Jul 19, 2023 Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education Committee

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WELL MAYBE IT ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK WE'LL PROBABLY START SOMETHING NOVELTY. ON TIME.

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[Call to Order]

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UH WE GOT TAMMY HAWKINS, WHO'S GONNA EXCUSE ABSENT. COREY ARTHUR IS WITH US. ANDREW OWEN

[Roll Call]

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[Pending Legislation]

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[Special Discussion]

ASHLEY AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE 27 QUESTIONS AND AH, SHE ANSWERED HIM ON THE ON THE ONLINE AND BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WHEN SHE GETS DONE WOULD BE GLAD TO ANTRIM. HI THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. I'M ASHLEIGH, BOOK DIRECTOR WITH LOUISVILLE METRO ANIMAL SERVICES, AND I'M OPEN TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OH, LET'S SEE WHAT ARE YOU? BETSY. WERE YOU ALWAYS OKAY ? THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THOROUGH ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOME OF THEM. OKAY AND I ADMIT I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF THIS STUFF, AND I WANT TO LOOK AT THE KENTUCKY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL ASSOCIATION. AND SEE WHAT THEIR STANDARDS ARE AND WHAT THEIR TRAINING IS. SO I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. AND YOU SAID OFFICERS ARE TRAINED IN ALL THE ORDINANCES DURING THEIR TRAINING. WHAT IS THE TRAINING LOOK LIKE FOR AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN ? YES. SO UM, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER TRAINING IS ACTUALLY OUR LONGEST TRAINING PROCESS TAKES ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO FULLY TRAINING ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER . UM SO WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY ARE PAIRED WITH A VETERAN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER THAT WILL TRAIN THEM. AH THE LIEUTENANT'S ALSO GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCES WITH THEM. THEY ARE ALL PRINTED OUT SO THEY CAN READ THEM. THEY GO THROUGH, UM, BEHAVIOR TRAINING WITH OUR ANIMAL BEHAVIOR COORDINATOR SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND ANIMAL BODY LANGUAGE AND HOW TO PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH. UM OBVIOUSLY HOW TO WRITE VIOLATIONS. HOW TO WRITE SEARCH WARRANTS JUST RUNS A HUGE GAME AT BUT LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO FULLY TRAINING OFFICER AND RELEASE THEM. PART OF THAT TRAINING IS ALSO THE KENTUCKY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL ASSOCIATION TRAINING THAT PER KRS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS TO BECOME CERTIFIED IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. OKAY IS THERE A SPECIFIC CURRICULUM THAT WE COULD LOOK AT TO KNOW EXACTLY LIKE WHAT THE STEPS ARE AND WHAT THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS ARE PRECISELY HOW IT'S DONE. YES I CAN. I CAN GET THAT FROM THE LIEUTENANT AND FORWARD THAT OVER TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU AS A TEACHER AND USED TO SEEING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND KNOWING PRECISELY WHAT I NEED TO DO, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD PUT THROUGH HERE. OKAY UM, QUESTION NUMBER FOUR. HOW MANY TIMES A DAY OR CALLERS WHO DO GET THROUGH? TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE SOME DAYS BEFORE IT CONTAINED DOG CAN BE PICKED UP. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THEN FEELS LIKE A RESPONSE. NEED A LITTLE MORE DEPTH TO IT. YES. SO, UM ANIMAL SERVICES. EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU KNOW, REGULAR 9 TO 5 JOB WHERE YOU COME IN, AND YOU DO THE SAME TASK EVERY DAY. SO WHEN A CITIZEN CALLS AND THEY HAVE A STRAY THAT MIGHT BE RUNNING LOOSE MIGHT BE CONFINED.

UM WE HAVE 48 HOURS TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK OUT TO THEM TO HELP HELP PICK IT UP. BECAUSE WE'LL GET TO THEM SOONER IF WE CAN, BUT THE OFFICERS RUN ON WHAT'S CALLED PRIORITIES PRIORITY ONE.

WE RESPOND TO WITHIN ONE HOUR, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION TO EITHER A HUMAN OR AN ANIMAL. UM SO THOSE TAKE PRECEDENCE. SO WE MAY BE ON THE WAY TO YOUR HOUSE TO GET THAT STRAIGHT. WHEN WE GET THAT 911 CALL THAT WE HAVE TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF SO IT MAY

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UNDERSTAND? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TURN A DOG IN IF I BRING THE DOG SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN LINE IN FRONT OF YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO SAY I CAN GET YOU OUT IN AND OUT IN FIVE MINUTES, BUT, UH, WE THERE'S PAPERWORK YOU HAVE TO LEGALLY FILL OUT THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT THE OWNER. WE GET AS MUCH INFORMATION FROM YOU AS POSSIBLE ON WHERE THE DOG WAS FOUND. UM WHAT STREET WHAT ADDRESS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THIS DOG BACK TO ITS OWNER, IF POSSIBLE. UM AND THEN, OF COURSE , WE HAVE TO SCAN IT FOR MICROCHIP. IF IT'S A PUPPY UNDER SIX MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PARVO TEST IT BEFORE IT COMES INTO THE SHELTER BECAUSE MARVEL IN THE SHELTER IS JUST DETRIMENTAL. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT IT'S SUPER SUPER FAST. FIVE MINUTES IN AND OUT, BUT YOU KNOW IT CAN RANGE FROM A HALF AN HOUR TO AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY WE ARE. YEAH, THAT THAT THAT'S THE PART THAT WITH ME WOULD BE LIKE TO BE VERY CHALLENGING. YEAH. SO IF I CAN'T STAY WHAT DO I DO? UNFORTUNATELY YOU ARE GOING TO STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE THROUGH THE PROCESS. YOU CAN CHOOSE MAYBE TO COME BACK AT A LATER TIME. IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE HOLDING ONTO THE DOG, OR, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE THEM. YOU KNOW, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE ITS AND WHOEVER GETS THERE FIRST, UNLESS AN EMERGENCY COMES IN. SO IF YOU WERE WALKING, WALKING IN WITH A STRAY DOG THAT HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET PUSHED TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE BECAUSE THAT'S AN EMERGENCY. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY AT SOME POINT FOR PUTTING SOME OF THAT ADMISSIONS PAPERWORK ONLINE TO SPEED THAT PROCESS? IT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY WE CAN LOOK INTO BECAUSE, YEAH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOGS GET IN AND THEY GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

WE DON'T WANT IT. INCONVENIENCE SOME. OKAY NOW, UM. OKAY. NUMBER NINE OWNERS REPEAT OFFENDER AND WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IMPOUNDED A VIOLATION NOTICES ISSUED UNDER CERTAIN UNLESS CIRCUMSTANCES CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY. SO, UM CAN YOU TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT? YEAH SO, UM, I SAID NO.

TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW. STUFF HAPPENS. WE'VE HAD REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER JUST LET THEM UP FRONT DOOR TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND DOESN'T HAVE HIM ON A LEASH. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE NOT THE ONES WE REALLY LIKE THEM MUCH, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT SOME THAT, UH, SOME CITIZENS THAT JUST NEED HELP. THEIR DOG IS CLIMBING THE FENCE, AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THEIR DOG WAS CLIMBING THE FENCE. SO WHEN THEY HAVE GOTTEN HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEM IS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP THEM. YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR DOG CONTAINED IN YOUR YARD. UM OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. UM I DIDN'T KNOW THIS HAPPENED AS OFTEN AS IT DOES UNTIL I WORKED AT ANIMAL SERVICES IS MEDIA READER. I MIGHT GO OUT THERE AND LEAVE THE GATE UNLATCHED HAPPENS. WAY MORE OFTEN THAN I WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT, UM SO AGAIN. WE JUST TRY TO TELL PEOPLE YOU KNOW. HEY TAKE YOUR DOG INSIDE. DO YOU NEED A TROLLEY SYSTEM? JUST TRY TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP YOUR

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THEY FIXED THE TWO POINTS AND THEN THEY HAVE A LONG LEAD THAT COMES OFF OF THEM. THAT LETS THE ANIMAL MOVED BACK AND FORTH FREELY WITHOUT GETTING TANGLED. SO WHEN WE HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE , WHICH WE TRY TO MOST, MOST OF THEM MOST OF THE YEAR, WE WILL OFFER THOSE CITIZENS AS WELL.

LIKE I SAID, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HELP THESE CITIZENS KEEP THEIR PETS RATHER THAN JUST TAKING THEM AWAY FROM THEM. THANK YOU. OKAY, LISTEN. OKAY NUMBER 14 STEPS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS JUST THROUGH ONE TV STATION. WE HAVE BEEN ON. WE'RE ON WAVE THREE EVERY FRIDAY, UM, WITH DONJI.

