May 21, 2026 • 29 mins
Injection Drug Use & Infectious Disease Crisis
This week on Insight, we’re discussing a growing public health crisis tied to injection drug use and the serious infections impacting individuals, families, and healthcare systems across Philadelphia. From hepatitis and HIV to life-threatening heart and skin infections, medical experts across the region are working together to develop compassionate, evidence-based solutions rooted in prevention, harm reduction, and community care.
Joining us is Dr. Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania and SANA Clinic Medical Director at Prevention Point Philadelphia. Dr. Meisner discusses the rise in severe infections connected to injection drug use, the dangers posed by substances like xylazine and medetomidine, the importance of reducing stigma, and the collaborative efforts underway among healthcare institutions across the region.
We also highlight the soldout INSPIIRE Symposium taking place Friday, May 29, 2026, from 8 AM to 5 PM at the John Morgan Building, Reunion Auditorium, at the University of Pennsylvania. The symposium brings together clinicians, researchers, social workers, advocates, and people with lived experience to focus on infectious complications related to substance use disorders through collaborative, community-informed strategies.
For more information, visit:
• Prevention Point Philadelphia
Follow on social media:
• Instagram: @preventionpointphilly
• X/Twitter: @PPPhilly
Black Farmers Co-Op Anniversary Celebration
We’re also talking about food justice, sustainability, and the importance of preserving Black agricultural traditions and land ownership. Joining us is Executive Director Dr. Carol Simonsand Stephanie James, Assistant Director to discuss the 4th Anniversary Celebration of the Black Farmers Co-op — “From Soil to Soul: Honoring our Ancestors, Feeding Our Future.” We explore the movement for food sovereignty, cooperative economics, and the ways farming connects culture, health, environmental justice, and economic opportunity in communities across Philadelphia and beyond.
Dr. Simons shares why protecting Black farmers and Black-owned land remains critically important and how the Black Farmers Co-Op is empowering communities through sustainable agriculture and education. The Black Farmers Co-Op 4th Anniversary Celebration takes place Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Environmental Center, 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143. The family-friendly event will feature community activities, education, food, music, and opportunities to learn more about sustainable farming and local food systems.
For more information, visit:
This week on Insight, we’re discussing a growing public health crisis tied to injection drug use and the serious infections impacting individuals, families, and healthcare systems across Philadelphia. From hepatitis and HIV to life-threatening heart and skin infections, medical experts across the region are working together to develop compassionate, evidence-based solutions rooted in prevention, harm reduction, and community care.
Joining us is Dr. Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania and SANA Clinic Medical Director at Prevention Point Philadelphia. Dr. Meisner discusses the rise in severe infections connected to injection drug use, the dangers posed by substances like xylazine and medetomidine, the importance of reducing stigma, and the collaborative efforts underway among healthcare institutions across the region.
We also highlight the soldout INSPIIRE Symposium taking place Friday, May 29, 2026, from 8 AM to 5 PM at the John Morgan Building, Reunion Auditorium, at the University of Pennsylvania. The symposium brings together clinicians, researchers, social workers, advocates, and people with lived experience to focus on infectious complications related to substance use disorders through collaborative, community-informed strategies.
For more information, visit:
• Prevention Point Philadelphia
Follow on social media:
• Instagram: @preventionpointphilly
• X/Twitter: @PPPhilly
Black Farmers Co-Op Anniversary Celebration
We’re also talking about food justice, sustainability, and the importance of preserving Black agricultural traditions and land ownership. Joining us is Executive Director Dr. Carol Simonsand Stephanie James, Assistant Director to discuss the 4th Anniversary Celebration of the Black Farmers Co-op — “From Soil to Soul: Honoring our Ancestors, Feeding Our Future.” We explore the movement for food sovereignty, cooperative economics, and the ways farming connects culture, health, environmental justice, and economic opportunity in communities across Philadelphia and beyond.
Dr. Simons shares why protecting Black farmers and Black-owned land remains critically important and how the Black Farmers Co-Op is empowering communities through sustainable agriculture and education. The Black Farmers Co-Op 4th Anniversary Celebration takes place Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Environmental Center, 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143. The family-friendly event will feature community activities, education, food, music, and opportunities to learn more about sustainable farming and local food systems.
