
ABSOLUTELY OUR FAULT. THANK YOU,
DOCTOR BRAINS FOR YOUR WORK IN
ADDICTION, MEDICINE OR
ADDICTION. PSYCHIATRY. UM AND
ALONG THE LINES OF TEENAGERS. I
DIDN'T TALK TO YOU ABOUT
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF
TEENAGERS. BUT TREATMENT FOR A
12 YEAR OLD IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN TREATMENT FOR AN 18 YEAR
OLD 12 YEAR OLDS WORRIED ABOUT
THE CHANGES IN THEIR BODY AND
THESE HORMONES, AND I'M YOU
KNOW, GROWING HAIR IN PLACES I
DIDN'T WANT TO, AND YOU KNOW, AN
18 YEAR OLD IS FACING, UH,
GETTING A JOB GETTING MARRIED,
SO WE HAVE TO TAILOR ADOLESCENT
TREATMENT. CHILDREN ARE NOT
LITTLE ADULTS, SO WE AND WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ADOLESCENT
TREATMENT, AND SO IF I ASK A
PEDIATRICIAN TO DO SCREENING AND
BRIEF INTERVENTION, AND THEY
FIND SOMETHING, WHERE THE HECK
ARE THEY GOING TO SEND THAT KID
FOR TREATMENT? HOW MUCH TIME DO
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
THAT IN THE TWO MINUTES PATIENT?
TIME THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM, THE
OTHER REALITY THAT'S HITTING OUR
STREETS RIGHT NOW IS AND I WAS,
YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING THIS WITH,
UH, WITH CECILIA RIGHT NOW IS
YESTERDAY I WAS TOLD ABOUT THREE
FENTANYL OVERDOSES IN MY
COMMUNITY. NARCAN FAILED TO
RESUSCITATE THESE PEOPLE. SO
WHILE WE ARE AGAIN TRYING TO PUT
SO MUCH MONEY IN AN ARC, AND
THERE ARE NEW EMERGING DRUGS OUT
THERE, THEY'RE CLAIMING THE
LIVES AND NARCAN IS NOT THE
ANSWER. RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A
REALITY THAT WILL PROBABLY HIT
THE PRESS IN A WEEK OR SO. WE'RE
SEEING IT ON THE FRONT LINES
RIGHT NOW. FIRST RESPONDERS ARE
SHOWING UP TO FENTANYL OVERDOSES
, AND NARCAN IS NOT
RESUSCITATING THEM. AND I FEAR
THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE IS
A TRAIT THAT'S BEING LACED INTO
DRUGS RIGHT NOW. THE EARLY ONSET
CARDIAC ARREST THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN OUR ADOLESCENTS.
THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO
SUBSTANCE USE. YOU'RE THE CHAIR.
I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY TO THE
MEMBERS HERE. THE LEGISLATORS
HERE, UM THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STANDS
BY TO WORK WITH ANY LEGISLATOR
WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HELP WITH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN YOUR
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, GETTING
ACCESS TO PREVENTION, HEALTH
EDUCATION AND CERTAINLY ACCESS
TO EMERGENCY RESOURCES. I THINK
THE POINT EVERYONE'S MAKING HERE
AND I THINK THE MEMBER BANTA
MADE IT A FEW MOMENTS AGO. UM
WE'RE ALWAYS BEHIND BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. WE ONLY HAD ABOUT A
THIRD OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
CLINICIANS THAT WE NEEDED TO
HAVE EVERYWHERE IN THIS STATE,
AND WE HAD EVEN FEWER IN THE
RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD CHAIR
WOULD ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT. WE
HAVEN'T HAD THE PERSONNEL AND SO
WE'RE ALWAYS BEHIND, BUT WE DO
HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES ARE
SCHOOLS DO HAVE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES? BUT THEY NEED HELP.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO
BALANCE ALL KINDS OF THINGS. OUR
SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO BALANCE,
UM, LEARNING GAPS THAT GREW
DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE TRYING
TO BALANCE RATES OF DEPRESSION
THAT HAVE HAVE GROWN AND THIS
LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN THEM A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES,
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THOSE DOLLARS.
HAVING SAID THAT, UM AGAIN, OUR
PROMISE AND PLEDGE IS THE SAME.
WE WILL HELP ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT
THAT'S WANTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO GET ACCESS TO EDUCATION
PREVENTION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT RESOURCES, USING THE
DOLLARS THAT YOU ALL HAVE
PROVIDED FOR THEM AND HOW TO GET
CONNECTED TO THESE PROGRAMS AND
HAD TO HAVE LIFE SAVING DRUGS IN
THE EVENT, UM OF AN EMERGENCY
AND THE NEED FOR LIFE SAVING
RESOURCES. ALRIGHT I HAVE FIVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE LINED UP IF I CAN
ASK EVERYBODY TO BE AS BRIEF AS
POSSIBLE, AND ALSO WITH THE
ANSWERS BECAUSE WE HAVE A PANEL
THAT WE JUMPED OVER WHO'S BEEN
WAITING ABOUT THREE HOURS, MS
ORTEGA I WILL BE VERY BRIEF.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU STATE, OUR STATE
SUPERINTENDENT FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING IN OUR OUR SCHOOLS
ACROSS THE STATE. UH AND ALSO
PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING, UH, COMMITTEE, A
COMMUNITY HEARING THAT I HAD ON
FENTANYL IN THE CRISIS WHERE I
HAD OVER 100, PARENTS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, CONSTITUENTS COME OUT
TO LEARN. ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE COMMUNITY OR HOW TO
EDUCATE OTHERS. BUT ONE THING
THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN THAT
HEARING ARE THAT COMMUNITY EVENT
THAT I HELD WAS A COMMENT MADE
BY ONE OF OUR HEALTH OF
OFFICIALS WHO SAID THAT THEY HAD
BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE MORE
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT
THIS CRISIS. AND THEY HAD MAYBE
43 OR FOUR PEOPLE ATTEND THEIR
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. AND SO HOW
DO WE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL
THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.
HOW DO WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS? PARENTS THAT HAVE
ACCESS TO THEM? FORMACION MARK,
YOU KNOW MORE QUICKLY AND MORE
EFFECTIVELY AS WE DEAL WITH THIS
CRISIS TODAY. THANK YOU.
REMEMBER ORTEGA? THANK YOU FOR
HAVING HAD THE EVENT IN YOUR
COMMUNITY ABOUT, UM THE
CHALLENGES AND THE DANGERS THAT
OUR STUDENTS ARE FACING AROUND
FENTANYL. SIMPLY PUT SCHOOLS
HAVE TO GET BETTER AT DOING WHAT
WE CALL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. AND
HOW DO THEY COMMUNICATE WITH
FAMILIES IN A WAY, RIGHT?
FAMILIES ARE BUSY AND ALSO AND
HOW DO WE HAVING FOLKS WHO ARE
FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO KNOW HOW
TO NAVIGATE GETTING TO PARENTS
WHO CAN SPEAK MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
? WHO CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES GET THIS
INFORMATION IS KEY AND AGAIN?
WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH ANY
SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WANTS HELP
AND HOW THEY DO MORE OUTREACH
AND BETTER OUTREACH. IT'S A
CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US. THERE'S
NO SHAME THERE'S NO BLAME, BUT
WE'RE WILLING TO HELP. AND I
KNOW THAT DR MUNCH IS WILLING TO
GO TO ANY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
CAUSE SHE'S LETTING ME KNOW, UM
ANTI SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TALK
ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT AND SUPPORT. I DID
IN BOTH MY KIDS, SCHOOLS 35 AND
40. I STILL HAVE THEIR FRIENDS
COME UP AND SAY YOU TALKED ABOUT
SCIENCE. YOU DIDN'T JUST SAY
THEY KNOW THE DRUGS IT WORKS,
AND I THANK THE MOMS WHO
TESTIFIED TODAY. SO THANK YOU
BOTH FOR BEING HERE. IT'S NICE
TO SEE YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AND
DR MUNCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. UM, I HAD TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE DIRECTED AT SUPERINTENDENT
THURMAN. UM, CAN YOU GIVE US A
SENSE OF HOW MANY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING
IN SORT OF BROAD SCALE EDUCATION
FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES THROUGH
THE SCHOOLS AND WHETHER OR NOT
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO
EXPAND EDUCATION EFFORTS IN THE
SCHOOLS? THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
AND THEN TO DR BUNCH, AND TO YOU
IF YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THIS, UM,
REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF THE
CONVERSATIONS ONE OF THE
COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE EARLIER
WAS THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE
HAVING CONVERSATIONS. THOSE OF
US WHO ARE PARENTS WITH OUR KIDS
OURSELVES ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I
REMEMBER BACK WHEN I WAS GROWING
UP, AND WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, THE
YOU KNOW THE EDUCATION THAT WAS
RECOMMENDED AT SOME POINT WAS
JUST TO SAY TO TELL KIDS TO JUST
SAY NO. UM THAT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
A VERY EFFECTIVE CONVERSATION AT
THE TIME, AND I'M JUST WONDERING
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT ACCOUNT WHAT
EFFECTIVE CONVERSATIONS LOOK
LIKE WITH OUR KIDS. UM, YOU KNOW
WHAT THE WHAT? WHAT THE MESSAGES
SHOULD BE, UM AND WHETHER YOU'VE
YOU KNOW, THOUGHT ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THERE CAN BE SOME MORE
EDUCATION FOR PARENTS ABOUT
BEING EFFECTIVE IN HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SEVEN MEMBERS OF BIRTH. I
WOULD JUST WANNA GO. I'VE BEEN
TOLD TO GO FIRST. SO IF I GET
THE ASSIGNMENT WRONG, DOCTOR
WATCHES GOING TO CORRECT MY
NOTES. UM I THINK THE BEST
COMMUNICATION IS PURE EDUCATION
. TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, WE
HAVE TO HAVE REAL TALK
CONVERSATIONS. IF WE TALK AT
KIDS AND TALK DOWN TO KIDS, AND
JUST TELL THEM DON'T USE DRUGS,
YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE
REALITY IS FOR OUR SCHOOLS. OUR
SCHOOLS HAVE HISTORICALLY FUNDED
. GREAT UM, TOBACCO USE AND
PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE CALL IT
TO PAY. UM BUT THOSE PROGRAMS
ARE SORT OF TIME LIMITED FUNDING
WE NEED, YOU KNOW ITS BUDGET
SEASON. I'LL JUST PUT IT OUT
THERE FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO HELP
MORE THAN 1000 DISTRICTS. WE
NEED MORE STAFF WHO HAVE SPECIAL
SKILL WHO CAN UM, SUPPORT
SCHOOLS THINKING THROUGH THE
ISSUES OF PREVENTION AND
EDUCATION. LET'S BE REAL SCHOOLS
DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE. OUR
SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN HAVE NURSES,
SO WE CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO HAVE
EXPERTISE AND HOW TO TALK ABOUT
ANY, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PREVENTION. NOW, THAT'S NOT TO
SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING IT.
THEY'RE INCREDIBLE COUNSELORS
AND STAFF. IN PURE EDUCATORS AND
PROGRAMS. UM THAT SUPPORTS
SCHOOLS, BUT THEY NEED MORE
RESOURCES. AND WE HAVE THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND HOW THEY
ENGAGE WITH STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES AND DOING PEER
EDUCATION. UM, UM, APPROPRIATE
YOUTH, UM, EDUCATION AROUND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND GETTING
FOLKS IN THE TREATMENT IF THEY
NEED IT. THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. PREVENTION ISN'T VERY
SEXY, BUT IT REALLY WORKS. AND I
THINK, UM, BRINGING A GOOD
PREVENTION PROGRAM INTO WHATEVER
COMMUNITY SETTING NETWORKS.
SOMETIMES SCHOOL DOESN'T WORK
BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T WANT TO GO
THERE. AND TEACHING PARENTS
ABOUT TALKING WITH THEIR
CHILDREN ABOUT ALL SORTS OF
THINGS WORKS. HOW YOU TALK TO A
CHILD DEPENDS ON THEIR
DEVELOPMENT. YOU'RE 12 YEARS
OLD. MAYBE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS
ARE TRYING OUT ON TOBACCO. HOW
ABOUT YOU LISTEN MIDDLES. YOU
TALKED TO A MIDDLE SCHOOLER IN
AN OLDER SCHOOL OR DIFFERENTLY,
BUT OPENING THE COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS WITH PREVENTION BETWEEN
CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS
ACROSS THE BOARD THROUGH
PREVENTION DECREASES, RISKING
BEHAVIORS DECREASES DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIORS INCREASES PARENTAL
ENGAGEMENT. PARENTS FEEL MORE
EFFECTIVE AND THERE ARE LOTS OF
EVIDENCE BASED PREVENTION
PROGRAMS THAT WE SHOULD BE USING
IN CALIFORNIA AND ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. IT'S
GREAT TO SEE OUR SUPERINTENDENT
HERE BACK WITH US IN THE
ASSEMBLY. UM AND I JUST HAD A
QUICK QUESTION FOR DR LUNCH. UM
YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED IT,
REALLY? BUT WITH THE PREVENTION
SIDE, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST
TAKEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE? IS IT
COMMUNICATION OR IS THERE AH,
SOME OTHER TOOL THAT WE COULD
USE. AH, IN PREVENTION. THANK
YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
PREVENTION THAT'S THEORY BASED
AND DRAWS FROM MULTIPLE
DISCIPLINES, DISCIPLINES AND SUB
DISCIPLINES WITH SPECIFIC
COMPONENTS WORKS. PREVENTION
THAT HAS STRONG RESEARCH DESIGNS
. STRONG EVALUATION DESIGNS.
STRONG ASSESSMENT TOOLS. UM AND
THAT DEVELOPED DELIVERS SOME
MAIN INGREDIENTS, AS I SAID
ABOUT COMMUNICATION. AND
PREVENTION HAS TO REMAIN
EFFECTIVE IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES. DIFFERENT
CULTURAL VENUES, UM, DIFFERENT
SOCIOECONOMIC VENUES AND THE
OTHER THING ABOUT PREVENTION.
THAT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL IS YOU
HAVE TO CAPITALIZE AND
PROTECTIVE FACTORS, IN ADDITION
TO RISK FACTORS AND SAY, WOW,
YOU HAVE DINNER WITH YOUR KIDS
EVERY NIGHT. THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
THAT IS ACTUALLY LINKED. THAT IS
A INDICATION OF HOW WELL YOUR
CHILDREN ARE GOING TO DO. WE
HAVE TO PREVENT POOR REGULATION
AND CONDUCT DISORDERS AND
ADDRESS THEM IN KIDS. AND WE
ALSO HAVE TO PREVENT. WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW,
HERE'S THE CHILD. HERE'S THE
FAMILY. HERE'S THE COMMUNITY.
YOU GOT TO DO IT AT ALL
DIFFERENT LEVELS. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
MEDIA CAMPAIGN. SO THAT IS
ACTUALLY THE CONTENTS OF ONE OF
MY SLIDES THAT I DIDN'T GET TO.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT OFTEN
PREVENTION WORKS SEEMS TO ONLY
WORK SHORT TERM, BUT ACTUALLY
THE INTERVENTION EFFECTS LAST
FAR BEYOND THE INTERVENTION AND
ARE CLINICALLY VALID BEYOND
STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE, SO
THEY GET GOTTA GET YOUR
UNIVERSITY WALKS. TO TALK TO
YOUR COMMUNITY, FOLKS. AND GET
THAT DIALOGUE GOING. I HOPE THAT
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, UM I MEAN, NO
DISRESPECT TO THIS PANEL. BUT I
WANT TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME
THAT WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE.