THANKFULLY SHE HAS WHAT'S CALLED FURRY FRIDAY. SEGMENTS WERE ON THERE EVERY FRIDAY. I HAVE ALSO APPEARED ON THE DWIGHT WITTEN AND TONY BENETTI SHOW. UM WDR B HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT STARTING TO REACH OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE WHEN THEY HAVE SOME OPENINGS, UH AND, UH, WHITE WOMEN WHO WAS LOVING TO DEATH HUGE SUPPORTER OF ANIMAL SERVICES, HAS STARTED USING HIS OFF TIME ON MONDAYS TO COME AND TAKE DUE LIVESTREAM VIDEOS OF SOME OF THE ADOPTABLE DOGS TO HELP US GET IT OUT THERE. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON MORE WAYS TO GET MORE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA WE'RE WORKING ON CREATING SOME NEWSLETTERS. JUST WE WANT TO GET MORE AND MORE OUT THERE ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND THE HELP THAT WE CAN OFFER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERYBODY'S IN A YOU KNOW, WITH INFLATION. I HATE THAT WORD. BUT WE KNOW EVERYBODY IS IN A TOUGH SPOT RIGHT NOW, AND WE JUST WANT TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO HELP. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM THEN WE GO DOWN. YOU BRING ME ONTO THE NEXT THING ABOUT SPAY, NEUTER AND SNIP CLINICS AND. ARE YOU AT CAPACITY FOR THAT? ARE YOU? ARE YOU THROUGH WHATEVER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ARE YOU SPAYING? AS MANY AS YOU CAN. DO YOU HAVE ROOM? TO BRING MORE INTO THE SYSTEM. I WISH I COULD SAY WE HAD MORE CAPACITY TO DO MORE SPACE THAN NEUTERS. UM YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH TAIL END WE WORKED WITH SHAMROCK WE WORKED FOR WITH PETS FOR LIFE. UM WHEN SHAMROCK AND PETS FOR LIFE ACTUALLY HAND OUT A VOUCHER, THE CITIZEN CAN THEN SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT WITH US. AND SO WE ARE DOING CITIZENS BAY NEUTERS AS WELL. THAT ARE NOT AT THE SHELTER SNIP CLINIC ACTUALLY DISCUSSED WITH KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY YESTERDAY, AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE ANOTHER VETERINARIAN, SO I THINK IT'S STARTING AROUND THE END OF AUGUST. THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY DOUBLE THEIR CAPACITY ON SPAIN. NEUTER, UM SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY SPAIN OWNERS DONE THIS. WE CAN, UH I WISH I WISH I COULD SAY THERE WAS, UM MORE VETERINARIANS IN LOUISVILLE. WE HAVE SOME AMAZING VETERINARIANS , BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE SEEING A DECLINE IN VETERINARY OFFICES , SO HOPEFULLY THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT SOME MORE VETERINARIANS TO DO MORE SPAY AND NEUTER AND WE'LL KEEP ON PUSHING ON SPAIN AND NEUTER AND EVERYTHING. WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON. YEAH THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE OUR VETS OFFICE HAS BEEN LIKE, YEAH, WE CAN HAVE YOU COME IN IN A MONTH. YEAH DO DO YOU HAVE YOU EVER DONE VOUCHERS WHERE THEY JUST TAKE IT TO WHATEVER VETS OFFICE THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH, AND THEN IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FROM THERE. HAS THAT BEEN DONE? THAT HAS BEEN DONE. WE ARE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING TWO YEARS IN A ROW TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THAT GRANT AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME FUNDING TO

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THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE A NICE, HAPPY, HEALTHIER LIFE WHEN THEY'RE SPAYED AND NEUTERED, SO WE TRY TO TRY TO COME FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ANGLES BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS THAT WE HIT SOMEBODY JUST THE RIGHT WAY. I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS THOSE OLD WIVES TALES WITHOUT A DOG NEEDS TO GROW UP. EXPERIENCE LINCOLN. NO. THE DOGS GET FIXED. YEAH.

OKAY, UM. OKAY UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DO NOT ADOPT LIST. AND DO YOU COMMUNICATE THAT LIST WITH OTHER FACILITIES? WE DO WORK WITH BULLITT COUNTY, HARDIN COUNTY. UH, JEFFERSONVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER. WE KIND OF THERE WASN'T LIKE THIS MASS LIST THAT GOES OUT. BUT WHEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY GO ON THAT LIST, WE'LL JUST WE'LL SEND A QUICK EMAIL OR PHONE CALL LIKE HEY. WE ENCOUNTER THIS SITUATION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADOPT THEM ANYMORE . YOU JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE OF THAT? AND THEY DO RECIPROCATE THAT AS WELL. OKAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE MY LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM SPAYED, UH, PREGNANT FEMALES. SO, UM. SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU IF IT DOGS COMING IN VIRTUALLY FULL TERM? UM VIRTUALLY FULL TERM. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON IS SHE ACTIVELY IN LABOR? NOW THIS GOES FOR CATS AND DOGS. ARE THEY ACTIVELY IN LABOR? ARE THEY ACTIVELY GIVING BIRTH? UM, IN IN THOSE INSTANCES. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO. THEY'VE ALREADY MOVED INTO THE BIRTH CANAL. UM SO WE WILL ALLOW THEM TO PROCEED FORWARD. AND THEN WE WILL, UH, PUT THEM INTO A FOSTER HOME AND TRANSFER THEM TO RESCUE GROUP. IF THEY ARE NOT AT FULL TERM. UM THERE IS THERE IS NO REASON YOU CAN'T SPAY AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS THAT THERE IS OTHER THAN LIKE ACTIVELY GIVING BIRTH. THERE IS NO POINT THAT YOU CANNOT GO AHEAD AND STAY. UM, IT IS. IT DOESN'T MAKE THE STAFF FEEL GREAT. NOT GONNA LIE IT, SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT ON THE VETERINARY STAFF THAT HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT IT IS WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE THIS OVERPOPULATION. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THEN YOU ABORT THE VIEW. ABORT THE PUPPIES ARE THE KITTENS AND CONTINUE WITH THE SPAIN? YES OKAY. BEST PRACTICE.

YEAH, I KNOW IT. IT'S PAINFUL. IT IS. OKAY SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS, AND MY LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM. THE PHONE TREE AND MAKING SURE PHONE CALLS ARE GETTING ANSWERED. AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING A USEFUL RESPONSE. SO AS THE AS THE PHONE TREE BEEN STIR OUT. THAT WAS ONE OF MY NOTES ON HERE THAT I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND TRY THE PHONE TREE AND SEE HOW IT WORKS. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOST IN IT BEFORE. YEAH I UNDERSTAND. THE PHONE TREE WAS CREATED QUITE A WHILE AGO, BASED ON A STUDY A TOP DOWN REVIEW THAT WAS DONE OF LMS PHONE TREES ARE BEST PRACTICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH ANIMAL SHELTERS ACTUALLY CALLED

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EVERYTHING SENT TO THEIR WEBSITE . I AM CURRENTLY AND I SAY CURRENTLY BECAUSE THE PHONE TREE IS VERY CONFUSING, GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCRIPT AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN ELIMINATE, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED ON OUR WEBSITE AND RATHER THAN GOING IN CIRCLES AND GETTING LOST ON THAT PHONE TREE. I'M TRYING TO MINIMIZE THOSE OPTIONS. OKAY? AND. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S THE QUESTIONS I'VE GOT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BETSY. UH GOOD QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT. CHICORY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS JUST SOME SOME LOGISTICS. I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN ADD DOCUMENTS FROM YOUR ANSWERS TO THE RECORD. I HAVE FORWARDED THOSE TO THE METRO COUNCIL CLERK. IT INCLUDES THE QUESTIONS YOU ANSWER IN WRITING , AS WELL AS THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. 5.37 0.7 AND 7.35 SO WHENEVER THE MINUTES ARE POSTED HOPEFULLY, LIKE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. DON'T KILL ME, SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN JUST ADD THOSE DOCUMENTS SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE HOW YOU ANSWERED AND WRITING. AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. I'M CURIOUS. WHEN WE TALKED DURING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE YOU HADN'T MENTIONED THERE WERE FUNDS TO GIVE TO EXTERNAL AGENCIES JUST TO HELP WITH SERVICES. YOU REMIND ME YOU NAMED AN ORGANIZATION JUST REMIND ME WHAT ORGANIZATION WAS THAT THAT YOU USUALLY CONTRACT WITH FOR THOSE SERVICES ALLEY CAT ADVOCATES THEY HANDLE THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THEM TO DO SPAY AND NEUTER OF OUR COMMUNITY CATS.