For more information, visit:
- Website: https://blackfarmerscoop.org/
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. You're listening to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Balla. Tomorrow. This week we talk
about the growing infectious disease crisis connected to injection drug
use with doctor Jessica Meisner of pen Medicine and Prevention
Point Philadelphia. We also explore food justice and sustainability with
the Black Farmers co Op. So stay with us today
(00:21):
we're talking about food justice, sustainability, and the importance of
preserving Black agricultural traditions and land ownership. Joining us as
doctor Carol Simmons, Executive director of the Black Farmers co Op.
Listening to Insight and our community soil, honoring our ancestors,
ruling our infectious disease. Also joining up to system doctors, directors, staff,
(00:45):
energy and Prevention Point. Event is happening Saturday, more Sturdy
in Philadelphia. Farmers currently talking about the movement for food sovereignty,
community empowerment, and how farming connects culture, health and economic opportunities.
So doctor Simmons, for listeners who may not be familiar,
what is the mission of Black Farmers co Op and
why was it created?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, we were created in twenty twenty two and one
of our founders, Charlene Thomas Moore, was driving and she
saw a food truck and the children were lined up
in the morning and they were buying sodas and candy
(01:27):
and doughnuts and greasy food. And she came back to
us and she said, we are going to have to
do something to change the way people are eating in
our community. And that's how it all started. In twenty
twenty two, we had our first Farmer's Market and we
(01:49):
have been moving forward and educating our community on how
to eat, how to stay healthy, and what some of
the things they can do to maintain that.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Stephanie, this year's theme is a celebration from Soil to Soil,
honoring our ancestors, feeding our future. What does that message
mean to you personally and the organization personally.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It's a reach back to our ancestors. It's a reach
back generations ago from when our people had their hands
in the soil, they were farming, and that was a
means of our survival. That was our sustenance. And today
(02:35):
what we are trying to teach people instead of all
the commercial foods with the pesticides in them, things that
are gmo, genetically modified, those are the things that we're
trying to pull people away from because it's not healthy,
this nutrition, which is feeding your soul. We're here with
(02:57):
this movement to remind people this is where we came from,
this is how we started. Let's not stray too far
away from it, because if we do, we're risking longevity,
We're risking health.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
You know. I think about the phrase twenty acres in
a mule, you know, in greconstruction, and so what is it, Oh,
you've got a we've got a T shirt. What does
the T shirt say?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Twenty acres and a mule, shelter, clothing, food, and it
shows the mule and the forty acres, and we wear
the shirt to remind people of our history and the
importance of farming. And we never did get the forty acres.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Right, that was promised but not fulfilled. But farming has
been a lynchpin for black empowerment over these many centuries.
And so you're talking about preserving and supporting black farmers
in black land ownership, which it's so important because we
know what the struggle has been over the history of
(04:04):
this country in terms of black land ownership. Talk about
why it's so important, especially in urban communities like Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, you know that is a great question. In Philadelphia,
there's forty thousand vacant lots. All we want is four
thousand ten percent. We go into the neighborhoods, the black farmers,
and we look at the lots. We ask people to
start growing on the lots. And this is a movement
(04:35):
because there is a city in Germany they turn the
whole city into a farm where people in the city
can go to any lot and harvest. We would like
to see this here in Philadelphia where we can feed
each community and that they can walk around the corner
(04:57):
or down the street to these vacant lots that are
now community gardens, a peaceful place we're thinking about, you know,
putting benches and one of our community gardens they have
a play area for the children. It's beyond farming. Is
(05:17):
bringing peace to our communities. And it's been proven through
studies that when you remove any type of debris or
anything that's not keeping the street or that block balance,
crime goes down.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
That's right, and we know that greening our community does
not only it reduces crime and creates a community focus,
but it's also really good for our mental well being.
