you. thank you, all. [applause] >> thank you, the job. the upcoming house and senate races around the country this year. sourceis your primary for election 2018. tonight on c-span, we talk about order protection and the operation for justice at the border. at 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. as we continue our discussion on the opioid crisis, joining us now is clay stamp. good morning.

tell us a little bit about the organization that you lead. mr. stamp: the governor in maryland recognized that when he took office folks all over the state of maryland -- communities were being damaged by this drug crisis. he came up with a series of recommendations and implemented them. the crisis so is tearing families apart. he activated the emergency response system. he recognizes that the very organizational system that we have in this country to coordinate emergencies would work well in this crisis meaning you need to get the right people , develop balanced strategies. , the center is a platform where 14 different

agencies are working together to try to reduce open -- overdoses from opioids. it is also designed to educate on a real-time basis in support of our local organizations. and at the local level, there are local jurisdictional bodies. a high level of effort in the area of prevention. that is a balanced approach that is so it -- that is so meaningful. maryland is using the national response framework to rally people around this platform. deaths related to opioids last year. tell us about the work that you do. we have seen with this crisis that it is evolving.

ago, we, a few years had largely a crisis that was driven by opioids. programs, some of our were working with the prescription drug monitoring program. 14% reduction in a number of prescriptions being written and the correlation to that is a reduction of the number of deaths which is a good news. the bad news is that it is evolving now and we are seeing illicit markets developing. illicit fentanyl is flowing onto our streets causing the deaths. this fentanyl is also being mixed with other drugs. deaths of 70% of our last year were from illicit fentanyl. we need to shift with the evolving crisis. our programs are targeted in a

triage approach. is critically important. we have to save lives in order to be able to have a second chance to get people free from addiction. in the last two years, over -- people were saved by ems in the state of maryland by administering naloxone. livesare thousands of saved. although it is grave, the numbers we ours -- we are facing, we are still saving lives. at the same time, strategies are expanding treatment services. at all of the local jurisdictions and they are making headway. the second area is enforcement. we have to hold prescriber is responsible for proper prescribing and prescriptions. we also have to go after drug

trafficking organizations, disrupt them and stem the tide. and then implement prevention programs that will carry us in a long run. this is a supply and demand business. people are making money. away, the the demand supply will continue to come. the prevention program is critically important. i talk about the four overarching goals that we have. we have performance measures. we have to keep our nose to the grindstone. do the hard work. and continue to battle the stigma around this crisis. ust: our guest will be with for the next 20 minutes to talk about his perspective on the opioid crisis.

our guest is joining us from the health care for the homeless agency in baltimore. there have been talks about the supply of no >> on -- naloxone. support on and of nation or a statewide level -- what is the economic reality in providing this assistance for those kind of efforts? deputymp: actually, the secretary for public health in -- anyone can go to the pharmacy and obtain naloxone. we have done that. when we talk about the economics associated with this -- this is something that we do need help from the federal government for. resourcesa lot more that are direly needed and we're putting them to good use. in addition to that, we have

allocated money and will continue to do so to provide programs and efforts. what we're working on is the grassroot efforts. they will make a difference. differenceake the for the sustainability issue. every program we start, we are looking at sustainability. right now, we are looking for support from the federal program. the state is stepping up and putting in money to fight the crisis. and we will continue to do the hard work. host: say there is a certain level since the president announced this public emergency. have real dollars come from that? mr. stamp: yes. i shared a few minutes ago about how the governor engaged with the national response framework. recognizing the state of

maryland, we cannot solve this issue alone. positioned to organize -- state committees activities. successes are happening. we appeal to the federal samenment to embrace that framework to coordinate the efforts. so we can strategically run them through our plans. is for the federal government to step up and do a little more coordination around allocation. host: clay stamp, the executive director of virulence -- 's crisis.

