The NASCSA Podcast

EP18 A.I. to Detect Drug Diversion in Healthcare

NASCSA host Alan McGill and founder of Invistics, Tom Knight, discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to detect and prevent Drug Diversion in Healthcare.

EP17 Dangers of the Online Pharmacy Market

How do you find a legitimate pharmacy online? How many are fake? How dangerous is the online pharmacy market? Libby Baney of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies answers these question and more in a discussion with NASCSA President Alan McGill so that you can get a better understanding of the challenges we all face when searching for cheaper medications.

Ep16 Cannabis Banking: Navigating finances in the legal Cannabis Industry

This episode explores the past present and future of the legal Cannabis Industry in regards to finances. VP of Knowledge for GreenCheck, Paul Dunford, explains the history and future of banking in this field.

The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in Treatment: A Patient’s Perspective

The final in our three part series regarding the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of mental illness and traumatic brain injuries. This episode features a conversation with Andrew Marr, former Green Beret, who had personally benefited from this treatment. Andrew gives his insight into the therapy, its use, and how it benefits so many. 

The Use of Pscyhedelic Drugs for the Treatment of Mental Illness: Part2

Part 2 of the discussion with Dr. Lynnette Averill from Baylor College of Medicine. In this segment, Dr. Averill details the various drugs, challenges, and how the treatment generally is performed. 

The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in Treatment of Mental Health and Considerations for CS Authorities - Part 1

Limited Series on the use of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, Ketamine, and others for the treatment of various mental health conditions. Part 1 of the conversation with Dr. Lynnette Averill, a clinician and researcher at Baylor College of Medicine and Captain Sean Belouin of SAMSHA who discuss the drugs, treatment methods, and promising future of these medications in helping those suffering with a variety of conditions such as PTSD, Depression, and others.

Pilot program: Paramedics Emergency Dispensing of Buprenorphine

Overdose Prevention Coordinator, Josh Schneider, for the City of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania discusses their pilot program of dispensing buprenorphine as a harm reduction strategy. This program allows paramedics to dispense the medication under certain conditions. It is designed to expand access to treatment options in response to the opioid crisis.

The Pez Case - Etizolam and the near death of two children

NASCSA President and host Alan McGill interviews Emporium Police Chief Dave Merritt and Cameron County District Attorney Paul Malizia about a case involving tainted candy given to two children. In October 2020, two elementary school children were given Pez Candy coated with a designer benzodiazepine type drug known as Etizolam. This episode explores how the drug was obtained, how it nearly killed two small children, and the prosecution that followed.  

Drug Diversion, Burglaries & Robberies at Healthcare Facilities: Increased Dangers in a COVID Pandemic World

Everyone knows an armed robbery can be deadly. And diversion of medications at a healthcare facility can have substantial risk of harm to a patient. As if this is not enough, the COVID Pandemic has added additional risks. They can be financially devastating in addition to be deadly. In this episode we discuss some of these issues and more with a leading industry expert.

The Forgotten Epidemic

Ten years ago, the CDC declared the United States had an opioid epidemic but the COVID-19 Pandemic has drawn our attention away from the opioid crisis.  On this podcast, we discuss the opioid crisis with Samantha Osterlof, an outreach coordinator and college instructor with a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Behavioral Management. Samantha is also in long term recovery from opioid addiction. When she was 22 years old, she nearly died from an infection that spread to her heart due to intravenous drug use. Placed on a ventilator, she was given a 10% chance to live, but this was still not enough to stop her drug use.

However, one Christmas Eve, the kindness of one police officer started her journey of recovery and a lifetime of helping others. Samantha’s story is compelling and poignant. We discuss not only her recovery, but the current state of the opioid crisis faced, the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on those suffering with SUD and the looming shadow of a possible third epidemic, a mental health crisis.