We need to be in nature, and even if we're
in the city, having these little patches of green and
actually growing things that people can eat has to be
(05:58):
tremendously good, not only for our health, that our mental wellbeing, right, Stephanie.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Absolutely, And you know, Lorrain, I'd like to just take
a step back and piggyback on something that doctor Carroll
just spoke about. It is important to understand before you
can start farming, just how critical it is that you
have land ownership.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I don't know if you were on the website, I
don't know if you read Stolen Land versus the Promised Land,
but so much land has been taken from our community
and even today. This is a call out to the
city of Philadelphia. If y'all listening out there, this is
a call out, especially to counsel to understand you have
(06:45):
not been the greatest stewards of vacant land in the
city of Philadelphia. Dolen Land versus a Promised Land talks
about Pastor Darien Thomas and his family who had land.
They purchased land when they came here, they purchased a
home and they actually had a property of land, vacant
(07:08):
land that was adjacent to their home, that belonged to them,
and the city, through eminent domain, took it from them
with the promise of building on it. And that was
in nineteen seventy something.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Yeah, that's called irmit renewal, but it was urban destruction
for so many Yes, communities for sure, absolutely on the bottom.
I mean there's so many communities that have been erased
from existence because of urban renewal. And like you said,
eminent domain. I want to get back to the fourth
anniversary celebration that's happening on May thirtieth. Doctor Simmons, tell
(07:44):
us about the celebration and how we can participate.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh, we're so excited about our anniversary because this month
May is Black Pharmer's co Op month and our fourth
year celebration culminates the month May thirtieth, and we are
bringing to our community a host of activities ways showing
(08:11):
them how they can farm, showing them is the healthy
ways to eat. We have activities for children. We are
about educating our community on how to live better. And
so this fourth anniversary is very, very meaningful to us
(08:32):
because we want the whole city and beyond to understand
the importance of an I'd like to make one point.
We are asking people to come, of course, and it's
at seven hundred Cobscreek Parkway, right at Cobbscreek and Catherine Street.
It's at the Environmental Community Center. But we want people
(08:57):
to know that they can grow food produce right in
their own environment and how important that is. The importance
of growing your own Nothing beats going out to your pot,
to your land, your backyard and picking stream beans and
(09:18):
coming in rinsing them off and then steaming them, or
your collar greens. One of our farmers, Ben Miller at
sixty first and Ryan Hart Ryan Hart Farms. Last Thursday,
we just harvested bok choi. We harvested collar greens, mustard greens, lettuce,
(09:39):
the biggest head of lettuce you ever want to see,
and it's all organic. And what people need to know
when you go to the supermarket, they don't have an
organic section of like sprouts or whole foods. But you
need to look at the numbers on the fruit. Means
(10:00):
it's organic, eight means it has been genetically modified. Four
means it's been pesticides have been used on it. We
need to understand the codes. So that's part of our
educational process, and so the fourth anniversary brings all of
(10:21):
that together. We'll have presentations on various ways in which
people can start growing their own food.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
I love it, and that's happening on May thirtieth, from
eleven to four. Black Farmers co Op fourth Anniversary Celebration
from Soil to Soil Again. It's at the Environmental Center
seven hundred Cobs Creek Parkway, right here in Philadelphia. Stephanie.
If people want more information, where do they go.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Black Farmers co Op dot org dot org. That's our website,
or they can email us Black Farmers co Op twenty
twenty five at gmail dot com, pharm As co Op
and that's like Coop Coop two zero two five at
gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
I want to thank you both for joining us here
today and letting us know about this very important celebration.