APPARENTLY. WE HAVE. I KNOW
THERE'S A MULTIFACETED PROBLEM
AND IT'S A VERY, VERY POWERFUL
DRIVING DISCUSSION. AND WE'RE
VERY RICH AND DISCUSSION IN THIS
BODY. VERY RICH, BUT WE'RE
STARVING AND EFFECTIVE ACTION.
LET ME JUST REMIND EVERYBODY
HERE THAT, UH WE HAVE MANY. IN
OUR SOCIETY THAT DON'T RESPECT
LIFE. IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT
THE DISTRIBUTORS. NOT JUST THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE FALLING PREY TO
THIS SUBSTANCE, BUT THE
DISTRIBUTORS, FOLKS, WHY AREN'T
WE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DEAL
WITH THEM? IT'S THE NEXT PANEL.
WELL I PREEMPTED. I'VE BEEN HERE
3.5 HOURS. I WAS HOPING WE'D AT
LEAST TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT. AND I
WILL GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TALK
ABOUT THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THAT CONVERSATION. BUT LET ME
TELL YOU MY FRUSTRATION. MY
FRUSTRATION IS VERY SIMPLY WE
REFER TO THE PROBLEM AND HOW WE
DEALT WITH THE NINETIES. DRUG
PROBLEM. WE MISHANDLED THAT.
CLEARLY. AS A CONSERVATIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSON. I WILL TELL
YOU AND ADMIT WE MISHANDLED
THAT. BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT
PROBLEM. THIS IS A POISON A
VERY, VERY TOXIC POISON. AND WE
TALK ABOUT ADDICTION, AND
CERTAINLY THAT IS NOT TO BE
DISMISSED. BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY
PROBLEM. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I
THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS WE
HAVE DISTRIBUTORS THAT DON'T
CARRY ABOUT LIFE. AND IT COMES
DOWN TO THREE WORDS. THREE WORDS
, EVERYONE RISK VERSUS GAIN.
THAT IS NEVER GOING AWAY. THAT
IS A FACT OF LIFE. WE TEACH IT
AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. I
HAVE A SPECIAL ED DEGREE. YOU
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HAVE TO HAVE
AN ADVANCED DEGREE TO UNDERSTAND
RISK VERSUS GAIN DRIVES
BEHAVIOR. AND RIGHT NOW, FOR
SOME REASON, WE ARE AFRAID TO
CONFRONT THAT REALITY AND SHAME
ON US BECAUSE WE BECOME PARTNERS
IN THIS TRAGEDY. WHEN WE DON'T
TAKE ACTION, SO I'M HOPING THAT
THIS BODY AND THIS COLLECTIVE
DISCUSSION PIECE WILL RESULT IN
SOME KIND OF ACTION THAT WILL
ADDRESS THAT RISK VERSUS GAIN.
BECAUSE THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY.
AND IT'S A STARK REALITY. WE
DON'T NEED TO REPEAT WHAT WE DID
IN THE NINETIES BECAUSE THOSE
WERE VICTIMS. THOSE WERE VICTIMS
THAT HAD CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WERE
OUT OF CONTROL. THESE
DISTRIBUTORS DON'T HAVE THAT
PROBLEM, SO WHY DO WE EQUATE IT?
I'M OVER IT, AND I HOPE THAT WE
WILL ACTUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE AND
TAKE SOME AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO ENDURE
THAT. REMEMBER LACKEY. IF I
COULD THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WOULD
SIMPLY SAY THAT ALL OF OUR
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE
APPROACH THIS PROBLEM WE INCLUDE
AND INVITE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
THE TABLE TO BE A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION. EVERYONE HAS A ROLE
TO PLAY, WHILE UM EDUCATION
DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT WAY TO
HANDLE THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE
RAISED AROUND DISTRIBUTION. I
WOULD BE REMISS IF WE LET YOU
THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
PREVENTION WERE NOT ALSO TALKING
ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS
WHO ARE VERY FOCUSED ON WHERE
THE DRUGS ARE ENTERING OUR
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES FROM WE HAVE THOSE
BROAD PARTNERSHIPS. DEEP
COORDINATION. DEEP COLLABORATION
, AND I WOULD JUST GIVE GREAT.
UM SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE
EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS,
INCLUDING SOME SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE
BEEN VERY INTEGRAL TO THIS
PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
ALL. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
OUR PANEL. THANK YOU, MR
SUPERINTENDENT. UH AND DOCTOR
ONCE FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, AS AS I'M SURE WITH
ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUAL PANELS.
WE COULD HAVE HAD AN ENTIRE
HEARING ON THIS AND I'M SURE
WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP AND HOPING
TO WORK WITH YOU AS A SELECT
COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I WANT TO INVITE UP NOW. OUR
LAST PANEL AND TO THANK THEM SO
MUCH FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND, UM
AND FOR JOINING US TODAY, UH MR
WOOLERY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AT THE
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BRENNAN WOODS, THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
MICHAEL MENDOZA, DIRECTOR OF
ADVOCACY OF THE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION. DIANA BECKTON, THE
CONTRA COSTA DISTRICT ATTORNEY
AND NATO. YOUR IDEAS A SERGEANT
IN THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
SECTION. AT THE STOCKTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WELCOME AND AGAIN
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND FOR BEING WITH US
HERE TODAY AND ALSO FOR MY
COLLEAGUES FOR STICKING WITH US
AND FOR SPENDING TIME ON SUCH AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC AGAIN. THIS IS
THE FIRST HEARING, UH AND AS MR
LIKE, HE SAID, WE WILL. WE WILL
NEED TO GO IN MUCH GREATER DEPTH
TO ALL OF THESE THESE TOPICS.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE'S
PARTICIPATION TODAY, SO I WILL
START WITH MR WOOLERY.
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
STEPHEN WOOLERY. I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE DIRECTOR. FOR THE BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION. CHAIRS CO
CHAIRS, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
HOLDING THIS EVENT. AND I'M
GOING TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS
HERE TODAY FOR TAKING THE
DANGERS OF FENTANYL. SERIOUSLY.
CONVERSATIONS LIKE THESE ARE
CRITICAL. JUST SPREADING
AWARENESS. PREVENT PREVENTING
FENTANYL. RELATED DEATHS. I JUST
WANT TO THROW OUT A COUPLE OF
STATISTICS BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE
BEEN HERE ALL DAY, AND WE'VE
HEARD A LOT OF DATA. BUT
SOMETHING THAT REALLY, UH, SITS
WITH ME IS FENTANYL RELATED
DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN. HAVE
INCREASED MORE THAN 30 FOLD.
BETWEEN 2013 AND 2021. SOMETHING
ELSE THAT SITS WITH ME.
ACCORDING TO THE DEA, ACCORDING
TO THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT
ADMINISTRATION, FENTANYL IS THE
SINGLE DEADLIEST DRUG THREAT OUR
NATION HAS EVER ENCOUNTERED.
FENTANYL IS EVERYWHERE. FROM
LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS TO
RURAL AMERICA. NO COMMUNITY IS
SAFE. FROM THIS POISON,
INCLUDING OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. THIS SYNTHETIC
OPIOID CRISIS IS MULTIFACETED.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE. IN ADDRESSING THIS
CRISIS REQUIRES A THOUGHTFUL AND
STRATEGIC APPROACH. THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IS ATTACKING THIS FROM ALL
ANGLES. THROUGH GOING AFTER
OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND
DISTRIBUTORS. BRINGING BACK TO
OUR STATE MONEY FOR PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT. AND THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS. COLLABORATION.
EFFORTS. CALIFORNIA THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. I AM HERE TODAY TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT DOJ IS LAW
ENFORCEMENT. EFFORTS
SPECIFICALLY THE EFFORTS OF THE
NEWLY ESTABLISHED FENTANYL
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. OR FTP. IN
2022, THE LEGISLATURE WORKED
WITH THE GOVERNOR. TO PROVIDE
7.9 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THE
FENTANYL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO
TARGET STATEWIDE. FENTANYL
TRAFFICKING CRIMINAL NETWORKS.
AND ANOTHER 6.7 MILLION. OF
ONGOING FUNDING. DURING THAT
TIME. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO
STAFF TEAMS. DEVELOPED EXPERTISE
AND ACQUIRE THE PROPER TRAINING
AND EQUIPMENT. AND ESTABLISHED
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. WITH OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. WHILE
WE BUILD THESE STATEWIDE TEAMS
ALREADY THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE TO SEIZE MORE THAN 7
MILLION FENTANYL PILLS. OVER
£100,000. FENTANYL POWDER. AND
MADE HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS. BUT
BEYOND SEIZING. SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF FENTANYL. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO TARGETING FENTANYL
SOURCES OF SUPPLY. IN ORDER TO
CUT THE PIPELINES. INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOLS. AND
INTO THE HANDS OF OUR CHILDREN.
DOJ IS HOLDING. FENTANYL
TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE. FTP
PROGRAM CURRENTLY COMPRISES
THREE REGIONAL INVESTIGATIVE
TEAMS LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN,
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN REGIONS OF
CALIFORNIA. WITH INVESTIGATIVE
OPERATIONS STATEWIDE. THROUGH
COLLABORATION WITH LEGACY GIRLS
INVESTIGATION TASK FORCES. THE
FTP WILL TARGET THE WORST. OF
THE WORST FENTANYL TRAFFICKING
CRIMINAL NETWORKS IN THE STATE.
AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
EDUCATION IS HE TO THIS FIGHT?
THIS IS WHY FTP WILL BE
COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY HOLDING
THE TRAFFICKERS RESPONSIBLE, BUT
FOR PEDDLING THIS POISON BUT
ALSO. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
TO PREVENT FENTANYL RELATED
DEATHS FROM OCCURRING. SAVING
THAT PARENT. FROM THE GRIEF OF
LOSING A CHILD. TO A COUNTERFEIT
FENTANYL PILL. THE GOALS OF THE
FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OR
TO INTERRUPT AND PREVENT
FENTANYL TRAFFICKING THROUGH
STUDENT STRATEGIC AND RIGOROUS
ENFORCEMENT. STRENGTHENING
AVAILABILITY OF NARCAN AND OTHER
FDA APPROVED OVERDOSE REVERSAL
DRUGS. AND LASTLY, IMPROVING
TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS
REGARDING APPROPRIATE PRACTICES
AND PRECAUTIONS WHEN DEALING
WITH FENTANYL. AND OTHER
SYNTHETIC. IN CONCLUSION, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE
DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE ARE AND
ALL IN DEPARTMENT. WE ARE ALL IN
ON CURBING THIS CRISIS. RIGOROUS
AND FORCE MINT. AND EDUCATING
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IS KEY TO
SAVING LIVES. THANK YOU FOR
ORGANIZING THIS HEARING, AND I
WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU, MR WOOLERY. AND IT'S GREAT
TO HAVE YOU HERE. MR WOOD'S GOOD
TO SEE YOU. COMING ON NOW.
GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT AND
PROVIDE YOU WITH THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER PRESENTATION ON THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. I'D LIKE TO
START OFF BY SAYING THAT I'VE
BEEN HERE RECENTLY. I'VE BEEN A
COMMUNITY MEETING MEANINGS, AND
I'VE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR
LOVED ONES TO FENTANYL. AND I'M
SORRY FOR THEIR LOSS. I'M SORRY
FOR THE IMPACT THIS HAS HAD IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. I'VE ALSO HEARD
THE IMPASSIONED PLEAS FOR
INCREASED PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE
THAT SELL NARCOTICS TO AS PUBLIC
DEFENDERS. WE REPRESENT PEOPLE
THAT HAVE USED FENTANYL. PEOPLE
THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM
ADDICTION, AND I HAVE SPENT
SIGNIFICANT TIME WITH THOSE
PEOPLE. I'VE REPRESENTED PEOPLE
IN THE THROES OF THEIR
ADDICTION. WILL IT BE FROM CRACK
OR METH OR HEROIN? I'VE HAD A
FAMILY MEMBER. WHO. WHO AFTER
HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY I WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HE SUFFERED
FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND
THAT LED TO HIM SELF MEDICATING
WITH NARCOTICS, AND HE
EVENTUALLY LOST HIS LIFE. AND AT
THE SAME TIME IN MY JOB AS A
PUBLIC DEFENDER. I HAVE
REPRESENTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
HUNDREDS THAT HAVE SOLD
NARCOTICS. WE AS PUBLIC
DEFENDERS HOLD THE PERSPECTIVES
OF BOTH PEOPLE. BOTH INDIVIDUALS
, THE PEOPLE WHO SELL DRUGS AND
THOSE THAT ARE ADDICTED. WE
LISTENED TO BOTH. WE TALKED TO
BOTH. WE SEE THEM BOTH IN THEIR
HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WE
SEE BOTH OF THEM. WHILE THE
INCARCERATED IN OUR JAILS AND
PRISONS. AND WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE
WITH THAT PROXIMITY WE KNOW THAT
VERY LITTLE SEPARATES THE TWO
THEY COME FROM THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE FACING
THE SAME POVERTY, THE SAME
VIOLENCE, THE SAME TRAUMA, THE
SAME DESPAIR. THEY FACE MANY OF
THE SAME UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT
GOT THEM INTO THAT BEHAVIOR. SO
I AM THE CHIEF PUBLIC FROM THE
ALAMEDA COUNTY. I'VE BEEN IN
CHARGE FOR 10 YEARS. I'VE BEEN A
PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR 25 YEARS AND
THE FIRST BLACK CHIEF PUBLIC
EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF ALAMEDA
COUNTY. I AM ONE OF TWO BLACK
CHIEF PUBLIC PRINTED ENTIRE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND I TELL
YOU THAT. WAR ON DRUGS. I'VE
SEEN IT THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS
HAVE HAD ON COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. I'VE SEEN HOW BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THE
HARMS OF THIS CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM AND THAT IS ALWAYS GUIDED
AND MOTIVATED. MY ADVOCACY. I
STARTED MY CAREER AS A
REPUBLICAN IN OAKLAND, OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA IN 19 NINETIES. AT
THE HEIGHT OF THE DRUG WAR OF
SEEN PEOPLE WHO WERE SUFFERING
FROM ADDICTION BE SENT TO PRISON
FOR POSSESSING ONE ROCK OF CRACK
COCAINE. ONE ROCK. I'VE SEEN
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM POVERTY
FROM THE LACK OF JOBS FROM LACK
OF HOUSING. GO OUT AND SELL
NARCOTICS. TO PROVIDE FOR THE
FAMILY. NO IN OAKLAND, ALAMEDA
COUNTY, IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE
FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE SELLING
DRUGS FOR ONE OFFENSE. ONE
OFFENSE HE PUT ON FELONY
PROBATION. THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR
HOUSING. AND SHE HAS THE
FINANCIAL AID. IF THEY WERE
CONVICTED OF A SECOND OFFENSE,
IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO
PRISON FOR 34 OR FIVE YEARS.
THAT WOULD HAPPEN ROUTINELY. AND
THAT DID NOT DETER THE BEHAVIOR.
IT NEVER DID. SO TODAY WE ARE
FACED WITH THE QUESTION NOW THAT
THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE
INTERVENE? HOW DO WE ADDRESS
THIS NEW DRUG? HOW DO WE FIGHT
THIS NEW EPIDEMIC TODAY? THAT'S
PLAGUING OUR COMMUNITIES.