color: i work in health care for 20 years. i also suffered from chronic pain. i have four children and my first son is a recovering heroin addict. it is very understated how these families are stigmatized. health impact not only to the addict but also the family. i am particularly curious about the funding. that one opioid company light. drug and this was a put it out there. why are they not being held accountable? you, weite honest with

need to start paying some of these people better. start paying them and they can barely make a living and you're asking them to work with highly challenging patients. mr. stamp: jennifer, thank you. it reminds me and it is so important about the toll it is taking. i spent the last year meeting with families that have been wrestling with this. and the impact is heart wrenching. we recognize that in maryland we have so many advocates out there working to get people into treatment and they are truly the heroes that are making the difference. all over the state of maryland and the nation -- you are absolutely right regarding the pharmaceutical companies. there are actions to do exactly

what you're talking about. we see it in maryland. in a civil government. county government. working to hold those companies responsible and help us combat the crisis. and iocess is engaged expect we will see some resources, our wait in the future which will be really critical for sustainability. not a crisis like a flood or and explosion. this is going to be a crisis we will be battling for some time. are you saying the state attorney general is suing the pharmaceutical companies? mr. stamp: he is in the process individuals to join that effort. host: is there a need to

directly impact [indiscernible]? mr. stamp: that is an interesting question and spot on. we talked about the importance of this -- holding prescribers responsible. couple of comments i will make relative to that. what we don't want to have happen is for it to go the other way and we have people that do not receive treatment for pain. the second thing is we want to make sure that businesses that withreating patients prescribed opioids that they are not just cut off. we are working with the federal government in a targeted approach to go after people operating out of the bounds of the law for prescribing.

host: our color is from pennsylvania. go ahead. -- our caller is from pennsylvania, go ahead. i had charlie horse ills. my back was going into spasms. they did a cat scan. even before they could do that, twice they gave me morphine to deal with the pain. i had a terrible time laying down. sendoctor says, we will you home but take this oxycontin. i went back to the doctor and i said it was not working. . -- he said -- you are

[indiscernible] take this muscle relaxant and all of the pain was gone. different approach to the pain. bob, thank you. i am glad you received the proper treatment and are feeling better. efforts is centered around education. we have groups we are working with. effort ors to be an an effort is underway to educate physicians. i am not a physician but a paramedic. physicians are certainly trying to look at alternatives to deal with pain.

host: our guest is the director of the maryland ems system. inwas also the director ocean city, maryland at one time. carolina,om south what would you like to ask our guest? : what to do after the medical establishment has created this mess -- we don't treat pain appropriately. one whoave a loved comes out of the recovery room in pain, that is a potential drug guide -- drug addict. give a strong pain medication to keep the pain from

,tarting in the recovery room good luck on stopping the pain. opioids areng is not a solution for long-term pain. the part of the brain they operate on becomes coated so you have to take more. is, if you cut off someone in severe pain, they are going to get something for that pain. host: thank you, color. mr. stamp: thank you. you are right. medicationtion of needs to be followed and i agree with what you're saying.

i don't have a lot to offer because those questions would be better addressed to a physician. post: they talked about a medical use of opioids. would you agree with that philosophy? ascribe towe like to the concept that all tools in the toolbox. recognizing some patients respond to different solutions. that is a model for medicine. respond better to certain treatments -- some will respond better to medication that blocks the pain. need to be on a medication that is a step down to recovery. what we try to look at in maryland is all schools of thought so we have treatment modalities.

host: we have a line set aside for maryland residence this morning. go ahead. i just wanted to say i have been on the front lines for years as a counselor. theing for a long time with lows of the lows. -- i haven is recently become familiar with a in annethat exists arundel county. they are an absolute gold mine .n terms of treatment my whole point is this is an example of the frustration

people have working in this field. money and why has one particular program not been given the support? there is a detox component already in place. it is a great spot. i would suggest you take a second look at that program. and look into extending this program because it is a gold mine. we are ready to rock 'n roll. you andp: sheila, thank i believe we have met and i know the program you're talking about. -- all over the state of maryland are looking at opportunities to address the continuum of care.

