Dr. Ronda Chakolis

And often that led to people sharing needles, becoming infected with different diseases such as HIV and Hep C. And then what we saw during COVID was just astronomical rise in HIV and Hep C, a lot of it due to substance use. So with that, I just had a question because I know like we all use, terms interchangeably and kind of say addiction, substance abuse, substance use disorder.

And often that led to people sharing needles, becoming infected with different diseases such as HIV and Hep C. And then what we saw during COVID was just astronomical rise in HIV and Hep C, a lot of it due to substance use. So with that, I just had a question because I know like we all use, terms interchangeably and kind of say addiction, substance abuse, substance use disorder.

Pearl, could you kind of tell me what is the difference between like substance use or addiction or the correct terminology that we should be using?

Pearl, could you kind of tell me what is the difference between like substance use or addiction or the correct terminology that we should be using?

Well, I would like to take a step back and kind of go back to from the public health or medical perspective. One, we need to do a better job when we're teaching. A lot of times when we're in school, you know, substance abuse is kind of disorderous entitled addiction that automatically induces stigma. It's not something that we talk about. It's done from a very poison control standpoint.

Well, I would like to take a step back and kind of go back to from the public health or medical perspective. One, we need to do a better job when we're teaching. A lot of times when we're in school, you know, substance abuse is kind of disorderous entitled addiction that automatically induces stigma. It's not something that we talk about. It's done from a very poison control standpoint.

But what we know now with this framework, the fact that we're saying it is a disorder, it is something that is treatable, we have to put our medical hats and our public health framework on. We have to start thinking about, yes, there's the pharmacology and the science. And when people say trust the science, the science will actually tell us that this is... this is definitely a medical issue.

But what we know now with this framework, the fact that we're saying it is a disorder, it is something that is treatable, we have to put our medical hats and our public health framework on. We have to start thinking about, yes, there's the pharmacology and the science. And when people say trust the science, the science will actually tell us that this is... this is definitely a medical issue.

So I can tell you personally from a pharmacist pharmacist perspective, what I've seen, and then I know I'll let others talk. Before this legislation was passed, there would be, I would say people, hundreds of people that I would run into and have the opportunity to talk to, to say like, actually the pharmacy is the last place they wanted to come and get syringes, at least in the city.

So I can tell you personally from a pharmacist pharmacist perspective, what I've seen, and then I know I'll let others talk. Before this legislation was passed, there would be, I would say people, hundreds of people that I would run into and have the opportunity to talk to, to say like, actually the pharmacy is the last place they wanted to come and get syringes, at least in the city.

because of how people were viewed. We weren't able to connect people with resources. We weren't able to provide like comprehensive services and actually refer out. What I have seen in some of the areas that I used to see syringes out outside of the pharmacy, I don't see that anymore.

because of how people were viewed. We weren't able to connect people with resources. We weren't able to provide like comprehensive services and actually refer out. What I have seen in some of the areas that I used to see syringes out outside of the pharmacy, I don't see that anymore.

Actually, I see in the city people who I've encountered who will come in for other things saying that they have been able to be

Actually, I see in the city people who I've encountered who will come in for other things saying that they have been able to be

connected um with syringe service providers and i've even seen those people get access to medication assisted treatment now i don't have hard data to support that but i say anytime you save a life or you impact a person's life you know you think about that ripple effect so um I think that is so important.

connected um with syringe service providers and i've even seen those people get access to medication assisted treatment now i don't have hard data to support that but i say anytime you save a life or you impact a person's life you know you think about that ripple effect so um I think that is so important.

But when we go into that legislation, we have to start thinking about, again, those people who were disproportionately affected by stuff. I've seen people be picked up for, you know, maybe a crack pipe or having a syringe. When I worked in the inner city, when I'm in Edina and I see somebody maybe who had the same things, they didn't they didn't have the same problem.

But when we go into that legislation, we have to start thinking about, again, those people who were disproportionately affected by stuff. I've seen people be picked up for, you know, maybe a crack pipe or having a syringe. When I worked in the inner city, when I'm in Edina and I see somebody maybe who had the same things, they didn't they didn't have the same problem.

So I think this legislation kind of really gets at the bigger issue. We want to treat people as humans. We want to make sure people are connected with communities and we want to make sure that when people are ready, we meet them where they're at.

So I think this legislation kind of really gets at the bigger issue. We want to treat people as humans. We want to make sure people are connected with communities and we want to make sure that when people are ready, we meet them where they're at.