ALAMEDA COUNTY IS DIFFERENT IN
SAN FRANCISCO. IT'S DEFINITELY
CURRENT DIFFERENT SONOMA. BUT NO
MATTER WHAT THE REALITY IS,
WE'RE ALL FACING THE SAME
PROBLEM. WE'RE ALL FACING THE
SAME ADDICTION. WE'RE ALL
DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES, AND I CAN TELL YOU IN MY
25 YEARS AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER,
MY 25 YEAR CAREER. WE KNOW THAT
INCARCERATION IS NOT THE
SOLUTION. WE CANNOT INCARCERATE
OUR WAY OUT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS. IN MY OFFICE. YOU KNOW,
WE DON'T SEE THESE LARGE CASES
OF £100 OF WASTE. DON'T SEE HIM.
OUR CLIENTS THAT WE SEE ARE
OFTEN THE DEALERS THAT ARE ON
THE STREET. THAT'S WHAT WE SEE.
AND THEY ARE ENGAGED IN VERY LOW
LEVEL DRUG ACTIVITY, DRUG SALES
THAT THEY'RE NOT MAKING MASSIVE
QUANTITIES OF MONEY. AND IF
GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN A
QUALITY EDUCATION. STABLE
HOUSING AND A GOOD JOB. WHERE
THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES
IN THE SAME MANNER THAT YOU AND
I COULD THEY WOULD CHOOSE THAT
100 TIMES OVER. 100 TIMES OVER.
WHEN A PERSON THAT SELLS DRUGS
IS INCARCERATED. THE SUPPLY
ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED WHAT WE
NEED TO DO. WE NEED TO DO IS
FOCUS UNDER THE MAN. THIS IS A
DEMAND ISSUE. EXPERIENCE AND
RESEARCH INDICATED INCARCERATED
SELLER WAS SIMPLY REPLACED BY
ANOTHER INCARCERATED SELLER.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT TODAY EARLIER
SPEAKERS. WE HAVE TO TREAT THE
ADDICTION. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE
OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS TO BE AN
UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT. AND WE
HAVE TO BE COURAGEOUS AND WE
HAVE TO BE PATIENT. YOU KNOW,
BACK IN ABOUT 2005. I
REPRESENTED A YOUNG LADY AND SHE
SHE KEPT STEALING, AND SHE HAD A
MULTIPLE AMOUNT OF FRAUD CASE
AND SHE KEPT COMING BACK AND SHE
HAD AN ADDICTION ISSUE. SHE LOST
HER KIDS. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO GET THE D A TO ALLOW HER TO
COMPLETE A TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND SHE TURNED HER LIFE AROUND.
IT WAS A STEP BY STEP BY STEP.
SHE GOT THERE AND SHE GOT HER
KIDS BACK. ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER
I WAS DONE, REPRESENTING HER
ADVANTAGE TO HER IN A RESTAURANT
AND SHE WAS DRESSED. HE HAD LIKE
A NICE SUIT ON AND SHE WAS
DRESSED AND SHE LOOKED GREAT.
AND I MADE IT FOR PA. I MEAN
FOOTBALL. I'M LIKE THIS IS SO
GREAT TO SEE YOU. DO YOU WORK
HERE? AND SHE'S LIKE, NO, MR
WEST. I DON'T WORK HERE. I'M
RUNNING. A BUSINESS LIKE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE WAS LIKE HMM. SO IT
WORKS. OKAY I'M SORRY. IT WORKS.
TREATMENT WORKS, UM I'M GOING TO
WRAP UP HERE, BUT YOU ALL HEARD
THE SOLUTIONS ABOUT CONSIDERING
DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG
POSSESSION, COMBINED WITH
INTENSE FOCUS ON HARM REDUCTION
, TREATMENT, REHABILITATION
POLICIES, NEEDLE EXCHANGE
POLICIES, SAFE INJECTION SITES,
SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITES.
NOW THEY'VE ALL BEEN PROVEN TO
SAVE LIVES AND DRUG TREATMENT
LEADS MANY TO RECOVERY, AND THAT
HAS TO BE OUR FOCUS, AND I HAVE
TO GO BACK TO URGING YOU AS
LAWMAKERS. NOT TO REPEAT THE
MISTAKES OF THE PAST. NOT TO
REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST
. WE CANNOT GO BACK DOWN ON THE
WAR ON DRUGS. THAT FILLED OUT
JAILS AND PRISONS,
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE OF BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE. WE CANNOT DO THAT AGAIN.
THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A FAILURE.
WE STILL HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM. WE
AS PUBLIC DEFENDERS STILL SEE
PEOPLE WHO DO WHAT MY CAREER
PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED OF
COCAINE, MATH, HEROIN AND NOW
FIT NOW WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM,
BUT BUT THE THING IS, I WANT TO
SAY IN MY 25 YEAR CAREER, I
DON'T RECALL. I DON'T RECALL
THIS TYPE OF HEARING BEING DONE.
WHERE WE START SORT OF INPUT. I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS STAIN
TYPE OF RESPONSE. LISTEN TO A
BROAD RANGE OF EXPERTS. OUR
VIEWPOINTS. I DON'T RECALL
SEEING A PUBLIC DEFENDER EVER
INVITED INTO THE SPACE, SO I
THANK YOU, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE
FOR THAT. I ALSO HAVE TO HOPE.
AND IMAGINE TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND
BELIEVE THAT IF THIS SORT OF
INFORMATION WAS GATHERED BACK IN
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES TO WAR
AND DIRECTOR DRASTICALLY
DIFFERENT IF WE. HAD SHOWN LESS
CONTEMPT. AND LESS OF A KNEE
JERK REACTION TO INCARCERATE AND
HAD MORE COMPASSION AND CARE FOR
PEOPLE WHO WERE ADDICTED TO
CRACK COCAINE IN THE NINETIES.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH BETTER WE BE
PREPARED FOR NOW. THIS NEW
EPIDEMIC WE'RE FACING. SO, UM.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO
THIS SPACE I TRULY APPRECIATE
AND I HOPE I CAN ANSWER
QUESTIONS LATER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, UH, GO NOW TO RESPECTING.
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR CONVENING THIS HEARING TODAY
. UM AS WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH
WHAT WE NOW KNOW IS A CRISIS IN
OUR COUNTRY THAT IS AFFECTING
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO
EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. AN APPROACH
THAT DOES PRIORITIZE. I'M
PRIORITIZE HARM REDUCTION. AND
THAT RECOGNIZES ADDICTION AS A
DISEASE AND FOCUSES ON
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
ADDICTION, SUCH AS POVERTY AND
TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
NOW I UNDERSTAND MY ROLE AS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY. UH HUH. AND I
CERTAINLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
ROLE AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. AND WHEN THE FACTS SHOW
THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AS DR
HUMPHRIES REFERRED TO THIS
MORNING AS THOSE UNIQUE MAJOR
PLAYERS WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO
USE THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN
OUR TOOLBOX TO PROSECUTE.
HOWEVER I STRONGLY WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT THE FENTANYL
CRISIS CAN'T BE SOLVED SOLELY BY
PROSECUTION TOOLS. AND I
CERTAINLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
OUR CRISIS CAN'T BE SOLVED BY
THE FIELD WAR ON DRUG POLICIES
OF THE PAST. THERE ARE MANY
REASONS WHY WE SHOULD NOT RELY
ON PUNITIVE MEASURES AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT ALONE TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF DRUG USE AND DRUG
ADDICTION. WE HAVE DECADES OF
EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD WAR ON
DRUGS THAT THOSE TOUGH ON CRIME
DRUG POLICIES DID NOT STOP. DRUG
USE, AND THEY DID NOT SAVE
LIVES. THE PUNITIVE APPROACH
PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON
CRIMINALIZATION AND PUNISHMENT.
AH FOR THOSE WHO ARE USING AN
ADDICTED TO DRUGS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND THAT MIGHT
DETER SOME INDIVIDUALS, BUT IT
DOES LITTLE TO ADDRESS THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT CAUSE
ADDICTION. AND WE ALSO KNOW WE
HAVE LEARNED THAT THOSE PUNITIVE
APPROACHES DID NOT ADDRESS THE
ROOT CAUSES OF ADDICTION. AS I
MENTIONED THE POVERTY, THE
SOCIAL MARGINALIZATION, THE LACK
OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TO
HEALTH CARE. THE REAL
REHABILITATION APPROACH
RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADDRESSING THESE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC FACTORS AND SEEKS TO
CREATE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
THAT WILL FOSTER SELF
SUFFICIENTLY SELF SUFFICIENCY.
EXCUSE ME AND EMPOWERMENT. SO I
ALSO WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THE PUNITIVE APPROACH IF THAT'S
OUR ONLY NARROW FOCUS THAT IT IS
AN APPROACH THAT ALSO REDIRECTS
RESOURCES AWAY FROM TREATMENT
AND FROM PREVENTION EFFORTS, AND
THEY ALSO DRIVE RACIAL
INEQUALITIES IN OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE KNOW THAT OUR
COUNTRY SPENDS AN ESTIMATED $47
BILLION PER YEAR AND FORCING
DRUG PROHIBITION. AND RATHER
THAN SPENDING ALL OF THAT MONEY
, CRIMINALIZING DRUG USE AND
ADDICTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH WILL PRIORITIZE ACCESS
TO TREATMENT AND SUPPORT
SERVICES. AND LET'S FACE IT THE
TOUGH ON CRIME DRUG POLICIES. OF
THE PAST DID PERPETUATE RACIAL
DISPARITIES WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND DESPITE SIMILAR
RATES OF DRUG USE, BLACK PEOPLE
WERE INCARCERATED FOR DRUG
OFFENSES AT A RATE 10 TIMES
HIGHER THAN OTHERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. SO WE'VE HEARD FROM
OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THE
MANY, MANY WAYS THAT WE CAN STOP
PEOPLE FROM DYING BY USING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH WE'VE
HEARD ABOUT PREVENTION SITES
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT EXPANDING
COMMUNITY BASED NOW LACKS NOT
NOT NALOXONE. EXCUSE ME. WE'VE
HEARD ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO
FENTANYL TEST STRIPS AND TO
INCREASING ACCESS TO TREATMENT.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE EMPHASIZING
THAT PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH AS
WE WILL HEAR ALSO REDUCES
RECIDIVISM. PUNISHING
INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTION DOES
LITTLE TO HELP THEM OVERCOME
THEIR ADDICTION AND TO REBUILD
THEIR LIVES, WHEREAS WE CAN USE
A REHABILITATIVE APPROACH, ON
THE OTHER HAND, PROVIDING A
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND
ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND
FINALLY, A PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH RECOGNIZES THE
IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATING WITH
COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. THAT INVOLVES
CREATING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS NOT
ONLY WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS BUT ALSO WITH
LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS CAN HELP US TO
EXPAND ACCESS TO TREATMENT WHILE
ALSO ADDRESSING THOSE ROOT
CAUSES OF ADDICTION. IT IS AN
APPROACH THAT CENTERS ON
COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND
SUPPORT. SO IN SUMMARY THE
PUNITIVE WAR ON DRUGS FAILED TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES
THAT CAUSE ADDICTION AND THAT
DROVE MY MASS INCARCERATION AND
ALSO FAILED TO REDUCE DRUG USE.
SO I SUPPORT THE REHABILITATIVE
APPROACH THAT PRIORITIZES
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION AND
HARM REDUCTION AND TRIES TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
ADDICTION AND ALSO PROVIDES
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
RESPONSES TO THE FENTANYL
CRISIS. I SUPPORT THE APPROACH
THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE HARM
ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE AND
ADDICTION AND TO WORK TOWARDS
CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE AND
JUST SOCIETY THAT SUPPORTS THE
HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF ALL
INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MR MR MENDOZA. THANK YOU,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS MICHAEL
MENDELSON. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
ADVOCACY WITH THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION. AND WE'RE
GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPY ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION IS A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA THIS
YEAR WILL BE OUR 10TH YEAR
ANNIVERSARY SINCE WE OFFICIALLY
BEGAN. SUPPORTING CURRENTLY AND
FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE TO
THRIVE BY PROVIDING A SUPPORTIVE
NETWORK, COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY
SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS WORK TOWARDS
MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFE, HEALTHY
AND WHOLE. THERE'S NO QUESTION
THAT THIS CRISIS IS A SALIENT
ISSUE WE MUST FACE BY LEARNING
FROM OUR PAST. AND RESPONDING
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
PERSPECTIVE. COMMUNITIES DEPEND
ON IT. SUBSTANCE USE IS AN ISSUE
THAT A R C ARE MEMBERS AND
SYSTEM IMPACTED PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE. CARE DEEPLY ABOUT. WE
HAVE LOST MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
UNDERSTAND THAT IS IT IS AN
INCALCULABLE AND OFTEN
PREVENTABLE LOSS. OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN
RAVAGED BY THE OVER
INCARCERATION. FROM THE FIELD
WAR ON DRUGS AT THE LEGISLATURE
HAS WAGED IN RESPONSE. OVER 70%
OF OUR MEMBERS ARE PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY
EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED
THROUGHOUT THE LAST SEVERAL
DECADES ARE STATES FAILED
ATTEMPTS TO GET THIS RIGHT. MANY
OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE SERVED YEARS
IF NOT DECADES IN PRISON FOR
DRUG RELATED OFFENSES FROM THE
FAILED WAR ON DRUGS OR EXTREME
SENTENCING PRACTICES. OUR STAFF.
AND MEMBERS ALIKE CONTINUE TO
SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR
CONVICTIONS THAT STILL HAUNTS US
TO THIS DAY DUE TO BARRIERS AND
HARMFUL STEREOTYPES. I WON'T
MENTION IN TERMS OF HOW RECENT
HISTORY HAS TITLES AND
INCARCERATION, INCARCERATING
MORE PEOPLE FOR LONGER PERIODS
OF TIME DOES NOT STAND PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS. WE'VE TALKED A
LOT ABOUT THIS IN THE COMMITTEE.
UM BUT I'LL GO ON TO SAY THAT
MANY PEOPLE WHO SELL DRUGS ON
THE STREET ARE THEMSELVES DRUG
USERS IN THE SAME COMMUNITY AS A
VICTIM OF DRUG OVERDOSES. A
BUREAU OF JUSTICE REPORT FOUND
THAT 70% OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED
FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND STATE
PRISONS USED DRUGS PRIOR TO
THEIR OFFENSE. FURTHER
CRIMINALIZING INCARCERATING
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLEGEDLY SELL
DRUGS WILL NOT HAVE THE IMPACT
OF DISRUPTING SUPPLY CHAINS
INSTEAD. THE PREDICTABLE OUTCOME
OF INCREASING PROSECUTION OF
STREET LEVEL SUPPLIERS WILL BE
TO CRIMINALIZE THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
OVERDOSED AND DISSUADE PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER FROM COMING FORWARD. TO
SEEK HELP. ENFORCEMENT. FIRST
STRATEGIES ARE FEELING THE
OVERDOSE CRISIS BY PUSHING
PEOPLE INTO RISKY SITUATIONS ARE
UNSAFE. NICE LADY. WE MUST ALL
STRIVE TO WORK TOGETHER. WE MUST
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN CENTER
PEOPLE'S LIVED EXPERIENCE.