We need to get back to the land to understand
the importance of eating healthy and also elevating our abandoned lots. Stephanie,
you did a call out to city council, so hopefully
somebody out there is listening.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What would you like to see them do? I would
like to see them move the vacant lots, not with
the difficulty that exists now for property that is in
the land bank. We understand that there's a bunch of
legal stuff and liability that is currently with the way
(11:49):
that they move the property.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Make it easy.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I believe we're smart enough to figure a way to
make it easy.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I believe that you're right about that. Hopefully somebody's listening,
and we want to make sure that all of those
abandoned properties are vacant lots of which there's so many
in this city, such potential there, and I love what
your mission is. I love that you're all raising our
awareness and hopefully folks will come out to this fourth
(12:16):
annual Soil to Souls Saturday Black Farmers co Op fourth
Anniversary celebration on May thirtieth. Checkout blackfarmersco Op dot org
to find out more. Thanks to Executive Director the Black
Farmers co Op and that is doctor Carol Simmons and
Assistant to the Executive Director, Stephanie James. Thank you both
(12:37):
for joining us here today and thank you for doing
what you're doing to raise our awareness with the importance
of farming, land ownership, culture, health, economic opportunity, all those
things wrapped into your mission. Thank you for all that
you do. Today, we're talking about a growing public health
(13:00):
crisis tied to injection drug use and the serious infections
impacting individuals, families, and healthcare systems across Philadelphia, from hepatitis
and HIV to life threatening heart and skin infections. Medical
experts across the region are coming together to develop community
and formed solutions rooted in care prevention and harm reduction.
(13:22):
Joining us right now is doctor Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor
of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at
the University of Pennsylvania and Santa Clinic medical director at
Prevention Point Philadelphia. She's here to talk about the challenges,
the stigma, and the collaborative efforts underway to address this
urgent issue. Doctor Remisner, thank you so much for joining us,
(13:45):
and I wonder if you can explain how injection drug
use is contributing to arise in severe infections across Philadelphia
and the region.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
An thank you so much for having me. So this
is something that we've been seeing for decades, but it's
constantly changing, and I think Philadelphia is a very special,
unique situation because we always have the newest adulterance in
our drug supply, and so we're constantly having to adapt
on the fly and learn how to do the best
(14:18):
care in that moment. And this I think the best
example would be with the xylazine wounds, where we are
seeing horrible wounds coming out of the xylazine that was
in the drug supply and really having to learn in
real time the best wound care for it. And in
Philly we're seeing HIV hepatitis, we're also seeing a lot
(14:38):
of endocarditis, more bacterial infections, and it's really been a
big challenge to infectious disease providers here how to provide
the best care.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well. People may think about HIV or hepatitis, but as
you mentioned, hard infections, bloodstream infections, and as you mentioned
severe wounds are connected to drug use. Right now, you're
right there in the front line. So what exactly are
you seeing and what is the impact of all these
(15:09):
new drugs. It seems as though there's a new designer
drug that is going to be out in the world
in the wild, impacting people who have substance use disorder.
So tell us more about what you're seeing on the street.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So in my clinic at prevention point, I have a
low barrier HIV clinic, and the majority of the infections
I see there are skin and soft tissue infection, so abscesses, cellulitis,
wounds that have inhaled, and a lot of that is
just from being potentially unhoused, not having access to clean water,
(15:48):
not having access to new supplies to use, or even
something as simple as just you have skin that lives
on everyone's bacteria, and so if you're injecting through it,
there's going to be a risk of an infection. And
so we're seeing a lot of skin infections. And then
the more severe ones is when that bacteria then gets
into their blood and goes to other places and it
(16:09):
doesn't always present classic like you would see with other patients,
and so you really have to have a curiosity and
really talk to the patient and figure out, oh, your
neck pain is more than just neck pain, maybe there's
an abscess there.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
For example, we've heard about xylazine, but are there any
other drugs that are starting to pop up that we
should be aware of that are on the street.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
So the biggest adulterate right now in the Philadelphia drug
supply is metatomine, and that has surpassed silazine by far,
we luckily are not seeing infections from it, but where
the challenge is withdrawal. The withdrawal from metatomitine is very severe.
It's dangerous. People who actually die from it, which is
(16:51):
something we hadn't seen before. And it's impacting infections because
when someone goes to the hospital meeting treatment there, withdraw
is so severe that they leave the hospital to feel better,
and so we're not really able to address their infection
because the withdrawal isn't being treated appropriately because we don't
have the options to do that yet.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So the typical drugs that you use to help with
withdrawal don't apply exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Wow, that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
The hospitals are using a medicine called dex metatomity, which
is our kind of human version of metatomity, but it's challenging.
