High Truths on Drugs and Addiction

What are the ethics in public health and addiction treatment? Is it for the better good of the public or the individual? Does the definition change when it comes to drugs?

Nicholas B. King is an associate professor in the Biomedical Ethics Unit and Department of Social Studies of Medicine, and associate member of Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University. He directs the Montreal Health Equity Research Consortium (MHERC), a multi-disciplinary project investigating health and health equity research and policies. Dr. King conducts research in the following areas: (1) The role of social context, framing effects, and biases in the production and interpretation of health information; (2) Public health ethics and policy, including the ethics of biosecurity and public health preparedness; and (3) Health inequalities and the social determinants of health. He has published in the BMJ, PLOS Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, and the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

What happens if you take prescribed medications and are worried about doing an employee drug test?  The drug test is just one aspect of drug testing.  A physician will review a persons medical history and prescription when considering drug tests.  Dr. Kamer is such a physician.  Listen to our conver

Russell Kamer, MD

Russ Kamer, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College and an Affiliate Physician in Medicine at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. After serving as a Drug Testing Crew Chief for the National Collegiate Athletic Association and a Doping Control Medical Officer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Dr. Kamer co-founded Partners in Safety Occupational Medicine. In addition to practicing primary care and occupational medicine, Dr. Kamer has researched the impairing effects of marijuana.

Brooke Briggance comes from a multi-sector background in health, direct impact programming for children, youth and families, and non-profit work. She comes from lived experience, began her career in healthcare in the Department of Neurology at SUNY Stony Brook in New York, and has experience in administrative leadership and public education advocacy and reform. She served as the Executive Director of an education foundation and has worked as a consultant assisting in projects ranging from school district redesign, community engagement and best practices for non-profits. She currently serves as the Director for the Cypress Resilience Project and the Co-Director of FACES for the Future – both programs at Public Health Institute in Oakland, CA. She is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor (Adult, Youth and teen), a Certified Trainer and Specialist in Trauma Informed Systems and Practice. She regularly supports organizations through training, technical assistance and policy design – all with a focus on trauma responsive practices including support for the workforce as they manage toxic stress, cumulative grief and burn-out.

What is compassion in drugs and addiction?

Compassion that avoids consequences for committing a crime is not compassion, it is cruel.  Very Cruel – to the victim and the perpetrator.

The Homeless, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, YES on Prop 36,  will bring more compassion to Californians through deterrence and bringing back drug courts.

Listen to someone who works with people who have serious addiction that resulted in crimes.

Darren White.

Darren White is the founder of Realized Potential Incorporated (RPI).  He oversees the organizations operations and maintains a network of resources of community based organizations serving high risk youth and young adults. Darren White has received countless awards and certifications including Violence Prevention Strategist, National Anger Management Certification, Restorative Justice Circle Award, Father Engagement Specialist, Alive and Free Prescription and the 2011 Civic Pride Award for Distinguished Community Service.  Mr. White is also a Certified International Life Coach.  Darren networks with other agencies to stay informed about services and resources.  He leads the mission of RPI.

Paul Martin

For over two decades, Paul Martin has worked to ameliorate physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. His work has focused largely around child welfare and child rights. He’s holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophical ethics, is a former Anglican pastor, candidate for United States congress, and non profit CEO. In 2023 while on sabbatical in Northern New Mexico, Paul witnessed firsthand the insidious effects of fentanyl and in response launched United Against Fentanyl in 2024.

LA County California

Gary Tsai, M.D. is a physician executive who is the Director of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, a division of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In this role, he is responsible for leading nearly 500 staff with a budget of approximately $460M, overseeing a full spectrum of substance use prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services for the 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Dr. Tsai also serves on the Board of Directors of NAMI California and is a physician board certified in both general psychiatry and addiction medicine, after completing his medical training at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Having experienced the stigma and criminalization that often accompanies serious mental illness as the son of a mother with schizophrenia, Dr. Tsai is a passionate advocate for improving our behavioral health systems. In his pursuit of meaningful change, he founded Forgotten Films, a film production company focusing on social issue projects, specializing in behavioral health. Its first film, Voices (www.VoicesDocumentary.com), premiered on public television in May 2015 for Mental Health Awareness Month and was awarded a SAMHSA Voice Award. He is also the award-winning author of Against All Odds: A Practical Guide to Successfully Navigate Psychosis and Behavioral Health Systems (www.AgainstAllOddsToday.com), which was published in July 2022.