AND WHEN YOU WORKED WITH THEM, I ASSUME SINCE YOU'VE CONTINUOUSLY WORK WITH THEM, YOU'VE APPRECIATED THE RESULTS YOU'VE RECEIVED. VERY MUCH OPEN TO WORKING WITH OTHERS. HAVE YOU WORKED WITH OTHERS? COULD YOU JUST GIVE US SOME INSIGHT AND YOUR TO YOUR COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL AGENCIES? ALWAYS HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYBODY? YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL ON OUR OWN. SO I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO WORKING WITH ANYBODY WE WORK WITH. LIKE I SAID THE SHAMROCK FOUNDATION. UM THEY WILL PULL SOME ANIMALS FROM US AS WELL. THEY ARE RESCUE ORGANIZATION, BUT THEY GIVE OUT SPAIN NEUTER VOUCHERS. AS TO THOSE IN NEED. THAT MAYBE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THEIR PET ALTERED, AND THOSE VOUCHERS ARE THEN UTILIZED BY MY DEPARTMENT. THE PERSON WILL SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WILL DO THIS VAN NEUTER FOR THEM. GET THEM VACCINATED. MICROCHIPPED UM WE ALSO WORK WITH LIKE SOME PETS FOR LIFE. WE HAD SOME GRANT FUNDING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM SPAYED NEUTERED VOUCHERS. THAT HAS BEEN BEEN GOING WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO BETTER, BUT IT IS STILL GOING. WELL, UM WE? YOU KNOW, WE WORKED WITH LOTS OF RESCUE GROUPS. WE DO, UM YOU KNOW BAD SURGERIES FOR ANIMAL CARE SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A THEY'RE NOT A SHELTER, SO THEY DON'T HAVE A VETERINARIAN. UM WE, UH YES, SOMEBODY WE WORK WITH KENTUCKY HUMAN SIDE AS WELL. THEY WILL ALSO HELP WITH SURGERIES. UM, LIKE MAYBE SOME LARGE AMPUTATION , SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY WILL TAKE A DOG AND DO THE SURGERY SO WE CAN THE AMPUTATION MAY TAKE THREE OR FOUR HOURS. IT'S A VERY LONG SURGERY. THEY WILL HELP BY DOING THAT, SO WE CAN CLEAR OUR TABLE TO DO MORE SPACE AND NEUTERS. WE ALSO HAVE TAYLAN BED CARE, AND I WILL GO BACK AND SAY THAT ADVOCATES PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN SO GOOD. THEY ACTUALLY ARE ON OUR CAMPUS. THEY MOVED OVER RIGHT AFTER WE DID, UM AND THEN TAYLAN VET CARE IS A CONTRACTOR THAT OPENED UP A LOW COST WELLNESS CENTER RIGHT IN OUR BUILDING, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY OVER WHAT THEY DO LIKE SAID THEY CONTRACT OUT THE SPACE. OTHER THAN THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN, UM UM FAIR PRICES FOR CITIZENS TO COME IN. THEY DO SPAIN NEUTER THEY DO DENTALS THAT YOUR BLOOD WORK? THEY DO? X RAYS. UM AND YOU KNOW, WELLNESS VACCINES, STUFF LIKE THAT, AND WE WILL SHARE OUR X RAY MACHINE AND BLOOD BLOOD WORK MACHINE WITH THEM. AND JUST CLARIFY FOR ME. YOU WORK WITH ALL OF THESE GROUPS. BUT THE ALLEY CAT ADVOCATES IS THAT THE ONLY GROUP THAT YOU ACTUALLY CONTRACT WITH THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S CONTRACTED BUDGETARILY. OKAY? BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO CONTRACTING WITH OTHERS ALWAYS OPEN TO LOOKING INTO MORE IF THEY YOU KNOW IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING GOING UNDERSTOOD. MY LAST QUESTION IS AROUND POLICY CHANGES. I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT POLICY CHANGES FOR THE PHONE TREE. AND MAYBE OTHERS. WHAT'S THE PLAN TO INCLUDE SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU WORK WITH TO MAKE SURE THOSE POLICY CHANGES ADDRESS THE

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WE'RE HOPING THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS WITH YOU ALL DIRECTLY AS YOU ALL MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU. VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN ARTHUR. BUT IF YOU GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ME. SINCE SINCE DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO RESPOND TO SEE NOT. WELL YOU DID A GREAT JOB, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING ALL THESE QUESTIONS.

UM AND I THINK, UH, KOREA AS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT OPEN DIALOGUE WITH MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED. IT'S FUNNY. HOW, UH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOT A GOOD IDEA. WHEN I WAS TEACHING SCHOOL I USED TO MY STUDENTS. NOBODY'S GOT A MONOPOLY ON THE IDEAS AND THE MORE PEOPLE YOU CAN HAVE INVOLVED. THINGS HAPPEN IN A POSITIVE WAY. SO ACTUALLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. UM AND IF ANYBODY IN THE COMMITTEE HAS ANYMORE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW SOME THROUGH BARBARA OR MYSELF AND WELL, I GET TO IT. AND SO FORTH. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL NEXT ON THE AGENDA. UM WE GOT SOMEWHERE FROM LANDMARK. UM DRUG ABUSE, TREATMENT, TREATMENT AND HOMELESSNESS. UM. KEITH. SOUNDS GREAT. YEAH, NOT WORKING. DID. WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE SEEN UP HERE AND FIGURE THAT OUT? LET'S TRY TO CAMERA ZOOM IN ON THERE. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HIM INTO CLASS. I HAD TO STARE AT ME FOR LONGER THAN. YOU ASK REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE IT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, RIGHT HERE. KEITH IDENTIFY YOURSELF UNTIL EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE YOU'RE FROM. ABSOLUTELY MAIMS. KEITH FARRAH I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. LANDMARK RECOVERY AND THE REBEL UM OPERATE THE PRACTICE MEDICAID FACILITY LOCATED OFF TAYLOR BOULEVARD, WHERE 21 DAY MEDICAL INPATIENT DETOX. FACILITY AND WE TREAT PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION AND WITH ALCOHOLISM AND PLENTY OF FOLKS TO BY VIRTUE OF THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE ALSO HAVE CO OCCURRING DISORDERS AS WELL. FIRST OF ALL, I GUESS I WOULD START BY SAYING IT IS CERTAINLY IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS FOR ME WHEN I AM ABLE TO BE IN A POSITION TO SERVE. UM THAT IT GETS REAL SURREAL. UM. I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ALL PASS ON THE WAY TO WORK SOMETIMES. UM WALKING THE STREETS OF LOUISVILLE, NOT KNOWING WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO NEXT. JUST REALLY OUT OF MY MIND. THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO. UM AND YOU WOULD THINK AFTER 10 YEARS OF LIVING WITH THAT I CONSIDER TO BE A BEAUTIFUL RICH LIFE. THAT YOU WOULD FORGET THOSE TIMES, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WHEN I FOUND MYSELF IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WITH YOU ALSO, THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE HERE. UM, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME. UM REMEMBER APPRECIATED THAT. UM

[00:50:08]

AND I GOT SOBER AT 41 YEARS OLD. UM THERE WERE FROM ME. ALCOHOLISM WAS MY FIRST.

IMPAIRMENT THAT LED TO YOUR OPIOID ADDICTION. UM AND THAT LED TO METHAMPHETAMINE ADDICTION. UM. WHAT? WHEN I'M WHEN I'M TALKING WITH CLIENTS ABOUT ABOUT ADDICTION HOUSE AFFECTING THEIR LIFE, EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS KIND OF LIKE AN OXYMORON, BUT WHAT I WILL TELL THEM IS THAT THEY THE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. ACTUALLY AREN'T THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE WHEN YOU REMOVE THOSE YOU STILL HAVE THE ADDICTED BRAIN THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ITSELF. SO THE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM, AND WE CAN REMOVE THOSE UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND ADDICTION AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST TREAT ADDICTION. UM WE'RE ONLY HELPING WITH PART OF THE ISSUE. UM SO TO CONVINCE 25 YEARS OF ACTIVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE INTO A FEW MINUTES. ALCOHOLISM GOT ME AT 16 YEARS OLD. UM AT 41 YEARS OLD. I WAS AN ABSENT PARENT. CONVICTED FELON HOMELESS WITH HEPATITIS C. UM AND WITH WITH. NO JOB POTENTIALS ON THE HORIZON. UM I HAD BEEN IN TREATMENT. IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE ABOUT 20 TIMES BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013. UM AND. I FOUND MYSELF SITTING ON A PORCH OFF OF GAGGLE AVENUE. TRY IT IN FRONT OF SOME STRANGER'S HOUSE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I WAS GONNA GO NEXT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO GET ONE MORE. UM IF YOU'VE KNOWN ANYONE WITH ADDICTION, YOU WILL WATCH THEM. SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO TERRIBLE AND HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. YOUR LIVES. WATCH THEM, LOSE EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIFE AND THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS. AND FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT STARTS TO GET REAL CONFUSING ABOUT WHY I KEEP MAKING THESE DECISIONS. THAT. EVEN WITH MY BEST THINKING ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE. UM AND SO FOR MEERSONALLY. UM THAT DAY. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT I DIDN'T ACTIVELY NOT WANT TO BE ALIVE ON THE EARTH ANYMORE. BUT ALSO WASN'T ALSO AT THE SAME TIME WASN'T DYING FASTER.

BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME LIKE THE MOVIE GROUNDHOG DAY. IT WAS THE SAME STUFF EVERY DAY, TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. UM AND MAYBE I HAD THE GIFT OF DESPERATION OR EXHAUSTION. UM AND, AND THE TRICK IS I'VE BEEN READY TO GET SOBER QUITE A FEW TIMES. READY TO GET OVER AND READY TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO STAY SOBER. LOOK DIFFERENTLY. UM. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS READY TO PURSUE.

RECOVERY WITH THE SAME ZEAL AND SAME COMMITMENT THAT I'VE EVER BEEN WILLING TO PURSUE MY ADDICTION. UM. AND THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS IN AUGUST. UM. 10 YEARS LATER. I'M THE FATHER TOO BEAUTIFUL. 14 YEAR OLD CHILD GIRL. REALLY GLAD THAT THAT I GET TO BE THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE. I HOLD A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE. I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL ALCOHOL DRUG COUNSELOR WILDLIFE CENTER IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. AND AT LANDMARK APPARENTLY BELIEVES THAT I CAN RUN A PRETTY GOOD DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT FACILITY. UM SOMETHING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THAT FACILITY ALSO UM. I HAVE ALL THE THINGS YOU KNOW. I OWNED THE HOME AND THE CAR AND ALL THOSE THINGS. UM BUT THE BEAUTY FOR ME RECOVERY HAS BEEN. IT'S PUT ME IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SERVE. UM SO I TOLD HER A FEW OF YOU WHEN I GOT HERE TO THE GOOD NEWS IS I'M NOT HERE TO ASK FOR ANY MONEY OR ANY HELP. I DON'T NEED FUNDING. WE DON'T DON'T. I'M HERE TO SEE HACK AND BEST SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. I CAN BEST BE OF HELP TO YOU ALL. UM AND ALSO EDUCATE YOU. UM, I WANT YOU TO LEAVE HERE KNOWING MORE ABOUT ADDICTION AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING PEOPLE THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW NOW. AND IF I CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT UM MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL HAVE BEEN WORTH IT AND HELPFUL BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR TIME IS PRETTY IMPORTANT, TOO. UM AND IF IT ANY POINT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. PLEASE STOP MAKING OUR TALK AND TALK AND TALK. BUT YEAH, I'LL DO IT. I'LL DO IT. I'M I WISH I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY MORE OFTEN THAN WHEN I DO, MAN. I'M GONNA GRAB AHOLD OF IT. UM SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE DOUBLE MEAN

[00:55:03]

THAT IS WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE LIKE ME TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE AND BE TOLD THAT THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE KEY. THERE WERE SENDING YOU TO PRISON AND I STILL GET HIGH ANYWAY, KNOWING WHAT'S COMING UM, THIS IS WHAT DRIVES US TO GET WHAT WE NEED TO GET EVEN IF WE'RE GONNA LOSE OUR CHILDREN. UM TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, EVEN IF IT MEANS WE FLUNKED OUT OF COLLEGE. UH UM.

FROM THE FROM THE AGE OF INFANCY. OUR BRAIN PRODUCES DOPAMINE. ANYONE IN THIS ROOM? A GUY WHO'S A PARENT. HAS HELD THAT SWEET, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY. AND THEY'RE COOING, AND THEY'RE FINE AND THEY'RE HAPPY AND EVERYTHING'S OKAY. AND THEN YOU SIT THEM DOWN. AND THEY START CRYING IMMEDIATELY. YOU PICK HIM BACK UP IN THEIR GRADE AGAIN, RIGHT? AND THE TRUTH IS THEY LOVE BEING HELD. THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS THAT SECURITY AND THAT WARMTH AND THAT BEING CLOSE TO YOU HELPS THEIR BRAIN RELEASED OPENLY IN AND THEN THE RECEPTORS. PICK THAT DOPAMINE UP . THEY FIRED TO THE NEUROTRANSMITTER AND BACK. AND THE BABY'S BRAIN REGISTERED SUCCESS. PART OF THE REASON THEY WANT US TO HOLD ON TO HIM. IT'S BECAUSE THEY LOVE US. THE OTHER PART IS EVEN AT A FEW MONTHS OLD. THEIR BRAIN IS ALREADY STARTED TO BE GUIDED. BY DOPAMINE FLOW. SO WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AND I'M DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AWAY FROM THIS MIGHT EXHAUST AND RIGHT HERE AND I'M I GUESS I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING A POWER POINT PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK A GREAT WAY OF THESE PEOPLE'S ATTENTION IS PUT A POWER POINT PRESENTATION ON SO I CHOSE TO DO THE RUDIMENTARY DRY RACE BOARD AND SAID UM. SO DOPAMINE IS ONE OF THE GOOD FEELINGS IN CHEMICALS IN YOUR BRAIN. THIS DOUBLE MEANS SEROTONIN OCCUPANTS AND ALL TYPES WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT DOPAMINE, AND IT'S A LILE BIT ABOUT SEROTONIN. UM BUT DUBLIN IS GOING TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS AND ARICK PART ABOUT YOUR BRAIN IS THAT ONLY PRODUCES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DOPAMINE A THE TIME. SO WHEN YOUR BRAINS USG IT I CERTAIN AMOUNT OFLOWING ROUGH YOUR BRAIN THAT'S AVAILABLE WHEN YOU EAT SOMETHING YOU LIKE. FOR ME. THAT'S DONUTS, ALL THE DONUTS ALL THE TIME. UM THEIR DOPAMINE FLOW INCREASES ABOUT 50% OR SO IN YOUR BRAIN, WHICH IS MANAGING YOUR BRAIN CAN USE THAT WITHOUT BECOMING DEPLETED. UM, SEX INCREASES ABOUT 100. WHEN WE START LOOKING AT SUBSTANCES, ALCOHOL INCREASES AT ABOUT 100% THE TRICKY PART ABOUT ALCOHOL IS IT ALSO RELEASES SEROTONIN AS WELL. THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT CHEMICAL WHERE YOU FEEL GREAT ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND THIS IS AWESOME.

AND I'D LOVE TO DO THIS AGAIN SOON. SEROTONIN IS THE CHEMICAL THAT KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING'S GOOD. CAN YOU STEP OUT INTO A NICE SPRING MORNING? THE SUN'S OUT HITS YOUR FACE AND YOU'RE STANDING THERE AND YOU FEEL A SENSE OF EASING COMFORT. THAT'S THE SEROTONIN SEROTONIN GETTING RELEASED IN YOUR BRAIN. WITH OPIOIDS IT INCREASES ABOUT 200. SO NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO YOUR LEVELS AND RANGES. THAT THERE AREN'T SUSTAINABLE AND THAT HONESTLY, HUMAN BEINGS SHOULDN'T FEEL THAT GREAT. FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. IT STARTED TO GIVE US ARTIFICIAL FEELINGS.

OF WELLNESS AND EUPHORIA. WITH COCAINE IT INCREASES ABOUT 200. I'M SORRY. 300. MR WROTE THAT UM , WITH METHAMPHETAMINES, THE DOPAMINE INCREASE IN OUTPUT IN YOUR BRAIN INCREASES ABOUT 1200% OVER WHAT'S OVER WHAT'S NORMALLY THERE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IT'S SPECIFICALLY WITH COCAINE AND METHAMPHETAMINES AND ARTIFICIAL FEELING GOOD. THAT THAT IS INHUMAN AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE.

UM. ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR. YES. WHERE DOES MARIJUANA FOLLOWING THIS THING ABOUT MARIJUANA? AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT DOES NOT. RELEASED OPENLY MARIJUANA INTERACTION WITH YOUR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHY IT HAS A RELAXING PROPERTIES TO IT.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT MARIJUANA IS IT ACTUALLY DECREASES YOUR DOPAMINE LEVELS IN YOUR BRAIN AND DECREASES YOUR BRAIN'S ABILITY? TO PRODUCE SELF MAN. UM IF YOU'RE AROUND PEOPLE WHO SMOKE REGULARLY OR REALIZE MARIJUANA REGULARLY, WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT NOTICE. IT'S KIND OF A FLATNESS IN THEIR PERSONALITY. UM AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF LOWS. BUT REMEMBER WHAT I HAS EITHER. UM AND IT BECOMES ALMOST DIFFICULTY DISTINGUISHED WHEN THEY'RE SMOKING, OR YOU LOUSY MARIJUANA WHEN THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF HERE ALL THE TIME. UM SO MARIJUANA, ALTHOUGH IT IS HELPFUL FOR A LOT PHYSICAL MEDICAL ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES, AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE MARIJUANA VERSUS PHARMACEUTICALS THAT HAVE ANXIETY DISORDERS, EVERYTHING ELSE IT DOES HELP WITH THAT IT DOESN'T HELP SO MUCH IN TERMS OF DEPRESSION IN TERMS OF HOW IT KIND OF INCAPACITATE YOUR BRAIN IN WAYS THAT PRODUCED CHEMICALS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY. MAKES SENSE. UM. SO I WANTED TO LET ME GET MY MARKER HANG ON A SECOND. I WANT

[01:00:12]

BASED ON WHAT WHAT THE INTAKE IS. UM YOUR BRAIN ACTUALLY STARTS TO CHANGE. UM, PHYSICALLY. AND. THAT IS A BIG PART OF HOW ADDICTION STARTS TO OCCUR IN THE BRAIN AND WHY WE BECOME DRIVEN TO DO THINGS THAT WE DO. UM SO I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT HAPPENS. UM. UM. I'M A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT AN ARTIST. SO THIS IS THE BEST VERSION OF THE BRAIN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET FROM ME ABOUT DR. BEING AWARE OF YOUR SHORTCOMINGS IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM. YES, SIR. TERRIBLE MAN. MY HANDWRITING IS EVEN WORSE THAN MY HEART. UM. SO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, AS INFANTS, AS AS KIDS TRYING TO THE WHOLE ROOM SINCE ARTIFACT.