You need to be in the ICU, you need to
have close nursing care, follow up with them, close watching,
and so it's just really taking the hospitals out of
capacity and really filling up our ICU bes and making
it challenging for everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Wow, that is something I was not aware of now.
There is also a lot of talk about these drug
store types of drugs. There I'm sure you saw the
news where a guy breaks into like a I guess
a convenience store and goes on a rampage for crab
tom right. So are you seeing that use escalating and
(17:59):
what what is that that people need to know about,
because I think a lot of folks are thinking, oh,
you know, you can get that at the gas station.
It should be fine, So tell us more.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah, So a lot of the gas station drugs or
you know, some of the drugs that we see more
like party drugs. They may not have the same impact
of the bloodstream infections or the skin infections, but anytime
you inhale something, depending on what it is, there could
be you know, fungal elements, bacteria, anything damaging your lungs
(18:32):
and cause lung issues. We also see, you know, increased
of more risky sexual behavior, and so if someone is
more disinhibited, they're not using condoms, they're not having safe sex,
and so we're seeing increases with STIs around that potentially
or increase HIV acquisition. We're really trying to focus on,
like a harm reduction approach, just giving people the tools
to keep themselves safe and as healthy as possible. And
(18:55):
you know, addressing it from multi prong areas.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Let's talk about harm reduction because it can often be misunderstood.
There are a lot of yeah, I'm sure that's an understatement, right.
There are a lot of folks who have very distinct
judgments about people who have substance use disorder, And so
tell us what does a compassionate, evidence based harm reduction
(19:21):
approach actually look like in practice for patients and communities.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I mean, I think it's really as simple as just
meeting people where they are and treating patients with dignity
and respect. That's the simplest version of it. When I
see my patients, especially at prevention point, really having a
patient cenator approach, what are your issues that you're most
worried about? Okay, you're maybe not at a point where
(19:49):
you want to stop using. What can I do to
keep you as happy and healthy as possible right now?
And really making sure it's part of a collaborative effort
with the patient. And I think people forget that substance
use disorders are a medical problem, just like diabetes, high
blood pressure, ASTHA, and we need to remove the stigma
around it and just treat the medical condition and give
(20:11):
people the care that they need.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I imagine that. However, the challenge is that because of
the nature of substance use disorder, that is very difficult
to say. You know, you may know that you should stop,
but being able to stop is not that easy, right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Yeah, And especially nowadays with the adulterance and the drug supply,
metatoming is incredibly hard to get someone through their withdrawal.
And so I have patients that desperately want to stop
using and we just don't have the right medical tools
to help get them to that point.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Tell us, what do you think that we should do
policy wise in the city of Philadelphia to support individuals
who really want to get better, or even those who
don't want to get better but we really need to
help them anyway. What kinds of policies do you think
would be compassionate and effective and we need to see
(21:12):
more of.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I mean, I think the biggest thing is our shurnd
services programs, So having access to clean works, which is
what people use when they use drugs, and making sure
people have new needals what we call cookers or cotton
steril water. Really just having access to medical care, having
people be able to get into a methodone clinic or
(21:35):
a suboxone clinic easily. I will say, the Health Department
does a lot of support for us. My clinic is
funded by the Health Department. Our syringe exchange is supported
by them a lot, and so the city is pouring
in a lot of funds in it. But trying to
remove the criminalization around substance juice, I think is a
big key thing. This isn't something that we should lock
(21:57):
people up for, something that we should give better treatment options.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
It's for let's also talk about needle exchange. It's something
that Prevention Point has been very well known for. There
are some pushback, I think in the community around needle exchange.
I'm sure you're very aware of that because a lot
of times those needles do end up on the street,
and then kids are walking on the street, and you know,
neighbors that live there are faced with having to address
(22:25):
needles on the street. So what are you telling folks
in the neighborhoods who might not be that compassionate or
supportive of the idea of needle exchange because of how
it's impacting them.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Can I say in comment?
