My guest this month is Karen Pershing, executive director of Metro Drug Coalition. In the last legislative session, Karen played a significant role in pushing for a bill that reduced the barrier to opening new syringe service programs in rural Tennessee.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of the bill, how it made it through the legislature, her behind-the-scenes role in the policymaking process, how young people can get more involved in the policy world in Tennessee and more.

Links:

• SB 292/HB 275
• SSPs in Tennessee
• Metro Drug Coalition
• SMART Initiative

Produced and hosted by Jeremy Kourvelas. Original music by Blind House.