UM. OUR BRAIN IS ALREADY PRODUCING DOPAMINE. UM. TWO TOGETHER A PERSONAL TO GIVE PERSONAL CONTACT. WHEN I WAS 13 14 YEARS OLD. I WAS REALLY GOOD AT SHOOTING BALL. UM NOT SO MUCH NOW, LIKE MY BRAIN TELLS ME THAT I CAN STILL DO THINGS THAT MY BODY JUST DOESN'T AGREE THAT I CAN DO WHEN I GET ON THE COURT, SO BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WAS GOOD. UM I WENT TO WENT TO TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL ST. PIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOL. UM PRETTY GOOD STUDENT. AND I WAS DRAWN TO THE PARK EVERY AFTERNOON. UM I WAS A SHOCK KIND OF INSECURE KID, AND I FINALLY FOUND THE THING THAT MADE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. AT LEAST THAT'S HOW I FELT ABOUT IT. WRITE THE TRUTH WAS GIVEN THE THINGS THAT MY BRAIN WAS ENJOYING AT THAT TIME SHOOTING BASKETBALL RELEASED THE MOST OPEN MEANS SO IT IS WHAT DREW ME BACK TO THAT MOST OFTEN. AND IN THE PROCESS OF THAT COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL. KNOWING HOW TO DO HOMEWORK TO DO WAS WAS ALWAYS NEGOTIABLE. AND I WILL DO THAT.

BUT I'M GONNA GO TO THE PARK FIRST. AND AS A RESULT, MY GRADES START TO DECLINE. BUT I'M STILL GOING TO PARK AND SHOOTING BALL BECAUSE I'M GOOD AT IT. AND THE TRUTH IS MY BRAIN, THOUGH, IS TELLING ME YOU NEED TO GO DO THAT, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE REST OF THE STUFF LATER ON. AS A RESULT, GRAY START DROPPING AS A RESULT OF THAT, AND UP IN SUMMER SCHOOL, UM NEVERTHELESS, I'M JUST DRAWING OF THAT ALL THE TIME. NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THERE'S AN ACTIVITY THAT YOU'RE ENJOYING THAT YOUR BRAIN IS GOING TO RELEASE DOPAMINE OVER, IT HAS TO HIT THE RECEPTOR FIRST. AND IT GETS SENT TO THE NEUROTRANSMITTER. THE NEUROTRANSMITTER CHECKS IT OUT AND SENDS IT BACK. DECORATES A PATHWAY. WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT PLASTIC IN YOUR CLASS CITY IN YOUR BRAIN. THERE ARE PATHWAYS THAT GET CREATED WHEN YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY DOING THE SAME ACTIVITY THAT RELEASES THE SAME DOPAMINE LEVEL. SO IT STARTS TO CREATE THE PATHWAY. AND I'M SHOOTING BALL AND THE GRASS DIDN'T GETTING CUT AND HOMEWORK IS NOT GETTING DONE. UM AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FOLLOWING OFF. AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MY ADDICTION. BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT. THE TRICK IS I TURNED 16 YEARS OLD AND I GOT DRUNK FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND I PASSED OUT AND PUKED EVERYWHERE AND HAD A BLACKOUT AND I COULD NOT WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN AS SOON AS I COULD. YEAH THAT'S TERRIBLE. MAGIC BULLET FOR ME. EVERYTHING ABOUT WHO I WAS AND WHO I THOUGHT I WAS, AND I WAS I WAS PERCEIVED CHANGED. IN THAT NIGHT. AND IT WAS LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR. AND IMMEDIATELY FOR SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK IT. ALCOHOLISM ADDICTION. I DIDN'T IT WAS VERY QUICK FOR ME. I KNEW WHAT I KNEW. I LOVED IT, AND I WANT IT AS OFTEN AS I COULD GET IT. AND THAT CREATES ANOTHER PATHWAY IN MY BRAIN. SO NOW IT'S SHOOTING BACK AND FORTH. THESE NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND RECEPTORS ARE PICKING THAT UP AND SENDING IT BACK AND FORTH. AND IT'S INTERESTING. BECAUSE SHOOTING BALL WASN'T THAT BIG A PRIORITY FOR ME ANYMORE. WASN'T THAT INTERESTED IN IT? BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT WASN'T THAT I WASN'T THAT INTERESTED IN IT. IT'S THE REWARD THAT MY BRAIN WAS GETTING TO THE DOPAMINE RELEASED THROUGH MY ALCOHOLISM WAS OVERPOWERING THE REWARD I GOT FROM SHOOTING BALL WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO HAS ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM AND THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, JOHN, YOU STILL LOVE TO PLAY BALL, BUT HE STARTED DRINKING OR WHATEVER.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE. IT'S THAT THEIR BRAINS GUIDING THEM TO GET THE MOST SATISFACTION FROM WHATEVER THEY CAN GET THEM TO DO. NOW THE TRICK IS. BECAUSE THEIR PLASTICITY RIGHT THE PATHWAYS THAT AREN'T BEING USED AS OFTEN. START TO DIE OFF SOME. AND THE

[01:05:02]

THEIR BRAIN IS. IT IS MAKING CHOICES FOR THEM. AND WHAT'S SCARY ABOUT IT IS THE PERSON IN ACTIVE ADDICTION. HIS BRAIN IS MAKING HIS CHOICES. TYPICALLY WILL NOT TELL THE BODY IT IS IN THAT I WANT YOU TO GO GET HIGH. WHAT DID THEY TELL THEM IS I KNOW YOU COMMITTED TO COMING TO TREATMENT. AND THIS TIME YOU SAID YOU STAY THE WHOLE TIME. BUT DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD GO GET A JOB? GO AHEAD AND LEAVE TREATMENT. OR WHAT? IT WILL TELL A PARENT LIKE I WAS IN THE SHAPE HOURS IN THAT I KNOW YOU NEED TO BE IN TREATMENT, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU GOTTA DO THIS, BUT YOU NEED TO GO BE A SOBER DAD. EVEN THOUGH I HADN'T TALKED TO MY KIDS IN FOUR YEARS. IT WILL LIE TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A HIJACK. SO THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT HER IN ACTIVE ADDICTION WILL COME TO YOU WITH BRILLIANT IDEAS. AND SELL YOU ALL. WHY THEY NEED TO NOT DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEY'LL BELIEVE HIM WHEN THEY'RE SAYING BECAUSE THE BRAIN IS IT'S STUNNING. ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR. SORRY. I TOLD YOU ALL TALK. AS WE'RE TALKING TALKING. ALL RIGHT, UM SO. SO HERE WE ARE , UM AND I WOULD IMAGINE SOME OF Y'ALL FOR ME WITH THE TERM TOLERANCE WHEN IT COMES TO NEEDING MORE AND MORE OF A SUBSTANCE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME EFFECT. WHAT AGAIN WHAT I HAVE LOVED MOST ABOUT MY JOB. MY EDUCATION IS UNDERSTANDING HOW THE HUMAN BODY WORKS TO SAVE YOU FROM YOURSELF. IN MY MIND, I'D ALWAYS ASSUMED TOLERANCE WAS JUST WAS JUST THAT YOUR BODY GETS USED TO IT. SO YOU NEED MORE. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE CASE AT ALL. UM THE REASON TOLERANCE OCCURS AS YOUR BRAIN STARTS TO REALIZE THAT THE DOPAMINE OUTPUT THAT IS GIVING YOU IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, SO IT STARTS TO WORK IN A WAY THAT WILL SAVE YOU FROM YOURSELF AND HOPEFULLY GET YOU NOT TO LIKE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE DOING ENOUGH. TO MAKE YOU STOP. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT MILLIONS OF RECEPTORS AND MILLIONS OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS YOUR BRAIN SAYS. I ONLY KNOW ONE WAY TO FIX THIS, AND IT WILL START SHUTTING DOWN RECEPTORS. SO WHY YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD A MILLION BEFORE AND NOW YOU'VE GOT 500,000 INSTEAD. WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE, BUT ONLY HALF THE RECEPTORS ARE RECEIVING THAT STUFF SINCE AS DID BEFORE.

