Dr. Ronda Chakolis

Well, I mean, again, like like you said, it is hard to kind of push the federal mandate. You know, up until recently, we had some states that actually didn't have good Samaritan laws that allowed people to administer Narcan without a prescription to people who were clear signs of a visible overdose. And that's like to me, very insane. Right. That would be like saying, yeah.

Well, I mean, again, like like you said, it is hard to kind of push the federal mandate. You know, up until recently, we had some states that actually didn't have good Samaritan laws that allowed people to administer Narcan without a prescription to people who were clear signs of a visible overdose. And that's like to me, very insane. Right. That would be like saying, yeah.

I can see somebody who has a blood sugar of 400 or 500, and I know they need insulin, but legally, I have to walk by and let them go into a diabetic coma. For some people, that may be, you know, they can't see the comparison, but what we know is, again, I want to reiterate that this is a disorder that can be medically treated. I know we're getting close to time, and again,

I can see somebody who has a blood sugar of 400 or 500, and I know they need insulin, but legally, I have to walk by and let them go into a diabetic coma. For some people, that may be, you know, they can't see the comparison, but what we know is, again, I want to reiterate that this is a disorder that can be medically treated. I know we're getting close to time, and again,

One thing that I would love to bring back and talk about is we kind of have entered the conversation in terms of Narcan. Narcan to me, like everybody's using it. It's become the new thing. People like it. It's quick. It's an easy fix. You can see the benefits. effects of somebody being reversed of an, you know, an opioid overdose immediately.

One thing that I would love to bring back and talk about is we kind of have entered the conversation in terms of Narcan. Narcan to me, like everybody's using it. It's become the new thing. People like it. It's quick. It's an easy fix. You can see the benefits. effects of somebody being reversed of an, you know, an opioid overdose immediately.

But what I do know as a pharmacist is that when people are given Narcan without having resources, they're actually more than likely to die of an overdose later because that withdrawal is so, so strong. And so one of my passions is really expanding the use of medication assisted treatment in particular in BIPOC communities, because

But what I do know as a pharmacist is that when people are given Narcan without having resources, they're actually more than likely to die of an overdose later because that withdrawal is so, so strong. And so one of my passions is really expanding the use of medication assisted treatment in particular in BIPOC communities, because

I know of locations and clinics in the inner city where people who would take those spots, those designated spots, they would come in from the suburbs. And so our communities aren't left with providers who are willing to help them get MAT. I know in some states, pharmacists are able to do that. And hopefully Minnesota will join those states.

I know of locations and clinics in the inner city where people who would take those spots, those designated spots, they would come in from the suburbs. And so our communities aren't left with providers who are willing to help them get MAT. I know in some states, pharmacists are able to do that. And hopefully Minnesota will join those states.

First of all, yeah, I want to kind of piggyback what you said. And I see this movement being from sympathizing, empathizing to mobilizing. The Harm Reduction Collaborative isn't just people with lived experience. What the beauty of it is, there are people from a variety of disciplines. So you have pediatricians, you have nurse practitioners, you have

First of all, yeah, I want to kind of piggyback what you said. And I see this movement being from sympathizing, empathizing to mobilizing. The Harm Reduction Collaborative isn't just people with lived experience. What the beauty of it is, there are people from a variety of disciplines. So you have pediatricians, you have nurse practitioners, you have

pharmacists, you have lawyers, you have lobbyists, you have people who have been able to utilize the people who have the lived experience and mobilize those things and even educate providers in the community so that we can, you know, have a better community and treat everybody's lives with the compassion that they deserve.

pharmacists, you have lawyers, you have lobbyists, you have people who have been able to utilize the people who have the lived experience and mobilize those things and even educate providers in the community so that we can, you know, have a better community and treat everybody's lives with the compassion that they deserve.