The gold standard for workplace drug testing is established by SAMHSA’s Division for Workplace Programs, DWP.  This affects 14 million employees.  DWP manages the National Laboratory Certification Program and oversees the Drug Testing Advisory Board.  Learn all a

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Ronald R. Flegel became the Director of the Division of Workplace Program in May of 2012.  He initially joined The Division of Workplace Programs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in September of 2004 as the Forensic Toxicologist, following his employment with a nationally recognized laboratory, Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute.  As the Technical Scientist, his role included method research, development, validation, and regulatory compliance in all aspects of the toxicology operations.  His prior position was with a nationally recognized consulting firm, The Walsh Group, P.A.  His responsibilities at The Walsh Group included applied research, technology development, formulating new proposals and white papers leading to policy consideration. Prior to this position, he was employed with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated in the Forensic Toxicology Department as Shift Manager/ Section Supervisor in a SAMHSA Certified regulated drug testing laboratory.  His responsibilities included overseeing the laboratory certification process including quality control, data certification, method research, method validation, regulatory compliance, performance and developmental review of staff.  As a Technologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pathology, he certified and reviewed chemistry and emergency toxicology data and played a key role in shaping the continuing education program.

As a scientist, Mr. Flegel has worked on a variety of projects and written several technical papers that include cost effective approaches to substance abuse testing, cost efficient screening methodologies, marketing studies for state-of-the-art reagent protocols and instrumental validation procedures. These projects include method validation and reagent protocol development, modifications to reagents for cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness, and several other projects in drug evaluation programs.  He has chaired and co-chaired several committees, which strived to improve the overall quality of service in drug and alcohol programs.  He is a member of several professional societies including The American College of Toxicology (ACT), Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientist (AAFS), Society of Forensic Toxicology (SOFT) and The American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP).

Mr. Flegel recently testified before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Operations on the Federal response to marijuana legalization as it pertains to transportation policy.  He has lectured on numerous occasions for professional organizations on topics such as National Laboratory Certification Program, Prescription Drug Abuse, and Programs to Deter Drug Use, Analytical Approaches to Emergency Toxicology and Volatiles: Including Methanol, Ethanol and Isopropanol. Until he became Director, he had overseen the National Laboratory Certification Program as the Government Project Officer within SAMHSA which covers many aspects such as inspection protocols, review of regulatory guidelines, regulatory compliance issues and guidance documents for the laboratory.  In 1989, he had the honor of receiving the John C. Failing Award for Bench Medical Technologist of the Year.  Mr. Flegel received his Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Michigan University in biology and medical technology and his Master’s Degree from The University of Maryland in Forensic Toxicology.  He also completed several rotations at the Poison Control Center and Medical Examiner’s Office in the state of Maryland as well as his Medical Technology Internship at Hurley Medical Center in the department of pathology.  Mr. Flegel’s focus has been based on the testing procedures of Forensic Toxicology and Emergency Toxicology and all aspects of regulated testing and certification.

https://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/employer-resources

Matthew Maceira  is the Executive Director of Be Bold Street Ministries

He uses his experience as a Dope Dealer to being a Hope Dealer

Matthew survived many acts of brutality as a child and spent 27 years with active addiction, criminality, violence, and other drug world activities. He was wounded 14 times by knives and twice by gunshots. He received freedom and victory from all this through faith in Jesus Christ. Having been saved from a life of crime and the streets, he followed the call to share with all people the good news of a savior who makes his people whole. God led Matthew to found Be Bold Street Ministries.

[email protected]

Fox News.  Inside one of Oregon’s largest homeless camps with a former drug dealer.  Feb 17, 2024.  Hannah Lampert.

Amy Ronshausen is the Executive Director of both Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.), national nonprofit organizations that work prevent substance abuse, increase access to evidence-based treatment, and promote sustained recovery.

Mrs. Ronshausen has dedicated most of her adult life to the work of drug demand reduction. In her sixteen years with Drug Free America Foundation and S.O.S, she has assisted in coordinating successful grassroots advocacy campaigns to promote sound drug policy, analyzed and tracked state and federal drug policy legislation, and trained prevention professionals at local, national and international conferences. Mrs. Ronshausen regularly testifies on issues related to drug demand reduction on the local and global stage.

Prior to coming to DFAF, Mrs. Ronshausen spent three years as a program specialist with the Pinellas County Adult Drug Court, working under four judges. While in drug court, Mrs. Ronshausen linked defendants with treatment providers and monitored their progress through the criminal justice system. Mrs. Ronshausen started her work in drug prevention with Operation PAR, where she started off as a call specialist in their access center and then worked as a juvenile certified GAIN assessor. She also worked as a juvenile counselor for PAR’s Adolescent Recovery Intervention Services and the Juvenile Enhancement Treatment Services and is trained in Motivational Enhancement and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Mrs. Ronshausen volunteers as the Executive Director for the Florida Coalition Alliance, representing over 30 community anti-drug coalitions. She chairs the Marijuana Task Force as part of the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, and serves on the Pinellas County Opioid Task Force. Mrs. Ronshausen serves on the board of Informed Families, is an advisory board member for the Foundation for a Drug Free World, a member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and a master trainer for the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC).

 After being reelected in 2022, Mrs. Ronshausen serves as International President of the World Federation Against Drugs, a multilateral community of non-governmental organizations and individuals.

In 2023, Ms. Ronshausen was appointed by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, to serve as a member of the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement.

 Mrs. Ronshausen received her Bachelors of Arts Degree from University of South Florida.

 MarijuanaKnowTheTruth.org