SO YOU'RE ONLY FEELING HALF AS GOOD AS YOU DID BEFORE, AND THEN YOU DOUBLE UP. AND YOU START TAKING MORE AND MORE AND YOUR BRAIN IS STILL NOT GONNA. IT'S NOT GONNA LET YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER THAN YOU DID. BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WHEN YOU DOUBLE UP OR WHEN YOU TRIPLE UP AND INCREASE YOUR DOSAGE. THE REST OF YOUR BODY IS FEELING ALL BAD. SO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN USING FENTANYL AND IT'S NOT WORKING OUT AS WELL. YOU'RE MORE THAN NOT FEELING AS WELL ANYMORE. SO THEY TAKE TWICE AS MUCH ONE DAY BECAUSE THEY REALLY WANT TO FEEL IT AGAIN. AND WHILE THEIR BRAIN IS LIMITING FROM FEELING THAT THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM HIDDEN THE REST OF THEIR BODIES. THE KIDNEYS AND LIVER ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. AS THE BRAIN IS PERSON WHO STOPS READING. BECAUSE THEY DOUBLED THEIR DOGS UP. UM. SO. TOLERANCE OCCURS NOW THE OTHER TRICKY PART. OF THE BRAIN. I'VE I'VE USED MYSELF AGAIN AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I'M THERE WAS BY THE TIME I GOT SOBER. IF THERE'S ANYTHING I WAS GOOD AT IT WAS, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO SOMEONE. HOW HOW NOT TO DO IT. BECAUSE I WAS BAD AT GETTING SOBER. UM THE PROBLEM. WITH THIS TYPE OF NEURO PLASTICITY IS THAT THE PATHWAYS NEVER GO AWAY. SO WHILE THEY MIGHT DIMINISH AND WEAKEN THERE

[01:10:01]

AN AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE COMMUNITY AROUND ME THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS. YOU WOULD THINK. THAT IF MY BACK'S HURTING REAL BAD OR I'LL PULL A MUSCLE THAT I COULD TAKE A PAIN PILL. SURELY I'M I'M I'M A GOOD SPACE. AND THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAIN'S BEEN WAITING FOR THAT FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. BECAUSE THOSE PATHWAYS NEVER GO AWAY. AND I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO CHOOSE WHAT I WANT TO DO. NEXT ONE. I PUT A SUBSTANCE IN MY BODY. I ALWAYS LOSE THE CHOICE OF MEDIA. AND SO EVEN AFTER THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IF I WERE TO USE AGAIN GIVEN MY HISTORY WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS, I'LL UNDO MOST OF MY LIFE. THAT'S THAT'S HOW QUICKLY IT WILL HAPPEN. UM. AND I'VE I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE IN RECOVERY. UM AND I'VE SEEN THEM DIE AS A RESULT. BECAUSE THE BRAIN IS ALWAYS GONNA HAVE THAT PATH RIGHT THERE. IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE WAITING. UM WALK AROUND DAILY THINKING. OH, MY GOSH, I BETTER NOT LOOK AT BETTER NOT WALK DOWN THE BEER. I'LL, OF COURSE NOT LIVING PRETTY GOOD LIFE. UM BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT YOU KNOW IN RECOVERY, AND WE HAVE HAD ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM PROBLEMS WHEN THEY HAVEN'T USED FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU'RE HANGING OUT WITH THEM SOMEWHERE AT THE RESTAURANT AND YOU GET A BEER AND MAYBE, OR MAYBE YOU DON'T SAY THE MAN I MET VINCE, SEVEN YEARS. SURELY YOU HAVE A BEER WITH ME. NO, THEY CAN'T. IT'S JUST BEEN WRITING THE WHOLE TIME. UM SO. I ALSO HOPE THIS SENSE A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT. ON ON WHAT THE HUMAN ON WHAT OCCURS WITHIN THE HUMAN BRAIN, AND I'M KEEPING IT AT A PRETTY BASIC BASIC EDUCATIONAL LEVEL. UM BECAUSE I THINK FOR ME, AT LEAST, THIS EXPLAINS A LOT OF MY OWN BEHAVIOR, EXPLAINED A LOT OF NEIGHBORING PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO I JUST WOULD CHECK MY HEAD AND I'M LIKE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, MAN? LIKE, WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE? UH UM. WHAT IT TAKES IS ABSTINENCE. TEXAS, GIVEN THE BRAIN ENOUGH TIME. FOR THESE PATHWAYS TO DIE. THE CRAVINGS DON'T GO AWAY. JUST BE SO WHEN, WHEN? WHEN SOMEONE DOES GET SOBER, GET CLEAN, AND THEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE CRAVINGS GOING AWAY. THEY DON'T GO AWAY JUST BECAUSE YOU JUST ARE NOT THAT INTERESTED. AND DRUGS OR ALCOHOL ANYMORE. THEY GO AWAY BECAUSE THE PATHWAYS IN YOUR BRAIN THAT WERE ONCE SO STRONG START TO DIMINISH, AND AS A RESULT, THE CRAVING GOES AWAY. THAT'S WHY IT GETS BETTER. THE LONGER YOU STAY SOBER. UM NEVERTHELESS, THE THOUGHTS NEVER GO AWAY. YOU'LL STILL HAVE FLEETING THOUGHTS. YOU KNOW, I'M GREAT AT PLAYING THE TAPE BACK, UM SO THERE THE IDEA OF USING ANYTHING FOR ME. SOUNDS TERRIBLE. NEVERTHELESS AND WHAT WAS FASCINATING TO ME IS THAT I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC. I WAS ALSO AN OPIOID ADDICT, AND I WAS A METHAMPHETAMINE ADDICT WHEN THE THOUGHT CROSSES MY MIND TO USE THE FLEETING THOUGHT DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE, RIGHT HAVING THE BEST DAY EVER. IT'S ALWAYS METHAMPHETAMINE. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE MY BRAIN THAT REMEMBERS THAT'S THE HIGHEST DOPAMINE OUTPUT. OF ALL OF A SUDDEN SINCE I WAS DOING THAT'S WHAT GOT MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK. UM I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ONE MORE THING. AND IF ANY LUCK, I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS BACK SOME OF YOUR DAY. IN FRONT OF YOUR BRAIN IS CALLED THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX.

IF YOU ALREADY KNOW A LOT OF THINGS. I'M TELLING YOU. I'M SORRY. I'M USED TO TALKING WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS AT ALL. SO I'M NOT ASSUMING THAT I'M NOT ASSUMING THAT YOU DON'T NOW. UM THAT WAS THE LAST PART OF THE HUMAN BRAIN TO DEVELOP STARTED THE BRAIN STEM IN THE BACK. UM THAT THE BRAIN STEM CONTROLS ARE FIRE FLIGHT MECHANISM. THAT'S WHAT MAKES US READY TO RUN AND READY TO FIGHT ONE OR THE OTHER. THAT'S ALL WE STARTED WITH A HUMAN BEING. UM INCIDENTALLY, WHEN YOUR HEART STARTS RACING WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT MOMENT OF STRESS IS NOT JUST RAISING BECAUSE YOU'RE NERVOUS. IT'S RACING SO IT CAN PUMP THE VITAL BLOOD TO THE LARGEST MUSCLES OF YOUR BODY TO PREPARE YOU TO RUN OR FIVE UM, SO THE BRAIN DEVELOPED FROM BACK TO FRONT. LAST THING WE END UP WE ENDED UP WITH WAS THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX.

PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS RESPONSIBLE FOR JUDGMENT, EMOTIONAL REGULATION. IMPULSE CONTROL.

EMPATHY. AND PROBLEM SOLVING. SO BASED ON THE OTHERS, YOU SEE, THAT'S PART OF THE BRAIN THAT

[01:15:02]

[01:20:01]

UM, WHICH IS A GREAT THING. UH UM. THE DRAWBACK TO THAT IS THAT THAT MEANS THERE IS A HUGE MENTAL HEALTH LANDSCAPES THAT'S BEING OVERLOOKED. ALSO. UM FROM TIME TO TIME WE HAVE WELL OFTEN.

BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION WE SERVE. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDICTION, AND YOU ALSO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL. SCHIZOPHRENIA. UM. MHM ONE THING OUR FACILITY DOES REALLY WELL AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I AM THE DIRECTOR, BUT WE DO VERY WELL IS TREATING PEOPLE WHO HAVE CO OCCURRING DISORDERS. OUR CHALLENGE, THOUGH , IS EVEN EVEN THEN, WE KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW IF WE REALLY CAN'T PROVIDE A LEVEL OF CARE SOMEONE NEEDS. AND THERE'S ALWAYS PEACE HOSPITAL AND THERE'S ALWAYS A BROOK HOSPITAL. THE ISSUE IS WHAT NEXT? THERE THERE IS SLIM TO NONE. UM RESIDENTIAL HOUSING OPTIONS. FOR THE POPULATION IN OUR CITY, AT LEAST WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. YOU NEED MORE THAN JUST UM, THEY CAN'T FUNCTION WELL AND HOUSING ENVIRONMENTS UNTIL THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM STREET AND THAT'S VERY MINIMAL SYMPTOMS. UM SO YOU COULD. BUY A HOME A MILE FROM HERE AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THIS UP FOR ALL THE FOLKS WHO NEED HOUSING SOLICITOR THERE. THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS ARE TREATED. THE SIMPSONS ARE TRUE TO THAT THAT HOUSE IS A WASTE OF TIME. SO. THE GAP HISTORICALLY IN THE IN THE TOWN I'VE BEEN THIS YEAR THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN HOW TO INVESTIGATE THAT POPULATION.