LAWMAKERS CAN MAKE BETTER
DECISIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS BASED
ON LIVE EXPERTISE. THAT IS WHY
WE ARE HERE. TO FIND WAYS TO
WORK TOGETHER AND SHIFT OUR
RESPONSE FROM A PUNITIVE,
CORRECTIONS BASED MODEL TO ONE
BASED ON HEALTH, HEALING AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH. WHILE
STILL HOLDING PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE. OUR PRIORITIES HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN GUIDED BY LISTENING
TO THE NEEDS OF FORMERLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE AS WE
PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES FOR
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WORKFORCE
OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. TODAY WE ARE VERY
PROUD TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR
COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY
PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
INFORMALLY IN CRISIS ACROSS THE
STATE. AMONGST OUR MEMBERS IN
CALIFORNIA ARE RECIDIVISM RATES
ARE DRAMATICALLY LOWER COMPARED
TO CALIFORNIA'S 66. BECAUSE OF
THE OPPORTUNITIES WE PROVIDE TO
OUR COMMUNITY. UPON REENTRY. AND
EVEN PRIOR TO REENTRY. OUR
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR
MEMBERS HAVE ESTABLISHED A
CONTINUUM OF CARE FROM
INCARCERATION TO RE ENTRY BASED
ON HOPE FOR REDEMPTION. FROM
WITHIN THE PRISON WALLS STORE
OFFICES IN LOS ANGELES AND
SACRAMENTO. OUR STAFF AND ALLIES
ALIKE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR
COMMUNITY TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL
REENTRY. THAT IS WHY WE FIRMLY
BELIEVE IN THE HEALTH BASED
APPROACH AS A COMMUNITY OF
SECOND CHANCES COMMITTED TO
PUBLIC SAFETY. LASTLY I'LL JUST
SAY WE TALK ABOUT PROTECTING
KIDS. I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS.
ADDICTED TO DRUGS THAT ARE EARLY
AGE 13 14 GOT INVOLVED WITH
GANGS. AND I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT
LIFE AT THAT POINT, AND THE
REASON I DID NOT CARE ABOUT LIFE
AT THAT POINT WAS BECAUSE THE
WORLD SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY
DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY LIFE. AT
THAT POINT. GROWING UP IN
POVERTY AROUND DRUGS. A PERSON
OF COLOR, ALWAYS HARASSED AND
WANTING TO TAKE PICTURES OF ME
UNDERAGE. AND THAT DEFINITELY
PUSHED ME AWAY FROM ASKING FOR
HELP. LIKE IT DOES MANY OF OUR
YOUTH WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN
AND OVER POLICED AND UNDER
RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. WHAT WE
REALLY NEED TO DO IS BUILD
TRUST. BUILD TRUST WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
REACH OUT FOR HELP. NOT JUST SAY
NO TO DRUGS, BUT TO SAY YES. TO
HELP AND SO WE HAD THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION ARE HERE.
AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU TO REACH
THESE SOLUTIONS AND THE WAY WE
CAN THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SERGEANT. YOUR EYES. GOOD
AFTERNOON MEMBERS. CHARTING AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS STARTING TO
RISE. WORK WITH STOCKTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
STARTING POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR
ABOUT 15 YEARS. MY CURRENT
ASSIGNMENT IS, UM, A SUPERVISOR
WITH THE SALMON KING COUNTY
NARCOTICS TASK FORCE METRO FOR
SHORT. THAT UNIT IS GOING TO
COMPROMISE OF ONE CAPTAIN, ONE
LIEUTENANT WHO HANDLED
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. TWO
SERGEANTS TO INCLUDE MYSELF WHO
OVERSEE OPERATIONS. SEVEN
DEPUTIES FROM THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE TO STOCKTON, POLICE
DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, ONE
PROBATION OFFICER AND SEVERAL
FEDERAL AGENCIES. OUR DUTIES IN
THE COUNTY ARE TO INVESTIGATE.
MODERATE TO HIGH LEVEL.
NARCOTICS CASES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY. ALSO WE HELP OTHER
AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY NARCOTICS
TASK FORCES OR DETECTIVES THAT
CAN HANDLE NARCOTICS CASES. PART
OF PROMOTING DETECTIVE. I ALSO
WAS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH METRO,
UM, FOR SEVEN YEARS. DURING MY
TENURE THERE TOWARDS THE END OF
IT IS WHEN FITTING ALL FIRST
STARTED BECOMING PREVALENT. I
PROMOTED OFF METRO AND I WAS
ABLE TO COME BACK. DECEMBER
2022. SO I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE
FOR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS. AS SOON
AS I BECAME THE SUPERVISOR
THERE. I WAS MADE AWARE OF ONE
DETECTIVE. WHO WITHIN A SIX
MONTH PERIOD WAS ABLE TO SEE IS
900,000. FENTANYL PILLS. JUST
ONE DETECTIVE ALONE. UM THAT I
DIDN'T EVEN LOOK INTO THE OTHER
DETECTIVES. THIS WAS JUST THIS
ONE DETECTIVE WHO WANTED TO GET
TO 1 MILLION BY THE END OF THE
YEAR. AND IF MEMORY SERVES ME
CORRECTLY, VÀ STATS. IT'S
ESTIMATED 42% OF. THESE PILLS
CONTAIN A POTENTIALLY LETHAL
DOSE OF ALL OF THEM. SO WITH
THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S
POTENTIALLY 378,000 HILLS THAT
HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE LETHAL
TO ANYBODY WHO CONSUME THEM. AND
AGAIN THAT IS JUST ONE
DETECTIVE. SO FOR THIS YEAR SO
FAR JANUARY 2023 FOR THAT MONTH.
WE HAD 36,000 FENTANYL PILLS
THAT WE SEIZED THE YEAR PRIOR
WAS ONLY 1000. FEBRUARY WE
SEIZED 1501 100,500 PILLS.
YOU'RE PART OF 51,000. MARCH DUE
TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES AND
OTHER INVESTIGATION DUTIES. WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS ANY OF
ANY OF FENTANYL OR OTHER
NARCOTICS. UM INVESTIGATIONS
APRIL 16,500 PILLS. YOUR PRIOR
3950 PILLS. THE REASON I BELIEVE
FENNEL IS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY
TO THE YOUTH RIGHT NOW IS AS HE
STATED EARLIER. PEOPLE LIKE TO
OR TEENAGERS LIKE TO EXPERIMENT.
THESE PILLS ARE NOT THAT
EXPENSIVE TO GET A HOLD OF
RIGHT? HILLS RANGING ANYWHERE
BETWEEN 3 TO $8 A PILL. WITH
THAT BEING SAID, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S IN THESE PILLS. PILLS ARE
MADE TO LOOK LIKE REAL OXYCODONE
PILLS. REAL UM ADDERALL PILLS,
REAL XANAX PILLS AND BECAUSE 3
TO $8 A PILL SO THAT'S NOT MUCH
MONEY FOR SOMEBODY IN HIGH
SCHOOL THAT $3 TO SPARE FROM
LUNCH SO THEY COULD EASILY GET
THAT IN AS A SAYING ONE PILL CAN
KILL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO BE IN OR WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO GET. I DON'T I DON'T
BELIEVE ANYBODY THINKS THAT FAR
AHEAD. THAT THE PILL THEY TAKE
OR THE WHOEVER THEY BOUGHT IT
FROM ITS GONNA. THEY'RE GONNA BE
THE ONE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. I
THINK THAT'S BEYOND THEIR
THOUGHT. IT'S NOT. IT'S MORE SO
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN TO ME ARE
OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF
STOCKMAN? AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE
CITY OF STOCKTON DOES NOT HAVE A
NARCOTICS UNIT. LACK OF STAFFING
, BUT THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CALLING
US ALL HOURS OF THE DAY WHEN I
SAY US. I MEAN METRO, UM, TO
ASSIST THEM WHEN THEY FIND
UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES BECAUSE WE
ALL KNOW THE DANGER OF FENTANYL
. YOU GET EXPOSED TO IT WITHIN
MINUTES. YOU COULD BE OUT OF IT.
UM LUCKILY WITH METRO WE HAVE WE
HAVE FUNDS AND OTHER THINGS THAT
ALLOW US TO ASSIST THEM. WE HAVE
EQUIPMENT CALLED TRUE NARC. SO
NOW INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TEST IT
IS UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES WHERE THEY
COULD GET OUT OUT OF THEIR
SEALED BAGS. WE COULD, UM JUST
GUESS CHINA LASER AT IT, AND
IT'LL IT'LL READ TO US WHAT IT
IS. UM THE GUYS I WORK WITH. AND
FOR ME, UM, WE ARE THE HARDEST
WORKING GUYS THAT I KNOW. UM WE
ARE THE FRONT LINES OF THIS AND
OFTEN TIMES WE ARE BEHIND THE
LINES AS WELL. SPEND COUNTLESS
HOURS MISSED BIRTHDAYS. HOLIDAYS
GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT WHEN WE GET THE PHONE CALL
THAT SOMETHING IS NEEDED BECAUSE
THERE IS AN OVERDOSE OR THERE IS
A MASSIVE SEIZURE THAT HAPPENED
THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN HANDLE. SO
WE GO OUT THERE TO HANDLE IT. WE
WILL NOT STOP WORKING. FOR WHAT
WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT. WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK. WE
COULD. WE COULD TAKE OFF THE
SUPPLIERS. WE COULD TAKE OFF
WHATEVER IT IS. BUT WHEN THERE'S
WORK TO BE DONE, WE WILL BE
THERE TO DO THE WORK. HANDS
DOWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU DO TO KEEP RESIDENTS
SAFE, UH, OPEN IT UP NOW TO, UH
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS UM MR
JONES, SAWYER, AND THEN I'LL GO
TO MR MURATSUCHI. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU. UM THERE'S BEEN A
PRESSING QUESTION THAT WE GET IN
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ALL THE
TIME. AND I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH
OF YOU HEAR THAT. PROBABLY COULD
ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YOU HEARD
A COLLEAGUE OF MINE TALK ABOUT
THAT THERE'S EXISTING RULES
REGULATIONS PENALTIES ON THE
BOOKS RIGHT NOW. FOR PEOPLE WHO
PEDDLE AND FENTANYL. BUT WE ALSO
HEAR THAT THAT THESE DEALERS OR
THESE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS, GET
AWAY, SOMETIMES WITH MURDER. IN
YOUR CAPACITY AND WHAT YOU DO.
DO YOU FIND THAT? THAT IS THE
CASE THAT YOU FIND THAT SOMEBODY
HAS POISONED SOMEONE? OR GIVEN
SOMEONE FENTANYL, EVEN THOUGH
THEY MAY SURVIVE. AND THEN Dð
ENFORCEMENT ACTUALLY GO AFTER
THEM OR DO THEY LET THEM GO OR
DO WHEN YOU BRING THEM TO THE D
A S OFFICE. DO THEY LET THEM GO
OR DO WHEN THEY GET TO THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM. DO THEY GET OFF
? BECAUSE I GET THE IMPRESSION
FROM SOME FOLKS WHEN THEY TALK
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT
THEY'RE NOT BEING PROSECUTED AT
ALL. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S
THE CASE AND I'M LOOKING AT THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER RIGHT NOW, AND
HE'S GIVING ME THIS LOOK AS IF
THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE,
BUT FOR THE RECORD. AND
HOPEFULLY ONCE AND FOR ALL. AS
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE D A S
OFFICE. AND YOUR SYSTEM ARE ARE
YOU ARE YOU ABLE TO DO YOUR JOB?
AND IF THERE ARE CRACKS IN IT,
WHICH I'M REALLY INTENTION IT IN
. IF THERE ARE LOOPHOLES WHERE
PEOPLE CAN GET AWAY WITHOUT
BEING PROSECUTED. UM WE
DEFINITELY NEED TO KNOW THAT AS
A LEGISLATURE SENATE, THE
GOVERNOR UM, ESPECIALLY PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE, SO WE CAN
CORRECT THOSE LOOPHOLES WHERE
PEOPLE MAY BE SLIPPING THROUGH
WHO ARE IN FACT CRIMINALS AND
ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT. SO
ANYONE, ALL OF YOU. I WILL JUMP
IN VERY QUICKLY AT THE BEGINNING
. I DON'T PROSECUTE CASES MY JOB
. YOU DO DEFEND THEM, DEFEND
THEM. AND SO YOU COULD ASK 100
AND 10 LORRIES IN MY OFFICE. ARE
WE SHORT ON CASES? NO ARE PEOPLE
BEING PROSECUTED ABSOLUTELY
ALREADY BEING PROSECUTED FOR
POSSESSION FOR SALE? YES, THAT'S
BEING PROSECUTED FOR SALE. YES
THAT DOES HAPPEN. I'M NOT SURE.
UM EXACTLY WHERE THAT FALSEHOOD
IS COMING FROM. I CANNOT SPEAK
WITH REGARDS TO WHAT CASES COME
TO THE D A S OFFICE. WHAT CASES
THEY CHOOSE TO PROSECUTE A CASE
THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO PROSECUTE.
THAT WOULD BE FOR THE
PROSECUTORS TO DECIDE THAT I
CANNOT SPEAK WITH REGARDS TO
WHAT CASES PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED
ON WHAT CASES POLICE OFFICERS
CHOOSE NOT TO BRING FORWARD.
THAT IS NOT WHAT IN MY PURVIEW.
BUT DO I SEE CASES BEING
CHARGED? ABSOLUTELY DO I HAVE
COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE
CASES BEING CHARGED? ABSOLUTELY
SO IT IS HAPPENING. UM IS IT
HAPPENING? MAYBE AT THE RATE IT
WAS IN THE NINETIES. THANKFULLY
NO, UM WE ARE NOT. THERE WERE
WHEN I STARTED TO THINK. KEEP
DATING MYSELF. I SHOULDN'T DO
THAT AND PUBLIC MEETING. BUT IN
THE NINETIES WHERE GRACKO KING
WAS PREVALENT OPEN AND YOU IT
WAS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, IT'S ALL YOU EVER
DID. IT FELT LIKE IT. WE'RE NOT
AT THAT LEVEL. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. AND SO I THINK ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT, UM I THINK IT'S
ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE,
ESPECIALLY FROM THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IS THAT
BEFORE WE GET A CASE FOR
PROSECUTION, THERE HAS TO BE
SOMEONE APPREHENDED FOR THE
BEHAVIOR. UM AND VERY OFTEN WE
SEE THAT THERE MIGHT BE
SOMETHING TRAGIC THAT HAPPENS IN
OUR COMMUNITY. BUT THERE'S NOT
ANYONE THAT'S APPREHENDED AND
BROUGHT INTO OUR OFFICE FOR
PROSECUTION. BUT IF YOUR
QUESTION IS WHETHER CASES ARE
BROUGHT INTO OUR OFF OUR OFFICE
FOR PROSECUTION FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE SELLING DRUGS FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE THE SUPPLIERS WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY. ARE THOSE CASES
PROSECUTED. YES THEY ARE. AND IF
YOUR QUESTION IS WHETHER WE HAVE
LOTS OF TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX TO
BE ABLE TO PROSECUTE THOSE
CASES. I WOULD SAY YES, WE DO.
SO WHEN THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN
THE BEHAVIOR AND HARM TO FOLKS
IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THE
TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX TO
PROSECUTE THOSE CASES. AND AS
PROSECUTOR, WE TAKE THAT UPPER
THAT OBLIGATIONS SERIOUSLY, AND
WE DO PROSECUTE CASES THAT ARE
BROUGHT INTO OUR OFFICE. SO DO
YOU FEEL THAT THOSE WHO ARE
CAPTURED OR HELD ACCOUNTABLE
THEM. YES. THANK YOU. AND THEN
MY SECOND QUESTION, UM. BECAUSE
WE'RE REALLY OPEN IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE TO GETTING DATA
EVIDENCE BASED DATA AND WE'RE
HEARING A LOT ABOUT UM
PENALTIES. ARE EFFECTIVE. AND DO
YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE ANY DATA
IN THE EMPIRICAL DATA THAT SHOWS
THAT IT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE? AND
IT'S BEEN PROVEN TO WORK. THAT
YOU CAN BRING TO NOT ONLY THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE BUT TO
THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT WE CAN
SEE THAT EVIDENCE THAT IT
ACTUALLY WORKED, AND IT'S NOT
JUST RHETORIC. UH OH. I'M
GETTING GETTING THAT LOOK AGAIN.
NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY
THAT. I THINK THAT THAT AS WE
APPROACH THE, UM, WE WE'VE HAD A
LOT OF INFORMATION TODAY THAT
GIVES US SOME VERY DIFFERENT AND
UNIQUE APPROACHES APPROACHES
THAT WE CAN USE AS WE ALL LOOK
FOR WAYS TO COMBAT THE FENTANYL
CRISIS. AND I THINK THAT AS PART
OF THAT APPROACH AS WE ARE
FUNDING, UM, TREATMENT, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND AS WE ARE FUNDING
UM MORE AVAILABILITY TO
PREVENTIVE MEASURES. WE ALSO
HAVE TO BE FUNDING THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLECT THE
DATA AND TO BE ABLE TO REPORT ON
WHAT THE OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN. SO,
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT
TODAY, UH, TALKED ABOUT USING A
CARROT AND STICK APPROACH FOR
SOME OF THEIR LOW LEVEL STREET
DEALERS. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO
USE THAT KIND OF APPROACH, WE
NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE BEING
SUCCESSFUL, SO WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS WE'RE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT AND
FOR HARM, REDUCTION AND FOR
PREVENTION THAT WERE ALSO
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS,
FOR ALL THOSE OF US IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO TRACK
THE SUCCESS OF THOSE EFFORTS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. MURATSUCHI
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM SO I
THINK I'M THE ONLY PROBABLY THE
ONLY LEGISLATOR. UH THAT HAS
SERVED BOTH AS A PROSECUTOR AND
AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN LOS
ANGELES COUNTY. UM AND, UM YOU
KNOW, MY. I MEAN, I AGREE WITH
MUCH OF WHAT BOTH MISS BECKTON
AND, UH, MR WOODS. UH, INDICATED
ABOUT YOU KNOW THE MOST
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS
UM. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE LOW
LEVEL OFFENDERS, BUT WHAT I AM
FRUSTRATED WITH AND I THINK A
GROWING NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES
IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE
FRUSTRATED WITH IS THAT WE'RE
NOT CRACKING DOWN ON WHAT AH! DR
HUMPHRIES TALKED EARLIER ABOUT
THE HIGH LEVEL OFFENDERS. YOU
KNOW THOSE THAT ARE PUMPING THIS
POISON INTO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
KILLING KIDS. AS MR WOOLERY
TALKED ABOUT. I MEAN, THIS IS
POISON THAT'S KILLING OUR KIDS.
YOU'VE DEATHS 30 TIMES INCREASE
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE MOST
DANGEROUS DRUG CRISIS EVER. AND
SO YOU KNOW, I I'M A DEMOCRAT.
YOU KNOW, I I'M ALL FOR
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES AND
ANTI POVERTY PROGRAMS AND DRUG
TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT. BUT WE ARE DEALING
WITH THE CRISIS WHERE YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T STOP. YOU KNOW MANY OF
THESE CARTELS THESE
INTERNATIONAL DRUG RINGS THAT
ARE PUMPING THIS POISON IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND YOU KNOW, AND
SO WE'RE LEFT WITH SERGEANT
MARIAH'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
MISSING BIRTHDAY PARTIES WAKING
UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
WHILE THIS POISON IS CONTINUE TO
BE PUMPED INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO YOU KNOW? I I'M JUST I'M
JUST ASKING, UH, YOU KNOW, MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
UH, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME
BALANCE. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME
BALANCE IN TERMS OF YES, WE NEED
TO DOUBLE DOWN TRIPLE DOWN ON
THE NARCAN ON THE PUBLIC
EDUCATION ON THE DRUG DRUG
ADDICTION TREATMENT. THE SAME
TIME WE NEED TO WE NEED TO, YOU
KNOW. BEEF UP WE NEED WE NEED TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF GOING AFTER
THE CRIMINALS THAT ARE PUMPING
THIS POISON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WHERE THAT
LINE IS DRAWN BETWEEN THE HIGH
LEVEL AND THE LOW LEVEL
OFFENDERS. I HOPE THAT AT THE
VERY LEAST THIS HEARING WE'VE
ESTABLISHED, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
EVEN WITH YOU KNOW, I, WITH ALL
DUE RESPECT, MR CHAIR, YOU KNOW
, UH, THERE ARE MOMENTS WELL AS
QUESTIONING THE BALANCE OF THE
PANELS BEING PRESENTED, UH TODAY
. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THE
VERY LEAST, I HOPE WE HAVE A
CONSENSUS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW,
WHILE WE DO NOT WANT TO REPEAT
THE WAR ON DRUGS OF THE 19
NINETIES, I WAS A PUBLIC
DEFENDER AND A D A IN THE 19
NINETIES. AND SO I REMEMBER
THOSE THOSE BAD OLD DAYS. BUT
BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT WE HAVE A
CONSENSUS THAT WE NEED TO, UH,
YOU KNOW. BEEF UP OUR EFFORTS ON
GOING AFTER THE HIGH LEVEL
OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, WE DEFINE
THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I HOPE UH,
YOU KNOW, UH, MY COLLEAGUE FROM
SOUTH LA WE'LL WE'LL, UH, YOU
KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POINT
THAT WE NEED TO DEFINE SOMEHOW.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GO AFTER THE
HIGH LEVEL OFFENDERS AND
ESPECIALLY, I MEAN YOU KNOW,
GOING BACK TO WHAT DOC DOCTOR?
HUMPHRIES ALSO SAID EARLIER.
THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THAT.
DRUG SEIZURES ARE INEFFECTIVE.
DRUG SEIZURES OR AN INEFFECTIVE
STRATEGY QUESTION. I'M I'M I'M
GETTING TO IT, MR. CHAIR. UM THE
DRUG SEIZURES ARE INEFFECTIVE
BECAUSE THEY CAN JUST MAKE MORE
FENTANYL. AND SO. YOU KNOW,
WHILE MR WOOLERY AND MR AND
SERGEANT ARRAYS ARRIUS. WE'RE
WORKING HARD TO TRY TO STOP THIS
. YOU KNOW, I GUESS MY QUESTION
IN THE FORM OF A STATEMENT IS
THAT WE ARE NOT. I JUST FEEL
LIKE WE'RE NOT GIVING THE TOOLS
TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE
ABLE TO SERIOUSLY MAKE A DENT
AGAINST THIS POISONOUS, JUST
OVERWHELMING OUR KIDS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO I
WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY ASK MISS
BECKTON. UM YOU KNOW, I'VE I'VE
HEARD SINCE WE'RE ALL IN
AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE
MORE EFFECTIVE DRUG TREATMENT
PROGRAMS. I'VE HEARD THAT
BECAUSE OF THE ELIMINATION
BECAUSE OF PROPOSITION. I
BELIEVE IT WAS 57 THAT THAT
EITHER 47-57 THAT THAT THAT
DROPPED THE PENALTIES FOR DRUG
OFFENSES THAT THE DRUG COURTS.
HAVE BECOME LARGELY INEFFECTIVE
. REMEMBER AS AS A PUBLIC
DEFENDER, I WOULD ADVISE MY
CLIENT JUST TAKE THE TIME. YOU
KNOW THEY DON'T SET THEM UP FOR,
UH, YOU KNOW, FALLING OFF A
DIVERSION OR FALLING OFF OF
PROBATION, OR, YOU KNOW, UM MS
BECKTON, DO YOU? DO YOU FEEL
THAT THE LOWERING OF CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR DRUG OFFENSES HAS
UNDERMINED THE DRUG ADDICTION
TREATMENT PROGRAMS OFFERED
THROUGH DRUG COURTS. I THINK
WHAT HAS UNDERMINED THE
TREATMENT THAT WAS OFFERED
THROUGH DRUG COURT IS THE LACK
OF FUNDING. AND SO IT THERE WAS
A TIME WHEN WE HAD THOSE TOOLS
AVAILABLE TO US. AND NOT ONLY AM
I SITTING HERE TODAY AS A
PROSECUTOR DURING THE SAME TIME
THAT YOU WERE, UM, SITTING
EITHER, AS A PROSECUTOR AND
DEFENSE ATTORNEY, I HAVE 22
YEARS AS A JUDGE AS WELL. AND I
CAN TELL YOU THAT DURING THAT
TIME WE DID HAVE MANY CASES THAT
CAME BEFORE US WHERE WE LOCKED
UP PEOPLE. SOME WHO WERE USERS
AND SOME HUGH WERE DEALERS, BUT
WE ALSO HAD SOMETHING CALLED
DRUG COURTS WHERE WE COULD SEND
PEOPLE OVER AND THERE WERE
OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT. AND
SPEAKING FOR CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY. WE NO LONGER HAVE DRUG
COURTS. WE DON'T HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SEND PEOPLE
SPECIFICALLY TO A COURT THAT
DEALS WITH TREATMENT. AND I ALSO
WANTED TO SPEAK AS WELL TO THE
LARGER ISSUE THAT YOU YOU
MENTIONED BECAUSE I DO THINK
THAT, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT ON THAT AS PART OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THERE ARE EFFORTS
UNDERWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PARTNERING WITH EACH OTHER
TO SHARE INFORMATION AND JUST
LIKE WE HAVE APPROACHED OTHER
INSTANCES OF CRISIS IS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. WE DO PARTNER WITH
OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR
BONTA. WE DO PARTNER WITH OUR
FEDERAL ORAL PARTNERS AT THE U.
S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND
OTHER AGENCIES AS WE COME
TOGETHER TO SHARE RESOURCES TO
SHARE DATA TO SHARE APPROACHES.
WE HAVE A TASK FORCE IN CONTRA
CASTAIC COUNTY THAT I CO LEAD
THE FBI SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE
, AND WE ALSO CONCENTRATE ON
THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT
BE THOSE MAJOR DEALERS OR THOSE
MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE IN
SUPPLYING FENTANYL, AND SO IT IS
NOT AS IF WE ARE HERE SPEAKING
ABOUT IT EITHER OR APPROACH.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPROACH
THAT COMBINES EFFECTIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT. ALONG WITH
TREATMENT AND GETTING TO THE
ROOT CAUSE OF THE ADDICTION.
THANK YOU, MR SHERIFF. IF I MAY
, UM, I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP BY
ASKING YOU EITHER, MR WOOLERY OR
SERGEANT OR IDEAS. WHAT IS YOUR
RESPONSE TO THE EARLIER
TESTIMONY THAT, UH DRUG SEIZURES
OR INEFFECTIVE IN FINDING
FENTANYL, BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THE
EASY WAY IN WHICH IT CAN BE
MANUFACTURED. SO THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION. SO, UH, YOU KNOW?
THE SEIZURES SAVE LIVES. I MEAN,
WE'VE HEARD TESTIMONY ALL DAY IN
TERMS OF THE LETHALITY OF JUST
ONE PILL, MAYBE MAYBE EVEN A
PORTION OF APPEAL IS LETHAL.
WHEN FOR DLJ, WE'VE SEEN 7
MILLION PILLS IN ONE YEAR. AND
WE HAVEN'T EVEN STOOD UP THE
FENTANYL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
FULLY. I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU
THAT'S THAT'S A LOT OF LIVES
THAT ARE SAVED. SO UM, I THINK
DR HUMPHRIES COMMENT HAS TO DO
AGAIN WITH AND HE MENTIONED THIS
A COUPLE OF TIMES GOING AFTER
THE YOU KNOW THE WHAT WE FOR
LACK OF A BETTER WORD SHOT
CALLER OR GOING AFTER THE
COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THESE,
THESE ORGANIZED CRIME ELEMENTS
WERE DOING THAT. HE DESCRIBED
IT. VERY SENSATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL. UH YOU KNOW, UH,
FINALLY FUNNELING OF MONEY INTO
YOU KNOW AREAS OF DENIAL FOR THE
U. S GOVERNMENT. THAT IS
HAPPENING. BUT FOR CALIFORNIA,
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT FROM THE
SAN DIEGO COUNTY IMPERIAL COUNTY
, THOSE SUPPORTS OF ENTRY ALL
THE WAY TO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS
OF THE STATE. UH THAT SUPPLY
CHAIN IS BEING ATTACKED BY THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BY ALLIED TASK FORCES BY FEDERAL
AGENCIES. UM THE THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING
LOOKED AFTER, YOU KNOW, AND
THANK YOU FOR THE APPROPRIATION
, UH, FOR THE FENTANYL
ENFORCEMENT TEAMS THAT WE ARE
LASER FOCUSED ON GETTING AS MUCH
, UH, SEIZURES AS WE CAN. I
DISAGREE TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION. I THINK THAT, UH,
THAT'S MY JOB IS TO GET THIS
POISON OFF THE STREET. AND EVERY
DAY I'M IN A CONVERSATION WITH A
COLLEAGUE, A PARTNER, ANOTHER
AGENCY EVERY DAY. I'M HAVING
SOME INTERACTION IN REGARDS TO,
UH, THIS FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT
TEAM. SO UM, YOU KNOW A LOT OF
THE WORK. THAT HAPPENS, OF
COURSE, IS, UH, NOT. IT'S NOT
OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC. YOU'RE
NOT GONNA HEAR EVERY DAY. WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH, UH A LOT OF THE
WORK UNTIL THERE'S SOME MASSIVE
ENFORCEMENT OPERATION, WHICH, BY
THE WAY, THOSE HAPPENED, UH, I
THINK QUITE OFTEN, BUT, UH, I
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I
WANT YOU TO BE REASSURED THAT,
UH, THIS IS THIS IS WORK THAT WE
TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY IN THAT
EVERY SEIZURE MATTERS. IF I
COULD ADD TO THAT, UM I'D BE
LYING IF I SAID THAT. IT'S EVERY
NARCOTICS OFFICERS DREAM TO GET
AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE ON OR AS LOW
AS POSSIBLE IN THE TOTAL, RIGHT?
BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES SOMETHING
BECOME A LOW LEVEL. WHAT IS LOW
LEVEL? IS IT SOMEONE, A LOW
LEVEL DEALER WHEN THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS ON THAT PASSED AWAY, OR
DOES THAT NOW BECOME HIGH LEVEL
PRIORITY? BECAUSE THIS PERSON
WHO WASN'T SELLING AS MUCH AS
THE GUY NEXT RUNG UP AS IT
KILLED SOMEONE YET, BUT THIS LOW
LEVEL GUIDED. SO WHAT MAKES IT
LOW QUANTITY OR THE FACT THAT HE
HASN'T KILLED SOMEONE YET. WHAT?
WHEN DOES IT BECOME OR LOW?
THANK YOU. MR CARVER. MHM THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PANELISTS
THAT SPOKE TO THE I THINK IT'S
BEEN INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE.