we want to make sure that we can colegrove -- co-locate recovery housing as a step down and then somehow tied a workforce into that so we can reengage people into the workforce. we are looking for opportunities and i am familiar with what you're talking about and we will be in touch with regard to that. i do understand the frustration with regard to resources. i get this question a lot about what does the state of emergency me. it is important that i clarify that. -- it putof emergency the public on notice that this is a top priority for the public to focus on. that is incredibly important in this crisis because the stigma associated with this is very divisive. people have different and diverse feelings about how we should manage this. it makes it problematic.

that exploration is a call to action. secondly, the chief executive of state government -- that opens up resources and allows the private sector and the public to come together to provide a solution. from aallowed us to come base level a year ago to another level where we are planning actions and seeing development problematically -- programmatically. ahead hopeful we will get importance around it. hard work and battling the stigma, we are resolute about that. host: timothy is next. there is a program called the angel program.

opiate addicts can go into any police station and a volunteer will help you get into treatment. , in maryland, do you have any thing similar, this is affecting all states. through the national governors association we share best practices every day. in maryland, from the northeast, a concept called safe stations. anne arundel county you can walk into any police station 24 hours a day that program is spreading to other counties. we a similar program today.

>> has that been supported by taxpayer dollars? , it has come up with county, state, and federal dollars are supporting those efforts. sandra joining us. thank you for calling. i was calling because i am a pain patient. i'm all for helping people addicted to drugs. r.i.m a marine corps veteran. i am disabled. the v.a. cut me off of any 2016 after iril had been on them for 12 years. the pendulum has swung the other way. dying from not getting pain medicine. i am barely holding on.

a friend of mine has cancer in her liver. she had surgery. they sent her home with tylenol. there has to be a distinction between the people and did it and the pain patients. i'm suffering through unintended consequences from being taken off. there is a law does things that come from that. i can barely make it through day to day. we need help. let me say i know addiction is a , there has tose be resolution for pain patients also. guest: thank you. you know, it rips my heart out hearing your story. we have to make sure that people

who have pain are not being cut off. time, our pleading toto the federal government, come out with pain alternatives that are less addictive. this is top and center nationally. we recognize the pendulum is swinging to your point. we will continue to do the work to make a difference for individuals such as yourself caught in the trap. host: when you have commerce asian's about this issue what is the response to the topic of prescribing? are they resisting? guest: not at all. we are getting cooperation. the majority of the community is aware -- i use the pendulum analogy. it has swung too far the other way.

they are open. we do have the outliers that are seizing an opportunity. those are the ones we are going after. we are working to make sure the net, whenp safety patients get dislodged from practice, there is a safety net for them to get that the treatment. 5 andrew -- host: andrew. you are on with our guest. caller: good morning. first of all, i agree with holding these pharmaceutical companies more accountable. dayew jersey, every other you see in the paper and the

internet they are pulling and doctors with these pill mills. you have grandchildren living with their grandparents who have some sort of painkiller. them and these kids are having pill parties. they take these opiates, listen to music, and this is like a daily occurrence. rather than burden the state's -- the states, there was a pharmaceutical company, two brothers and brookland that started this with opiates. host: mr. stamp? guest: he is spot on. we have engaged and programs to educate folks. we target our elderly population

. we talk about security of their pills per we are aggressively working that area. -- whys.ize the wise we are also targeting programs toward the whys. why do we have an insatiable appetite? it boils down to three different reasons. .he recreational user the second is somebody that has an injury that is treated and becomes addicted. the final one, those people who lack of hopees at and loss of purpose. we are targeting programs to them. begin working with people in recovery, to get them back in the workplace. giving them work in a career is so important. we are working hard to not only

address the symptom, get people ,n treatment, stem the tide implement prevention that will serve us in the long haul. comprehensively we are driving this at a high level. numbers are dropping in the prescriber side. in the illicit side we need help to stem the tide. from the united states, we need to continue to do the hard work here. clay stamp, joining us for these discussions on the opioid crisis. a big problem in that community. our first guest joining from the facility in baltimore, dr. commissioner of health in baltimore. we shared some numbers earlier about the city situation, but could you give us your perspective of