BECAUSE IF I'M HONEST FOR SEVERAL REASONS, I'M NOT HERE TO ASK AGAIN. I'M NOT HERE TO ASK HER ANYTHING. UM BUT BUT ONE OF THOSE REASONS WOULD BE IS THAT THE ADDICTIONS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD THAT END OF IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL FOUNDED IN OUR CITY, AND WHAT CONTINUE TO BE WITHOUT REGARD SETTLEMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, UM ONE THING I WILL SAY. IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BACK OR SUPPORT UM. TREATMENT FACILITIES IN OUR CITY , AND THAT MEANS SO WE'RE LIVING OPTIONS TO THERE ARE A LOT OF SOBER LIVING HOUSES OPENING IN OUR IN OUR IN OUR CITY. YOU HAVE TREATMENT PROGRAMS ATTACHED TO THEM. UM AND OF THE 20 IN OUR CITY. THERE ARE THERE ARE FIVE THAT I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE REFERRING A PATIENT HERE. UM I THINK IT'S MUCH TOO EASY. UM AND THERE ARE RECKLESS PLACES. UM. SO I THINK YOU NEVER IN YOUR DISTRICTS KNOWING THE PLACES THAT ARE OPENING IN IT AND KNOWING THAT PEOPLE, UM AND VETTING THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY OPERATED. PLACES ARE SAFE AND GREAT FOR PEOPLE. IT'S HELPFUL AND NOT HARM. UM AND I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A LAUNDRY LIST OF GAPS IN ADDICTION SERVICES, BUT WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE MOST OF THE TIME. ANOTHER TWO OR THREE INPATIENT MEDICAL DETOX FACILITIES REMOVAL THERE. CERTAINLY SOME LONG TERM PLACES. DEALING PLACE WAS ALSO INCREDIBLE. UM. SEVEN COUNTIES. SO THAT WAS DONE A GOOD JOB. UM SO AND MOST OF THEM ARE 24 HOUR.

ADMISSION FACILITIES ARE FACILITIES 24 HOURS. THEY CALLED MIDNIGHT. IF WE HAVE THAT WE GET HIM IN OUR THING. WE CAN SEND TRANSPORTATION TO PICK THEM UP AND BRING HIM BACK. UM SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. THERE WERE QUITE A SATURATION POINT. UM WITH SOME OF THE SERVICES. WE

[01:25:01]

IS THAT MOST PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM METHAMPHETAMINE USE THIS ORDER IN TERRIBLE HEALTH.

ABSOLUTELY WHEN I GOT SOBER, I WEIGH £280 AND I WEIGH 230 NOW AND OF COURSE, I THOUGHT I LOOKED LEAN AND FIT. BUT THE TRUTH IS I LIKE MY NUTRITION. UH UM. AND IF I WERE TO SHOW UP ONE OF THOSE PLACES THEY'D SAY, YEAH, THIS GUY HADN'T SLEPT FOR A WEEK. HE LOOKS HORRIBLE. BUT THERE IS NO PHYSICAL WITHDRAWAL. NO RISK OF SEIZURE. NO RISK OF HEART ATTACK. UM NO RISK OF BIOLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS. OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE STIMULANT, WHETHER IT'S COCAINE OR WHETHER IT'S METHAMPHETAMINES OR WHETHER IT'S ADDERALL. UM AND SO IN TERMS OF MEDICAID'S VIEW. WHO ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE IN THAT FACILITY. AND WHO DOESN'T? WHAT THEY WILL SAY IS SURE METHAMPHETAMINE USE DISORDERS TOUGH. THIS PERSON MIGHT NEED A DAY OR TWO TO GET THEIR HEADS STRAIGHT. AND THEN THEY'LL BE DENIED ON DAY THREE OR FOUR VERSUS BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE 21 DAYS IN TREATMENT. THAT IT IT JUST HAPPENED TO US. LAST WEEK, WE HAD A WOMAN WHO WAS USING A V METHAMPHETAMINES FOR 11 YEARS. IT WAS HOMELESS. IT WAS THE NIGHT AFTER THE FOURTH DAY. AND MOST FOLKS IN THAT SITUATION OR THAT THAT'S HOW PEOPLE DIE. MOST PEOPLE AT LEAST WITH THE MEDICAID POPULATION AND NOT GOING BACK TO STABLE HOUSING. OR ANY TYPE OF SAFETY. UM AT BEST, WE HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO TO UM. AND THAT THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY JUST TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING HOMELESS. UM IF A PERSON HASN'T USED WITHIN ABOUT 48 HOURS OF TREATMENT THERE ALMOST ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE DENIED. SO IF I HAVE HEROIN ADDICTION, AND I DECIDED I'M GOING TO SIT HOME ON THE COUCH AND TRYING TO SWEAT THIS OUT, AND I LIVED THROUGH THREE DAYS OF IT. RIGHT? LONG ENOUGH FOR THE DRUG TO BE OUT OF MY SYSTEM BUT STILL SUFFERING FROM WITHDRAWAL BECAUSE HEROIN WITHDRAWAL ASKED FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. AND I DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA. I THINK I'M GOING TO CHECK MYSELF INTO DETOX SOMEWHERE. MEDICAID IS GOING TO LOOK AT THAT USE HISTORY AND SAY, DUDE YOU HAVEN'T USED FOR THREE DAYS AND AFTER 72 HOURS, THERE'S NO DRUGS IN YOUR SYSTEM. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA APPROVE THIS FOR YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE. YES IT DOES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY MEDICATED SET UP THERE. IT ABSOLUTELY IS, UM AND AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE COVID WAIVER. A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET ADMITTED TO TREATMENT, AND NOW THEY'RE FINDING OUT THEY CAN AND I'VE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD TO HAVE WITH THEM SITTING TEARY EYED IN MY OFFICE ABOUT BEING TERRIFIED OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO NEXT AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO. UM AND I REALIZED MEDICAID DOESN'T HAVE AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS JUST TO KEEP PAYING FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO TREATMENT.

BUT, UM THEY THEY KIND OF FEEL LIKE THEY'VE ERRED ON THE SIDE OF BEING ABLE TO STREAM YES.

YEAH. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. UM. ONE OF THE QUALITIES QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE THESE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND WHEN DO YOU DETERMINE? THAT IT'S BEYOND. JUST. THE DRUG ADDICTION BECAUSE WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION. IT'S A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING THAT'S GONE ON A LITTLE DEEPER, MAYBE CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE DETERMINE THAT AND WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THESE FOLKS AFTER YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST DRUG ABUSE, THIS IS OTHER ISSUES THEY'RE DEALING WITH. AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THOSE FOLKS? WE NEED TO DETERMINE THAT ABSOLUTELY, UM AND YOU'RE RIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME. IT IT STEMS FROM SOME TYPE OF DEEP SEATED ISSUES. WHETHER IT IS ABUSE, WHETHER IT'S TRAUMA, WHETHER

[01:30:06]

UM THAT BEING SAID. YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR INSTANCE WHAT WE WORK ON IT AT OUR FACILITY. IT IS OBVIOUSLY DETOXING THE PERSON GETTING THEM SAFELY THROUGH THE DETOX AND WITHDRAWAL SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUPS AND THE SERVICES AND THE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY SESSIONS THAT WE DO. WE HAVE 21 DAYS. WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT IS DETERMINED BY MEDICAID ALSO THERE WERE THERE WAS 28 DAYS. UM THAT'S THE TURN BY THEM AS WELL. UM, ANY FACILITY THAT IS THAT IS DOING THEIR JOB. WILL NOT ONLY HELP THE PERSON THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL WE'LL ALSO FACILITATE THERAPY SESSIONS WITH THEM. WE'LL ALSO START WORKING ON TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES AND SCULPTING SKILLS. EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE THINK ABOUT TRAUMA AND PTSD THAT LIVES IN THE BRAIN.

AND YOU DON'T JUST GET RID OF IT. BECAUSE YOU YOU'RE NOT GETTING HIGH. UM THE BEST YOU CAN DO. OFTEN IS FIND MEDICATIONS THAT WORK. IF THE PERSON IS WILLING HAVE THEM ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THERAPY TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH THE TRIGGERS LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP GOVERNMENT SKILLS. LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES BECAUSE. WITH AGAIN WITH PTSD AND TRAUMA.