SEVERAL HOURS AND A LOT OF US
HAVE STUCK IT OUT BECAUSE WE'RE
GETTING SO MUCH OUT OF IT, AND I
AM PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE
EVERYONE ON THIS PANEL FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE
DAY. UM AND LOOK, YOU KNOW THE
REALITY IS THAT UM, I'M NOT
INTERESTED IN FINDING A BALANCE
BETWEEN PUNISHMENT. AND A PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSE. I'M INTERESTED
IN WHAT WORKS. AND YOU KNOW, BUT
WHAT WORKS, BUT WE KNOW WHAT
DOESN'T WORK. UM WHICH IS BEEN
ALLUDED TO AND I THINK IT'S VERY
REFRESHING TO HAVE, UH, DISTRICT
ATTORNEY BACKED IN SPEAK TO THE
FIELD WAR ON DRUG POLICIES OF
THE PAST, AND WE HAVE ALL THE
DATA. WE HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION WE NEED ON THAT HE
BECAME THE INCARCERATION CAPITAL
WORLD WITHOUT MAKING OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER. IN HIS PUBLIC
DEFENDER. WOODS INDICATED THAT
FAILED EIGHTIES WAR ON CRACK,
AND I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE A
DIFFERENT APPROACH. AND THERE'S
NO DOUBT THAT BECAUSE THROUGH
THE MEDIA AND POLITICIANS AND
THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT, THE
EIGHTIES WERE ON CRACK LATINOS A
BLACK AMERICAN PROBLEM, NOT AN
AMERICAN PROBLEM, AND IT WAS US
VERSUS THEM. AND IT CREATED SO
MUCH DEVASTATION, INCLUDING
MILITARIZATION OF OUR POLICE
FORCE AGAINST OUR OWN PEOPLE,
AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE
HAVING THESE OPEN CONVERSATIONS
TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS MR MENDOZA
INDICATED, YOU KNOW? YOU YOU
HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE SOLD AND I
HAD PLENTY OF THOUSANDS.
CERTAINLY HUNDREDS, NOT
THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS AND THE
DRUG COURT BACK THEN, WHICH WERE
REALLY FULL ARMFUL OF FILES
EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, THAT WERE
ARRESTED FOR SALES POSSESSION
FOR SALES OR SALES OF DRUGS THAT
GOT INTO TREATMENT AND CLEAN
THEMSELVES UP TO THIS DAY. I
HAVEN'T BEEN PUBLIC DEFENDANT
OVER 15 YEARS. I SEE SOME OF
THOSE SAME FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY
IN SAN JOSE DOING FANTASTICALLY.
UM AND IT DIDN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.
THE FIRST SHOT AROUND. SOMETIMES
THEY RELAPSE GOT IN TROUBLE
AGAIN BECAUSE ADDICTION IS A
MEDICAL PROBLEM. IT'S A MEDICAL
ISSUE, AND WE HAVE TO TREAT IT
AS SUCH. AND THAT'S WHERE I DO.
AGREE WITH WHAT DR HUMPHRIES OR
SING EARLIER, AND WE NEED TALKED
ABOUT. UM IT DOESN'T MATTER AS
MUCH GOING AFTER SUPPLIERS. WHAT
I THINK WHEN HE WAS REFERRING TO
WAS THE FACT THAT FENTANYL AS
OPPOSED TO OTHER KIND OF CROP
RELATED, UM, DRUGS, WHETHER IT'S
FROM MARIJUANA TO COCAINE. WHAT
HAVE YOU, UM, DOESN'T RELY ON
THAT KIND OF CYCLE AND SO IT CAN
VERY EASILY BE PRODUCED AGAIN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF
WE DO THAT. OUR POLICE OFFICERS
ARE DOING WORK OUT THERE GETTING
LARGE SUPPLIES. ABSOLUTELY, THAT
SAVES LIVES, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE
SHOULDN'T. WE SHOULD STOP DOING
THAT. BUT I THINK HIS POINT WAS
THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I
THINK EVERYONE AGREES IS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT
WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. AND SO WHEN
WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ULTIMATELY
LOOKING AT WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE. I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN
THE LESSONS OF THE PAST AND IT'S
A LOT EASIER TO JUST SAY WELL,
THAT'S JUST INCREASED PENALTIES
. A LOT OF PEOPLE UP MORE, AND
I'M VERY GRATEFUL WHETHER IT'S
MY COLLEAGUE. HERE ARE OTHERS
THAT WE DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE
FOR POSSESSING CANNABIS SMOKING.
WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, THEIR
WHOLE LIVES WOULD HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATED. THAT WERE THE CASE.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT IT IN A DIFFERENT
WAY. BUT I DO WANT TO ASK, UM UM
UM, DIRECTOR WOOLERY, BECAUSE WE
HAVE A LOT OF STATE FOLKS HERE,
AND WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF
FOLKS THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF
WORK IN THE STATE. WE HAVEN'T
HEARD FROM OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS
HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN ALLUSIONS TO IT LIKE
WORKING WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS,
ALL THAT, BUT IN TERMS OF I KNOW
THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
EARLIER THIS YEAR AS IN HERE, A
LOT OF INVESTMENT ON HARM
REDUCTION TREATMENT ON TRYING TO
GO AFTER SUPPLIERS SUPPLY CHAINS
WORKING WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY
GOING AFTER A LOW LEVEL DEALER
IS NOT REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AFTER THE
SUPPLY, UM JUST LIKE THE CRACK
COCAINE EPIDEMIC. THOSE THAT
WERE SELLING DIDN'T OWN PLANES.
THEY WEREN'T BRINGING THE STUFF
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
GOVERNMENT PLAYED MUCH BIGGER
ROLE IN THAT, BUT THEY DIDN'T
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE KNOW JUST
LIKE WITH THE QUAALUDE EPIDEMIC
. THEY WENT AFTER THE FACTORIES
THAT WERE MANUFACTURING THE
CHEMICALS. IN EUROPE AND IN ASIA
WERE ABLE TO ALMOST COMPLETELY
COLLAPSE THAT EPIDEMIC NOT
OVERNIGHT, AND IT TOOK A LOT OF
WORK, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO
THAT. WE KNOW NOW THAT THE FAR
MAJORITY OF PHARMACEUTICALS THAT
IN CHEMICALS AND PRECURSORS OF
ALL PHARMACEUTICALS ARE
MANUFACTURED IN INDIA AND CHINA
, THANKFULLY, INDIA AND THE AND
THE U. S IS COOPERATING. THE U.
S GOVERNMENT HAS A REALLY GOOD
PARTNERSHIP AND ENSURING THAT
THAT SUPPLY CHAIN TO THE
GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. UM, IT
IS. THERE'S A CHECK ON THAT. UM
AND WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THOSE
PRECURSORS ARE GOING PRIMARILY
TO MEXICO AND ARE BEING
MANUFACTURED THERE AND BROUGHT
OVER HERE. AND SO A VERY LONG
PRELUDE TO A QUESTION, UM, FOR
DIRECTOR WOOLERY BECAUSE WE ALL
WE KNOW THAT THIS YEAR BECAUSE
OF DIPLOMATIC REASONS, IT SEEMS
LIKE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS
COMPLETELY CUT OFF THEIR
INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THOSE
PRECURSORS ARE GOING ON. GOING
ON. PLANES ARE GOING ON SHIPS.
THEY'RE ENDING UP. AND IN MEXICO
, AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THERE'S
A AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REALLY
FIGURE OUT. HOW DO WE KEEP THESE
PRECURSORS FROM GETTING INTO THE
HANDS OF FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING
THE FENTANYL AND GETTING IT
HERE? WE'VE HAD. WE'VE HEARD A
LOT ABOUT DEMAND, AND I AGREE,
100% THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
DO THOSE THINGS. BUT IT SEEMS
LIKE THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
GO AFTER. UM THE SUPPLIER. THE
SUPPLIER IS NOT THE KIDS IN THE
CORNER, BETTER SELLING OR
SELLING AT SCHOOL OR WHATEVER.
IS THAT A SUPPLIER TO SOME
EXTENT? YES, BUT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE MAJOR SUPPLIERS. YOU
GOTTA STOP THOSE PRECURSORS LIKE
WE DID WITH THE QUAALUDE.
EDMUNDO EPIDEMIC. HAS THERE BEEN
ANY CONVERSATIONS, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE WE BORDER OBVIOUSLY
MEXICO WHERE A LOT OF IT'S
COMING IN AS THERE BEEN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ON HOW WE STOP THAT
SUPPLY CHAIN IF WE PROSECUTED
SOME OF THE BIOTECH COMPANIES IN
CHINA BUT THEY'RE OUT OF THE
REACH OF OUR OF THE LAW. AND SO
SOME HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO YOU
KNOW, PRISON WHATEVER HAPPENS,
BUT IN TERMS OF SHIPPING
COMPANIES, OTHER OTHERS THAT ARE
PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN. UM HAS
THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON HOW WE
GET TO THE REAL SOURCE OF THAT
SUPPLY CHAIN THAT IS LEADING TO
THE TO WHAT DR HUMPHRIES
INDICATED WAS EASY WAY OF KIND
OF PRODUCING THIS OVERNIGHT. SO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION. THE ANSWER IS YES. AH
AH, SO ACTUALLY, UH I'M ACTUALLY
RETIRED FBI SENIOR EXECUTIVE SO
THE FENTANYL CONVERSATION WAS
OCCURRING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
A DECADE AGO. AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, DIPLOMACY. OR LACK OF
DIPLOMACY BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND CHINA HAS HAS
SEEMINGLY HAD A VERY DIRECT
IMPACT ON THOSE PRECURSOR
PRECURSORS, MAKING IT INTO
MEXICO AND, OF COURSE,
EVENTUALLY FINISHED PRODUCT INTO
THE UNITED STATES. SO, UH, YOU
KNOW, UH. FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. WE ARE
WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS, UH, AT THE BORDER. AND
WE'RE REALLY WORKING WITHIN THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE THAT WE
CONTROL. RIGHT SO THE MINUTE UH
, THERE'S INTEL OR THE MINUTE
THAT THERE'S UH, PREDICATION OF
AN INVESTIGATION LEADS US TO
KNOW THAT THERE'S UH I DIDN'T
KNOW. COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES. WE ARE ON IT. OKAY UH,
THE DIPLOMACY THAT OCCURS
BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO IS
, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT IS
ONGOING. IN FACT, UH, ATTORNEY
GENERAL BONTA MEETS REGULARLY
WITH, UH, HIS COUNTERPARTS IN
MEXICO THAT TO KEEP THAT
DIALOGUE AND TO KEEP THAT
CONVERSATION, I BELIEVE THERE'S
A TRILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH
CANADA. U S AND MEXICO ON THIS
ISSUE SPECIFICALLY AS WELL. SO
CHANCER, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I
USED. I SAID THAT TONGUE IN
CHEEK WHEN I SAID YES, BUT THE
ANSWER IS YES. IN THAT, UH, YOU
KNOW WE WERE CONTINUING. UH
COLLABORATE AND STRENGTHEN
PARTNERSHIPS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S
A IT'S A CHALLENGING. IT'S
REALLY A CHALLENGING AND INTO TO
DR HUMPHRIES POINT WHEN HE TALKS
ABOUT THIS SYNTHETIC ASPECT IN
THAT, YOU KNOW THE OTHER DRUGS
THAT WE'VE, UH YOU KNOW,
ATTACKED OR PAID ATTENTION TO OR
AGRICULTURAL BASED, WHEREAS, UH
, SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS OR FENTANYL
IS NOT SO THERE'S AN ADDED
CHALLENGE IN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW,
THIS STUFF CAN BE MADE WITH
HANDS AND IN A LAB. WE CAN'T WE
CAN'T STOP. COLLABORATING AND
HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS MR
ELONIS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. SO
COMING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERGEANT,
SERGEANT, UH, REMEMBER, WE'RE
ALL HERE ABOUT FENTANYL. AND I
KNOW WE'RE JUST KEEP MAKING THE
BROAD THING OF DRUGS, DRUGS
DRUGS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
ALL DRUGS. IT'S JUST FENTANYL IS
WHAT WE WANT TO TALK AND DISCUSS
TODAY. AND SO, SERGEANT. MY
QUESTION TO YOU RIGHT NOW IS, UH
, WITH YOUR TASK FORCE. YOU GUYS
ARE ARRESTING PEOPLE AND YOU'RE
FINDING THAT THEY'RE IN
POSSESSION OF FENTANYL, AND
YOU'RE PROBABLY FINDING THAT THE
DOSAGE AS FAR AS IT BEING LETHAL
COMPARED TO OTHER DRUGS DOESN'T
COMPARE. SO WHAT CAN WE DO AS A
BODY HERE TO HELP YOU TO
ACTUALLY PROTECT AND SAVE LIVES
OUT THERE AS FAR AS LAWS GO. I
DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING
WE CAN DO OTHER THAN EDUCATION,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, UM IT'S
SO PREVALENT, IT'S EASY TO
ACCESS. IT'S YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE
ABLE TO STOP IT COMPLETELY FROM
CROSSING THE BORDERS AND WHEN
IT'S GETS OUT THERE GETS OUT
THERE AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE
ABLE TO TRACK IT DOWN UNTIL WE
LOSE A LIFE FOR SOMEBODY ODS AND
WE KEEP. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT
FENTANYL AND PILLS AND WHATNOT.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE MAYBE
HAVE NOT GLOSSED OVER. MAYBE IS
WAS MIXED IN WITH OTHER ILLICIT
DRUGS AS WELL SO SOMEONE COULD
THINK THEY'RE BUYING
METHAMPHETAMINE. BUT IN THAT
METHAMPHETAMINE IS FED. NOR SO
SOMEONE WHO IS A USER OF METH
ISN'T THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO
OVERDOSE. AND NEXT THING YOU
KNOW, THEY'VE INGESTED FENTANYL
BECAUSE IT WAS LACED OR EVEN
JUST THE METHAMPHETAMINE
THINKING IT WAS PURE
METHAMPHETAMINE. BUT IT WAS
LACED WITH FENTANYL. AND THAT
GOES ALONG WITH WITH EVERY DRUG
. YOU HEAR STORIES OF IT BEING
MIXED WITH HEROIN. EVEN IN
MARIJUANA. SOMETIMES IT'S MIND
BOGGLING, BUT COME TO ME. THE
BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS
EDUCATE. I HAVE A 11 AND NINE
YEAR OLD COME FROM THE NARCOTICS
TASK FORCE. SO I TELL THEM EVERY
DAY WHAT I CAN OR WHAT? WHAT AND
WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT THERE WHEN
THEY BECOME TEENAGERS. THEY'RE
GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
NECESSARILY POINT SOMETHING TO
SAY. THIS IS HOW YOU STOP IT. I
DON'T THINK YOU CAN. AND JUST DO
ALSO HELP ON AN ANSWER EARLIER
ABOUT YOUR GUYS' SEIZURES. I
DON'T CARE IF ANYBODY'S GETTING
CHARGED WITH IT OR NOT. I LOOK
AT IT AS THOSE ARE LESS DRUGS
OUT ON THE STREET, KILLING OUR
KIDS. SO THAT'S WHAT I FEEL
ABOUT THAT. AND FOR MR WOODS,
YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF YOUR
CLIENTS BEING CHARGED AS DRUG
DEALERS. UH THAT WAS VERY BROAD
. BUT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
FENTANYL DEALERS. ARE YOU
GETTING FED AND ALL THOSE IS
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW WE'RE
GETTING THEM. BUT WE AS A I
THINK A COUNTY IN OUR
PROSECUTION, WE DO HAVE MORE
OTHER DRUGS AND FENTANYL RIGHT
NOW AND QUESTION YOU POSED ABOUT
A DRUG COURT. A DRUG COURT. WE
DO A DRUG COURT. IT'S ROBUST,
BUT ONLY ABOUT 24% OF THE
PARTICIPANTS RELATE THEIR
ADDICTION TO FENTANYL WERE STILL
MORE HEAVILY METHAMPHETAMINE IN
OUR COUNTY. UM SO WHAT IS
PRESENT? I THINK IT IS BY
JURISDICTION WHERE SOME
JURISDICTIONS HAVE A LOT MORE
THAN THAN WE DO, BUT WE ARE
SEEING THEM. BUT IT'S NOT. I
WOULD SAY THE LARGE MAJORITY OF
OUR CASES, BUT BUT THEY ARE
PRESENT. AND DO YOU HAPPEN TO
KNOW? LIKE WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS
YOU HAVE AS FAR AS DEATHS IN
YOUR COUNTY? AS FAR AS FENTANYL
OVERDOSES? I DO NOT HAVE THAT
DATA. I KNOW. I CHECKED THAT
WERE ON THE LOWER END, BUT WE'RE
I DON'T HAVE THE DATA RIGHT HERE
WITH ME, OKAY? AND, UH AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE, BY THE WAY.
UH HUH. AND FOR THE D A US YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH, AND I
AGREE. I DO LIKE THAT AS WELL.
BUT WHY I WANT TO KNOW IS IF WE
ARE GOING TO DO THAT PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACH AND WE'RE GOING
TO DECRIMINALIZE EVERYTHING
ELSE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET
ADDICTS INTO PROGRAMS? I THINK
IT STARTS. UM THERE THERE. IT'S
NOT AN EASY ANSWER. I WILL START
THERE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'VE DONE FOR PEOPLE AND WE'RE
NOT TAUGHT. WE'VE NOT HAD PEOPLE
WHO HAVE COME IN AS OFTEN WITH
JUST POSSESSION OF FENTANYL. WE
MAY SEE METHODS, MR WHAT'S
ALLUDED TO AND SO WHEN WE HAVE A
PERSON WHO IS JUST POSSESSING A
SMALL AMOUNT OF DRUGS FOR THEIR
PERSONAL USE. OUR FIRST APPROACH
IS TO REFER THEM TO TREATMENT
NOW. OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT FORCE
THEM INTO TREATMENT AT THAT
POINT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY
REFER THEM TO TREATMENT. I THINK
THE OTHER PART OF THE SOLUTION
IS GOING TO BE SEEN AS WE TRACK
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CURE
CHORDS. THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED
AND ESTABLISHED THROUGH
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AND THROUGH
THE GOVERNOR AND SO AS THOSE
CARE COURTS, UM GET, UM UP AND
RUNNING AND OPERATIONAL WILL BE
ABLE TO SEE IF THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT FORCED
TREATMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE AS
WELL. SO THESE ARE THESE ARE, UM
THESE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVEN'T
YET BEEN TRIED THAT HAVEN'T MET
YET BEEN TOTALLY VETTED IF YOU
WILL, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL USE
THE DATA. TO TRACK THE SUCCESS
OF THOSE PROGRAMS, AND WE'LL BE
ABLE TO DETERMINE THIS SUCCESS.
OKAY AND SO ONE OF MY OTHER
QUESTIONS. WE'RE GONNA BE DRUG
COURT AND PROP 36. BUT YOU
ALREADY ANSWERED THAT. YOU GUYS
DON'T HAVE THAT IN YOUR COUNTY.
DO YOU GUYS NOT HAVE DRUG
DIVERSION? THERE IS DRUG
DIVERSION AVAILABLE. YES UM AND
THEN ALSO YOU SAID THAT, UH,
THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE TOOLS AND
I'M ASSUMING YOU MET THE TOOLS
FOR FENTANYL AS WELL BECAUSE
AGAIN, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE TOOLS
FOR DRUGS AND GENERAL. BUT
FENTANYL HERE DO YOU HAVE TOOLS
FOR FENTANYL IS WHAT I WANT TO
KNOW. WE DO 11 OF THE THINGS
THAT I THINK, UM, WAS EFFECTIVE
. WE HAVE A SIMILAR HEARING
BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY. UM, A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IS THAT WE
HAD A PERSON COME INTO SIMPLY,
UM, LIST ALL OF THE DIFFERENT.
UM, UM. PARTS OF OUR PENAL CODE
THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PROSECUTE
AND I THINK THAT WAS VERY ISN'T
A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE BECAUSE
PEOPLE KEEP ASKING US WHETHER WE
HAVE THE TOOLS AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT OUR PENAL CODE, THERE
ARE PLENTY OF PENAL CODE
SECTIONS THAT GIVE US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE
, EITHER, IF IT'S
METHAMPHETAMINE, OR OR FENTANYL
, OR WHATEVER THE TYPE OF DRUG
IS WE HAVE LOTS OF TOOLS IN OUR
TWO SPOT TOOLBOX. OKAY SO AND SO
WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS DO IF YOU
HAD SOMEBODY WITH LIKE, A KILO
OF FENTANYL? HOW WOULD YOU GUYS
GO ABOUT TREATMENT OR HANDLING
THAT AS FAR AS CHARGING WELL,
EVERY CASE OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE
TAKEN ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
SO I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
LIKE IF WE HAVE THIS WITH WITH A
SPECIFIC AMOUNT, BUT WE WILL
LOOK AT OUR PENAL CODE SECTIONS.
WE WILL CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE,
UM, CODE SECTION WHETHER THAT
PERSON SEEMS TO BE IN THE
BUSINESS OF SELLING VERSUS
WHETHER THAT PERSON IS IN THERE,
BUT I IMAGINE A PERSON WITH A
KILO IS GOING TO BE IN THE
BUSINESS OF SELLING, BUT BUT
LET'S KEEP OUR MINDS OPEN ON
THAT, BUT WE WILL USE THE
APPROPRIATE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX
. EVERY CASE IS GOING TO DEPEND
ON THE FACTS OF THAT PARTICULAR
CASE, AND WE WILL USE THE TOOLS
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO
PROSECUTE. WHEN APPROPRIATE.
OKAY. AND DO YOU THINK THAT
MAYBE AS FAR AS FENTANYL GOES AS
FAR AS TOOLS BECAUSE AS YOU
KNOW, AND EVERYBODY HERE SITTING
IN FRONT OF US WE'RE ALWAYS
CATCHING UP TO THE DRUG BECAUSE
THEY'RE ALWAYS MAKING NEW ONES
IN IT. WE KEEP HAVING TO CATCH
UP AND MAKING A NEW LAW FOR THAT
, DO YOU? DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU
HAVE AN ADEQUATE OR AT LEAST A
FAIR AMOUNT OF TOOLS. I GUESS
YOU CAN SAY IN THE PENAL CODE H
AND S WHATEVER YOU WANT WHATEVER
CODE YOU WANT TO GO WITH TWO
WHERE YOU HAVE THAT SPECIFICALLY
FOR FENTANYL. THE TOOLS THAT WE
HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX RELATE TO
DRUGS. IN GENERAL, WE DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE A SPECIFIC CODE SECTION
THAT RELATES TO FENTANYL BECAUSE
THE OTHER CODE SECTIONS ALREADY
ENCOMPASS THAT. AND SO, UM. I'M
NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING IS FENTANYL IS SOMETHING
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
SHOW EVERYBODY IS THAT FENTANYL
IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ALL
THOSE OTHER DRUGS LISTED ON
THERE. IT'S JUST LIKE WE'VE
MENTIONED BEFORE. POISON IT
TAKES VERY LITTLE TO KILL OUR
YOUTH. OUR KIDS ARE CHILDREN.
EVERYBODY HERE. AH AND SO WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS WORK
ON TRYING TO GET LEGISLATION TO
WHERE FENTANYL IS ACTUALLY
TREATED A LITTLE MORE HARSH THAN
OTHERS BECAUSE IT DOES A LOT
MORE DAMAGE TO EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING
TO THE ROOT ON ALL THIS IS WHAT
OTHER TOOLS DO. I NEED TO
PROVIDE YOU BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE
A KILO OF FENTANYL VERSUS A KILO
OF SAYING MATH OR WHATEVER IT
IS, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE
SAME CHARGE. BUT THE KILO OF
FENTANYL, I COULD DO A LOT MORE
DAMAGE WITH KILL HALF A MILLION
PEOPLE WITH WHEREAS I CAN'T DO
THAT WITH THE OTHER DRUGS. I
THINK THE PIECE THAT'S MISSING
IN YOUR ANALYSIS IS THAT AS I
MENTIONED, EVERY CASE WOULD BE
TAKEN ON ITS MERITS, AND
OBVIOUSLY, A KILO OF FENTANYL IS
GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF FENTANYL. BUT OUR DRUG LAWS
ALREADY GIVE US ENHANCEMENT. SO
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FACTS
OF A PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE
WEIGHT OF DRUGS THAT A PERSON
HAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. IT'S
NOT JUST GOING TO BE THE FACT
THAT THEY HAVE DRUGS IT'S GOING
TO BE. HOW MUCH DID THEY HAVE?
THERE ARE SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE TO US ON THE BOOKS
THAT WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
THE AMOUNT CORRECT AND YOU'RE
PROVING MY POINT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S BY WEIGHT. IT'S NOT BY WHAT
THE DAMAGE IT CAN DO OR HOW THE
KILL RATIO IT IS, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THAT'S
WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU. UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS, BUT ONE IS. YOU KNOW,
I DEFINITELY, UH, VERY STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH. AND OBVIOUSLY WE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT A
TREATMENT TODAY. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT AT
THE BEGINNING IS THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT
FENTANYL OPERATES, WHO ARE NOT
ADDICTED WHO ARE EITHER SEEKING
A DIFFERENT AH, PILL OR
SOMETHING THAT ENDS UP HAVING
FENTANYL IN IT THAT, UH, THAT
ENDS UP KILLING THEM, UH, FOR
THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND, UH, YOU KNOW,
ARE YOU SEEING THAT AND HOW DO
WE CONFRONT THAT ASPECT OF IT?
YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE WE'VE
TALKED A BIT AND MAYBE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. IF YOU'RE
LOOKING AT ANY OF THESE CRIMINAL
NETWORKS THAT ARE SELLING THINGS
ONLINE THAT ARE DANGEROUSLY
LACED IN CERTAIN WAYS, AND HOW
DO WE CONFRONT THOSE THOSE
OPERATIONS AND DO YOU HAVE THE
SUFFICIENT TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO
STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING? I
KNOW, UM, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS THE TOOLS THAT ARE
NEEDED. TO ADDRESS THE WAYS IN
WHICH THESE, UH, DRUGS ARE OFTEN
SOLD ONLINE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
NETWORKS AND HOW WE DO THE
APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF
SURVEILLANCE THERE. SO UM, MAYBE
FIRST, MR WILL AGREE, IF YOU IF
YOU MIGHT ADDRESS THAT, AND IF
ANYBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE
SOMETHING TO ADD ABOUT HOW WE
ADDRESS, UH, NOT SO MUCH FOR
PEOPLE WHO CERTAINLY ON THE
DEMAND SIDE NEED TREATMENT. BUT
FOR THESE CASES WHERE
ESSENTIALLY PEOPLE ARE BEING
SOLD POISON WITHIN ANOTHER
SUBSTANCE. SO, MR CHAIR. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE ARE
MONITORING SOME OF THE YOU KNOW
SOME OF THE LEGISLATION. IT'S
YOU KNOW, BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN
TERMS OF THESE TYPES OF SORT OF
PARTICULARITIES WITH FENTANYL
AND HOW IT'S DISTRIBUTED. WE
WELCOME THOSE CONVERSATIONS. UH
AND WE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF LOOK
TO SEE HOW THOSE THINGS SHAKE
OUT. UM TO ANSWER THE PART OF
THE QUESTION ABOUT, UH YOU KNOW?
IT. INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
ACQUIRED, UH UH, FENTANYL ONLINE
AND YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY
UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
THERE'S A DEATH INVOLVED. SO IN
THOSE INSTANCES, THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN VERY
AGGRESSIVE IN GOING AFTER THE
SUPPLIER OR THE PERSON THAT'S
RESPONSIBLE. ON THE OTHER END OF
THAT. SOCIAL MEDIA APP OR ON THE
OTHER END OF THAT ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE. IN TERMS OF THAT
DEATH TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE
FOR, UH, MANSLAUGHTER. UM, SO
WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS BEING
ABLE TO TRACK WE'VE HAD SOME
SUCCESS BEING ABLE TO BUILD
EVIDENCE SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT
IN CHARGE THAT INDIVIDUAL FOR
ACTUALLY. DELIVERING THAT
FENTANYL BASED ON THE ACTIVITY
THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE SOCIAL
MEDIA APPS. THANK YOU. UM,
THAT'S A TRICKY ONE BECAUSE WITH
THESE DEALERS WHO USE
DISTRIBUTORS WHO USE SOCIAL
MEDIA APPS. A LOT OF THE TIMES
THE APPS THEY USE ARE VERY WELL
ENCRYPTED, SO UNLESS YOU'RE
THERE TO INTERCEPT IT AHEAD OF
TIME. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION
NEEDED AFTER THE FACT UNLESS WE
HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S
OCCURRING, SO IF SOMEONE DOES,
OH, DEAR. PASSES AWAY AND TURNS
OUT LATER ON A FEW MONTHS LATER,
WE FIND OUT THAT HEY, IT WAS AN
OVERDOSE. THE INFORMATION IS
PROBABLY GONE OFF OF THE PHONE
OF THE VICTIM WHO HAD IT WAS
ABLE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION
BECAUSE IT'S DONE ONLINE, AND
IT'S DONE THROUGH APPS LIKE
WHAT'S HAPPENED THAT KIND OF
STUFF BECAUSE YOU CAN DELETE IT,
AND IT'S GONE. SO UNLESS YOU
HAVE THAT PRESIDENT ABILITY TO
BE ABLE TO INTERCEPT IT, THEN
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
FOR MY TASK FORCE. I KNOW WE
HAVE ONE GUY. OUT OF THE 10 OF
US THAT HANDLES OVERDOSE DEATHS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND WE
HAVE SEVEN CITIES IN OUR COUNTY
AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO
UNLESS HE GETS THAT INFORMATION
RIGHT AWAY. IT'S GONNA BE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR HIM. TO DETERMINE
WHO THE DEALER WAS, AND THEN
WORKED HIS WAY UP. BUT IT DOES
STILL INVOLVED A BIG
INVESTIGATION. A LOT OF TIME
TOWARDS THAT. YEAH I KNOW THAT
ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES. MS.