THOSE TRIGGERS ARE GONNA HAPPEN. SOMETIMES IN A PERSON DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE COMING. UM AND THEIR INITIAL REACTION. THEIR BRAIN IS GOING TO TELL THEM RUN AND DO WHATEVER YOU NEED YOU TO GET AWAY FROM THIS, AND SOMETIMES THAT RUNNING ISN'T PHYSICALLY RUNNING. SOMETIMES THAT RUNNING THEIR BRAIN SO MATERIALS. LET'S PUT SOME DRUGS ON IT SO YOU WON'T FEEL IT. UM.

MEDICATION IS DEFINITELY. UM HELPFUL LOT OF OUR PEOPLE. UM THE TRICK TO THAT, THOUGH, CAN BE MAKING SURE THAT AFTER A PERSON LEAVES TREATMENT THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT MEDICATION THAT CONTINUE TO SEE THEIR PROVIDER, UM AND THAT GETS TOUGH TO MONITOR. THAT LEADS TO ANOTHER QUESTION. THE METHADONE AND OTHER DRUGS USED TO TREAT DRUG ADDICTION. DOES THAT CREATE THE DOPAMINE THAT YOU'VE? YOU'VE INSTRUCTED US ABOUT A LESSER DEGREE, BUT IT'S SO IT IS MORE DRUG ADDICTION. TO SAY THAT YOU DO NOT BECOME DEPENDENT ON IT. WOULD NOT BE THE TRUTH. UM, WHAT I CAN SAY IS UM, FIRST OF ALL FOR ME. UM IN MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH METHADONE AND SUBOXONE, BECAUSE I'VE TRIED BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. I WAS TERRIBLE AT IT. UM AND DID NOT REGULATE VERY WELL AND I WAS CERTAINLY NOT MEDICATION COMPLIANCE. UM, IT DID NOT WORK FOR ME. MY EXPERIENCE, THOUGH THE DIFFERENCE IN STRENGTH BETWEEN METHADONE AND SUBOXONE IS PRETTY VAST. METHADONE IS QUITE STRONG. UM. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IF SOMEONE HAS THEIR FIRST OPTION, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I'M I'M ACUTELY AWARE. I MEAN, IF I IF I'M DOING THIS KIND OF WORK, I NEED TO BE AWARE. UM OF PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT. WHAT WE TERM IS MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT. WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS IF YOU'VE SEEN AS MANY PEOPLE DIE AS I HAVE UM THAT HARM REDUCTION. BECOMES A LOT MORE APPEALING AS AN OPTION FOR SOMEBODY. BECAUSE I'VE LOST TRACK. OF HOW MANY PEOPLE I KNOW PERSONALLY, AND I MEAN PEOPLE I KNOW FROM TREATMENT FACILITIES WHO HAVE DIED IN LAST 60 DAYS.

UM SO YES, THERE IS CERTAINLY DOUBLE MEAN INVOLVED WITH THOSE SUBSTANCES. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT. SUBOXONE AND METHADONE ARE NOT AND HAVE NEVER BEEN MEANT TO BE A LONG TERM FIX. THAT IF THE PROVIDER IS DOING THOSE ETHICALLY UM, THAT IT IS A STEP TO GET SOMEBODY PAST THE

[01:35:04]

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BECOME A HUMAN AGAIN. UM SO TO GIVE YOU A SOLID ANSWER TO THAT.

I THINK IT IT DOES DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL NEUROLOGICALLY. YOUR BRAIN GOES THROUGH A HEALING PROCESS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR SO OF RECOVERY. BUT FOR A PERSON TO BE TOTALLY GOOD AFTER 90 DAYS.

IT'S NOT REALISTIC, AND I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES. JUST NOT IT'S NOT REALISTIC, ABSOLUTELY NOT, AND MY QUESTION. AT LEAST TWO WHEN YOU SAY THAT MEDICAID THEY RUN OUT OF MONEY. WHAT DO YOU DO TO HIM? THEN? DO YOU SEND THEM BACK OUT ON THE STREETS? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY? DO YOU HAVE FUNDING TO UM, TO HELP THESE PEOPLE STAY IN THE PROGRAM AS A SEPARATE TYPES OF FUNDING FUNDING THAT WE CAN HELP WITH WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SET THEM BACK OUT, BECAUSE MEDICAID IS NOT PAYING FOR THEM ANY MORE QUESTION. SO IN OUR FACILITY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THEM FOR SEVERAL EXTRA DAYS BEYOND WHAT MEDICAID DIDN'T ASK HIM. WE ALSO WE HAVE WE'RE VERY COLLABORATIVE. WITH OTHER TREATMENTS FOR PROVIDERS IN THE CITY. MM. WITH THE HEALING PLACE WITH. FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT, REALLY SAW SOLID, SOBER LIVING OPTIONS. AS FAR AS FURTHER TREATMENT FOR THE PERSON. WE ALSO HAVE COLLABORATIVE RESOURCES WITH THE BROOK HOSPITAL WITH PEACE HOSPITAL. MM. SO WHAT WE WOULD NEVER DO. IS TELL A PERSONAL INSURANCE NOT PAYING, SO WE HAVE TO PACK YOUR STUFF AND PICTURE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO TO YOU. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THAT THE PATIENT AND TREATMENT GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR NEXT MOVE IS GOING TO BE. UM HALF OF THEM. CHOOSE TO ALLOW US TO HELP THEM AND THE OTHER HALF SAVED. THANKS GUY B I GONNA MAKE SOME MY OWN CHOICES. AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S TRAGIC, THEY GET TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS. UM BUT WE ABSOLUTELY NEVER WHICH JUST PUT SOMEONE OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SAY SORRY THIS HAPPENED. YOU HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF. ONE MORE QUESTION. IS CANNABIS, A GATEWAY DRUG OR AN EXIT FROM THE DRUGS. YES, IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. I DON'T. FOR ME. IT WASN'T AND FOR MOST PEOPLE I KNOW AND OF THE HOURS WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SMOKE MARIJUANA. WHO DECIDED TO BE A GREAT IDEA TO TRY METH. I DON'T KNOW. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SMOKE PARTNER SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS GOOD, BUT I BET HEROIN WOULD BE FANTASTIC. UM I KNOW I PERSONALLY. YOU CANNOT LEAVE HERE AND GO SMOKE A JOINT IF I WAS IN THE MOST ANXIOUS MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I CAN'T GO DO THAT. BECAUSE THE WAY MY BRAIN'S BEEN WIRED IS THAT IT WILL TURN ON A SWITCH IN MY BRAIN THAT EVERYONE AROUND ME WILL BE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TURNED ON, AND IT WILL CHANGE MY LIFE IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL LIKE AND WHILE I CAN'T DO IT. WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA. I DON'T FEEL LIKE SMOKING POT IS GOING TO BE THE THING THAT MAKES SOMEONE GONNA WANT TO GO OUT AND SNORT COCAINE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A GATEWAY DRUG ANYMORE THAN ALCOHOL WOULD BE. I'VE SEEN PLENTY OF PEOPLE. UM WHO DRINK ALCOHOL. AND OF COURSE, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CIRCLES I RAN IN UM, BESIDES, THEY'RE TRYING SOME COCAINE ON FRIDAY NIGHT WITH SOME FRIENDS AND NOT A BAD IDEA. AND I'M NOT SAYING EVERYONE DOES THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED MARIJUANA BEING THE THING THAT LEADS TO ALL THIS OTHER. SOMETIMES IT IS. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGES. WELL, WAS THERE SHE WAS SHE HAD SHE

[01:40:07]

ANOTHER QUESTION. I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN TIME? YEAH STUPID. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I'M SORRY, BARBARA. YES? NO, THAT'S OKAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR COMING MET THE YOUNG MAN AND HE WAS TELLING HIS STORY AND I JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN. AND ALREADY THERE'S BEEN THERE HAVE BEEN KNOWLEDGE IN THE ABLE TO SHARE WITH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING UP TODAY. I REALLY DO. THANK YOU. WELCOME INTO. BUT STILL BENTON. CAN I SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY AS WELL. YOU CAN MR FARAH, YOUR PRESENTATION IN YOUR STORY IS SO HONEST AND REAL. AND THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATED SO MUCH ABOUT IT, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE IN FRANKFURT THAT WOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO LET YOU COME AND TALK TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL. UM I DON'T KNOW. I'M SURE SOME OF US COULD HELP MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR SIMILAR COMMITTEE IN FRANKFURT TO HEAR YOUR PRESENTATION AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. WELCOME.

THANK YOU. SURE GOOD TO HELP. JUST SHOW UP, MAN. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE THAT WE TO ME. I LOVE THE BETTER AROUND THINGS. IDEAS THAT MAKE THINGS BETTER. AND I THINK YOU'VE MADE THEM BETTER AND ONE OF THE WAY TO DO BETTER. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS. ANY

[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]