PETRIE-NORRIS WHO WAS HERE HAS A
BILL THAT RELATES TO WHETHER
WE'RE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY
MONITOR AND RETRIEVE THOSE KIND
OF ENCRYPTED MESSAGES THAT MAY
RELATE TO SOME OF THESE SALES SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE THE APPROPRIATE
INFORMATION FOR INVESTIGATIONS
ALSO HAD THIS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW,
MR CARLO. ASKED ABOUT THESE SORT
OF LARGER INVESTIGATIONS AND
SUCH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I THINK THAT WE'VE WE'VE ALSO AH
, I NEED TO LOOK AT IS HOW THESE
OPERATIONS ARE FINANCED. AND I
WONDER IF THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE HAS HAD ANY EFFORTS
WITHIN THE FEDERAL TASK FORCE
THAT LOOK AT THE FINANCING OF
THIS AND WHETHER WE HAVE THE
TOOLS, MAYBE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS IT AT THAT
LEVEL. YES SO THAT'S ANOTHER
GREAT QUESTION. SO UH, FINANCING
IS ALWAYS A PART OF OUR
INVESTIGATION. RIGHT SO THAT'S
WHERE YOU THAT'S WHERE YOU HIT
THEM WHERE IT HURTS. UH THERE'S
ALWAYS MONEY SEIZURES THAT ARE A
PART OF, UH, OUR ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS. UM YOU CAN'T HAVE
THE MONEY WITHOUT. UH YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN'T HAVE THESE
ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT THE FLOW
OF MONEY, SO WE, UH, WE DO. I
THINK WE DO A FAIRLY GOOD JOB
EBBS AND FLOWS IN TERMS OF, UH,
WITH THOSE MONETARY SEIZURES
LOOK LIKE, BUT WE WORK WITH OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS. WE, UH, WE
WORK WITH THE CRIMES UNIT WITH
THE SPECIAL PROSECUTION SECTION
WE LOOK AT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
JUST THAT, UH, THE MONEY IS, IS
THERE BUT SOMETIMES IT'S UH UM,
DIGITIZED. SOMETIMES IT'S
CRYPTOCURRENCY. RIGHT SO WE WERE
LEARNING THAT WE NEED TO SORT OF
KEEP OUR, UH, MINDS OPEN IN
TERMS OF WHERE THAT MONEY GOES
AND HOW IT'S HIDDEN. AND IN WHAT
FORM IT, UH, IT ULTIMATELY ENDS
UP IN THANK YOU, MISS PONTA.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK
THE PANEL FOR CLOSING US OUT ON
A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE. I THINK
IN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES
, YOU'VE GOTTEN A SENSE OF THE
COMMON DEBATES THAT WE HAVE IN
WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY, IN
PARTICULAR ONE OF THE DEBATES
THAT WE ARE ONGOING FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY
RELATED TO THE INTENSITY OF THE
HARM THAT CAN BE COMMITTED WITH
FENTANYL VERSUS OTHER DRUGS AND
THE EXTENT TO WHICH, BECAUSE OF
THAT INTENSITY, WE SHOULD HAVE
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF
FENTANYL. SO JUST FROM A FROM A
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, I
WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS WHETHER UM, YOU YOU
BELIEVE THAT ENHANCEMENTS
ACTUALLY DETER UH, DETER CRIME.
UH SPECIFICALLY OR WHETHER, UH,
THE OR I SHOULD SAY THAT THE
LENGTH OR THE INCREASING OF
ENHANCEMENTS DETER CRIME VERSUS
THE CERTAINTY OF ENHANCEMENTS,
UM, THAT THAT THAT ARE ALREADY
IN EXISTENCE. AND I'LL LEAVE IT
TO BOTH ON THE ON THE DEFENSE
SIDE, AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTION
SIDE TO HELP US SURE, THANK YOU.
SO I'LL JUMP IN WITH REGARDS TO
WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY 25 YEAR
CAREER. WHAT I'VE READ.
INCREASED PENALTIES ARE NOT A
DETERRENT. THE DATA SIMPLY DO
NOT DETER PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING
CRIMES. UM NONE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WE REPRESENT OUR THINKING,
GOSH, I'M NOT GOING TO SELL X
BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE SENT TO
PRISON FOR 20 YEARS. THAT'S NOT
PART OF YOUR CURRENT. IT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WHAT IS
IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. AND
HOW CAN I PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY?
HOW CAN I SUPPORT MYSELF? THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING. UM WHAT
REGARDS TO THE IMMEDIATE SEE?
THAT WAS SOMETHING I WILL SAY. I
HAVE NOT CONSIDERED WITH THE
REALM OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE. I KNOW IT'S WORKED
WITH REGARDS TO P. R. C S
VIOLATION AND THEY GIVE A 10 DAY
FLASH INCARCERATION THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I'VE NOT READ MUCH ABOUT HOW THE
IMMEDIACY OF PENALTIES COULD BE
DETERMINED HERE. I DO KNOW FROM
READING THAT LENGTH OF
INCARCERATION IS NOT A
DETERRENT. I WOULD CONCUR WITH
THAT ANSWER, AND I THINK THAT AS
YOU ARE WRESTLING WITH THE ISSUE
OF INCREASED ENHANCEMENTS, I
WOULD AGAIN. UM ASK US TO THINK
ABOUT, I THINK SOMETHING THAT DR
HUMPHRIES BARELY EMPHASIZED IN
THAT IS THOSE MAJOR UNIQUE
PLAYERS. IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF
FENTANYL. I THINK IF THERE'S A
PLACE WHERE WE COULD SEE
EFFECTIVE USE OF ADDITIONAL
PUNISHMENT OR ENHANCEMENT IT
WOULD BE IN THAT ARENA. BUT WE
ALREADY KNOW THAT FOR THOSE LOW
LEVEL STREET DEALERS, I AGREE
WITH WHAT MR WAS JUST INDICATED
. PEOPLE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT
WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE AN
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENT. IF I DO
THIS, SO I WOULD CAUTION US TO
THINK ABOUT WHERE WOULD THE
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS HAVE THE
MOST IMPACT AND I THINK IT WOULD
BE ON THOSE WHO ARE THE MAJOR
SUPPLIERS AND THE MAJOR UNIQUE
PLAYERS. IN THE, UM UM, CHAIN OF
FENTANYL ONTO OUR STREETS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND FOR STICKING WITH
US HERE TILL THE END. AND FOR
YOUR TIME. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
THE WORK THAT ALL YOU DO IS AND
GREATLY APPRECIATED AND IT'S AN
HONOR TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.
THANK YOU LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. UM
SO WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE I AM
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR THE FOLKS WHO WERE
HERE. I WOULD SAY, UM, WE WANT
TO KEEP PUBLIC COMMENTS BRIEF TO
UNDER UNDER 30 SECONDS. WE'RE
OVER AN HOUR. UH HERE AND HAVE
BEEN HERE NEARLY FIVE HOURS.
THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING AND SO
WE REALLY DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO
PARTICIPATE IN AND PARTNER WITH
US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO FURTHER
HEARINGS, AND SO WITH THAT I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. IF YOU'RE, UH STATE
YOUR YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION
IF YOU HAVE ONE, AND THEN IN A
BRIEF COMMENTARY DAILY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CONSORTIUM OF
ADDICTION PROGRAMS AND
PROFESSIONALS, MY INTENTION WAS
TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE
MANY TOPICS THAT YOU TOUCHED ON
REGARDING TREATMENT ARE FAILURES
AND SUCCESSES IN THAT AREA. I
WOULD JUST BEG YOUR INDULGENCE
IS CHAIR TO MEET WITH YOU ABOUT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS REGARDING
TREATMENT PROPER. FOR SURE.
THANK YOU. WESLEY SAVER,
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR HEALTH.
RIGHT, 3, 60. THANK YOU. SHERIFF
HANEY. WOULD JOHN SAWYER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALL THE
PANELISTS TODAY? UH, THESE ARE
SENSITIVE ISSUES AND PERSONAL TO
ASSAULT BUT TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER. DIVERSE MORTALITY
. WE KNOW WE NEED THIS ROBUST
PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE TO
ELEVATE MUCH OF WHAT WAS ALREADY
SAID TODAY. THIS INCLUDES
READILY AVAILABLE DRUG
ADULTERATE TESTING. BROAD ACCESS
TO OVERDOSE REVERSAL. MEDICATION
HARM REDUCTION PRACTICES, SUCH
AS FULLY RESOURCED SYRINGE
SERVICE PROGRAMS, AND THE
EPIDEMICS. BUDGET REQUEST NEEDS
THE SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR. SAFER SUPPLY
SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION, REMOVING
MATT BARRIERS AND DISCRIMINATION
AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HANIS. MAYBE
13 39 WOULD HAVE DONE AND A
COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF LOW
THRESHOLD NON COERCIVE
VOLUNTARY. SAME DAY ACCESSIBLE
TREATMENT OPTIONS. AND THIS IS
SOMEWHERE WHERE WE ARE SORELY
LACKING CAPACITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO LISA GARDNER
WITH ACCOUNTING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. WE
REPRESENT THE LEADERS OF THE
PUBLIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SAFETY
NET AND 58 COUNTIES AND 22.
CITIES JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE
AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE
HEARING TODAY. THREE QUICK
POINTS. UM I WANTED TO SHARE THE
HOPE THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY
RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. WE SEE IT
EVERY DAY. AND FOLKS COMING
THROUGH OUR SYSTEM. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAKE
NALOXONE AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE AND WANTED TO JOIN
THE CHORUS, UNDERSCORING THE
NEED FOR INVESTMENT, INVOLUNTARY
, CLINICALLY BASED AND EFFECTIVE
TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND
PREVENTION PROGRAMS. IT'S ALSO
VITAL THAT WE MAKE BEST USE OF
THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS
THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS
CRISIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. TO THOSE OF YOU STILL
LEFT. AT LEAST OUR CITY OF KONA
WITH THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
THIS GROUP, A LETTER THAT WAS
SUBMITTED TO THIS BODY WHICH
INCLUDED MORE THAN 400
SIGNATURES FROM CITY OFFICIALS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE CITIES ARE
VERY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
THE LEGISLATURE TO FIND
SOLUTIONS THAT STRIKE AN
APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN
COMMUNITY JUSTICE AND PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND CERTAINLY LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING ACTIONABLE
ITEMS THAT COME OUT OF THIS
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS NEIL
YARBROUGH. MY U. S. MARINE. I
WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR 13
YEARS. SERVED IN IRAQ. I CAME
HOME. ONLY TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER
TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. BY FENTANYL.
I HAVE PTSD. MY CHILDREN HAVE A
90% CHANCE OF HAVING SOME KIND
OF ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE PTSD. MY
DAUGHTER HAD TO TURN TO OTHER
DRUGS AND WHATNOT AND STRUGGLED
WITH THAT. SHE WAS COURT ORDERED
TO GO TO REHAB. HE WENT TO REHAB
THREE TIMES. WHY BECAUSE
FENTANYL IS 100 TIMES MORE
POTENT THAN HEROIN. THAT MEANS
WHAT TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE 100
TIMES MORE RIGHT? DUE TO THE
FACT THAT DOCTORS HAVE STOPPED
PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS AND ANTI
ANXIETY MEDICATION. THE BLACK
MARKET AS CAPITALIZED ON THIS,
AND I HAVE A SEVEN OUT OF 10
PILLS ON THE STREET IS FENTANYL.
MY DAUGHTER DIED AT LOCAL REHAB
RIGHT UP THE ROAD FROM HERE AND
HER DEALER WAS ARRESTED. I AM
GOING TO COURT EVERY MONTH. TO
SEE THAT HE GETS PUT AWAY. FOR
AS LONG AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
BECAUSE HE'S SAFER THERE. AND
THEN OUT IN THE PUBLIC. GO
AHEAD. THANK YOU, SIR. SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. MARCO GEORGE ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
DEFENDERS ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING THIS HEARING ON THANK
YOU FOR LETTING PEOPLE ERROR,
THEIR VIEWPOINTS AND OF COURSE,
WE ENDORSE HARM REDUCTION AND
TREATMENT. THANK YOU. JEANETTE
PATIN, CALIFORNIA STATE DIRECTOR
FOR DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE, ALSO
THANKFUL FOR HAVING THIS HEARING
TODAY AND ALL THE PANELISTS THAT
CAME UP. UM THIS MORNING TO
REALLY EDUCATE US ABOUT THESE
ISSUES. I'M REALLY WANT TO
STRESS THAT THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN
DO TO ADDRESS THIS OVERDOSE
CRISIS. UM, WE DO HAVE THE END
EPIDEMICS BUDGET ASKED THAT
WOULD FIND THE CALIFORNIA HARM
REDUCTION. INITIATIVE FOR THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AS WELL AS
YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THINGS LIKE
OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS, UM
AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING
TREATMENT ON DEMAND FOR FOLKS AS
WELL AS ENSURING THAT WE USE
OPIATES SETTLEMENT FUNDS IN A
RESPONSIBLE MANNER TO ENSURE
THAT WE CAN FIND THE PROGRAMS
THAT WORK AND LASTLY, I WOULD
JUST SAY WITH WITH REGARDS TO
DRUG EDUCATION THERE ARE SOME
REALLY GREAT DRUG EDUCATION
TOOLS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN
UTILIZE, BUT WE DO NEED TO
ENSURE THAT THE ASSEMBLY ALLOWS
FOR BILLS TO MOVE WITHIN THE
ASSEMBLY THAT ASKED FOR
CURRICULUM CHANGES SO THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE A SCIENCE BASED AND
EVIDENCE BASED DRUG EDUCATION TO
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. HELLO
THERESA BRADLEY. I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THESE
HEARINGS. YOU WILL LATER GET A
FLYER BECAUSE MY SON WAS
POISONED BY FENTANYL. AND I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE
OUT HERE WHO ARE GUILTY BEING
WITH THE DEVASTATED NOUS OF THIS
BEING OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UM, SEEING
NO ONE ELSE. I'M GOING TO COOK
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FROM THE PUBLIC
AND ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR
THEIR PARTICIPATION AND MY
COLLEAGUES. UH TWO OF THEM THAT
ARE LEFT. UH THANK YOU,
ESPECIALLY, UH TO CHAIR WOOD AND
CHAIR JOAN SAWYER AND TO RESPOND
TO FOR BEING HERE AND STAYING
THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. UH WE
HAD, I THINK OVER 20 MEMBERS
HERE AT SOME POINT TODAY FROM
BOTH. PARTIES FROM EVERY CORNER
OF OUR STATE, AND I THINK THAT'S
THE KIND OF PARTICIPATION IN
COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE GOING
TO NEED TO CONFRONT THIS CRISIS
. WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH AT ANY
LEVEL. WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH
TO STOP THESE DRUGS FROM COMING
INTO OUR STATE. WE'RE NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE HELPED WHO
ARE ADDICTED. WE'RE NOT DOING
ENOUGH. TO PREVENT. UH THESE, UM
, DRUGS THAT ARE POISONING.
PEOPLE ARE KNOWINGLY FROM BEING
OUT THERE AND WE'RE NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO EDUCATE AND PREVENT.
UH THAT'S THE COMMITMENT AND
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS A
STATE. WE ALL HAVE THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AS AS LAWMAKERS.
AND TODAY, I THINK WAS THE
BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION
FOR THIS SELECT COMMITTEE TO
WORK ON SOLUTIONS. THERE ARE
OVER 30 BILLS STILL MOVING IN
THE LEGISLATURE BETWEEN THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE. ON MANY
OF THE TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED
TODAY. I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO GET THOSE BILLS
PASSED AND INTO LAW THIS YEAR. I
HOPE THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR
GREATER INVESTMENTS IN OUR
BUDGET AND THAT WE TAKE THE
URGENCY AND THE ANALYSIS THAT WE
HEARD TODAY FORWARD AS WE MAKE
BUDGET DECISIONS, BUT WE HAVE A
LOT MORE WORK TO DO. IN ADDITION
TO THAT, SO FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS
HERE TODAY OR WHO LISTENED OR
WATCHED, UH, WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AS A
SELECT COMMITTEE. I THINK THAT
THE NEXT FEW THAT WE HAVE FOR
THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA
TRY TO GO OUT INTO COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE IMPACTED. WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE HEARINGS ACROSS THE
STATE AND WE'RE GOING TO COMMIT
TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ACTION AND
LEADERSHIP. WE SHOULD NOT BE
SATISFIED AT ALL UNTIL WE SEE A
REVERSE OF THE DEVASTATION AND
THE DEATH THAT THIS EPIDEMIC IS
CAUSING. SO WITH THAT AGAIN WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE
PARTICIPATION AND THEIR SUPPORT
AND MR WOOD. DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING MORE TO SAY? RESPOND TO
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WITH THAT
THIS HEARING IS ADJOURNED.