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Okay, no comment, All right, Well, I guess we'll leave
it at that it's a big issue, but certainly we
know that needle exchange does reduce the incident of sexually
transmitted diseases or other types of diseases.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Is that right right?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
So, I think surrendered exchanges are often viewed as negative
things for the area. You don't want it in your backyard,
but evidence shows that reduce the risk of HIV and
hepsy in the community. And so if you're reducing the
community viral load, you're helping keep everyone healthy, right, And
I think at prevention point, especially, we're collecting use needles
(23:20):
and syringes, and so people are turning in millions of
syringes a year to us, and we're disposing of them safely,
and so that's actually getting them off of the street.
And we also have like monthly cleanups, so we're going
out and helping clean up the neighborhoods. And so I
think we're trying to really uplook the entire community that
we're in. And it's easy to kind of say, oh,
(23:42):
this is potentially risky, but reality is we're actually improving
the community health.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So you have this symposium that's coming up, and I
understand that you're so successful in recruiting people that you're
closed out.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
But what are you hoping to.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Accomplish in this symposium, which I know is multi disciplinary
and you've got people from all over the region that
are coming together to have these conversations. What are some
of the things you're hoping that we'll be accomplished in
this I guess you're calling it the Inspire Symposium.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, so this symposium really started as a grassroots effort.
There were a lot of infectious disease physicians and providers
in the area that were already we were already having
unofficial meetups. Oh, we're seeing a lot of diarrhea infections.
Are you guys seeing that too, We're seeing a lot
of this specific bacteria. Are you seeing that too? And
(24:35):
we were, you know, collaborating best practices and comparing notes
and oh, I have your patient, what are you doing?
And we realize that we have such a special wealth
of knowledge in Philadelphia around infections and substantiose and so
we really wanted to spread that knowledge and show our collaboration.
And I think the goal is to really educate people
that substantutes and infections really go hand in hand and
(24:58):
you can't address one without the other and that how
this is collaborative and that you need to really work
with other areas. And so we have people from social
work talking, and we have pharmacists talking, we have addiction
medicine doctors talking. We have a loom care nurse. We
have a surgeon coming from the surgical perspective, because I
think that's always really important. And it's also multiple institutions.
(25:21):
So we have someone from every academic center in Philadelphia,
with which I think is incredibly unique and something that
I'm really proud of that, you know, Drexel, Jefferson, Cooper, Temple, Penn,
Prevention Point. Everyone's included and was part of the planning
for this.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And finally, I wonder if you could maybe make this
real for us and maybe share with us a story
of someone that you were able to help and who
that person was, and I mean, just paint a picture
for us, because I think that what we forget is
that people that are living with substance use disorder with
(25:57):
somebody's daughter, somebody's son, somebody's brother, somebody's sister, somebody's mother,
somebody's father. Right, So I wonder if you can maybe
paint a picture for us, it's something specific in your experience.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
I have so many happy stories for my patients, especially
from prevention point, because I think you're right, you can
forget the humanside and that these are all people with
loved ones who have dreams and hopes and want, you know,
to be connected with them. I have a specific patient
who I saw had a cute HIV so missed an
(26:33):
opportunity for prep, no one was talking to her about it.
Came in, was incredibly sick, had horrible infections, multiple overdoses,
and I was able to get her on injectable HIV meds,
injectable puper norphine for OPS disorder, and just being there
where she was and continuing to support her, we got
(26:55):
her eventually to the point where she was able to
go to the hospital, and she's now been in covery
for over six months and is doing amazing, has gained
weight back, is in touch with her family, and that's
something that it's so amazing to see. And I'm lucky
to see it a lot as someone who works in
this field, but I think someone who's meeting them in
the hospital or seeing them on the street might not
realize how amazing the outcome can be. If you just
(27:19):
meet people where they are.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
If people want to know more about prevention point or
if they're interested in finding out more about the results
that you come up with with this Inspire symposium, how
do they find out more.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
PROVENSALIN has amazing websites with all of our cool resources.
Anyone can always reach out to us. All the academic
centers are developing new ways to deal with Metatamini, electroal
building up, addiction and infections. Here at ken we have
an ID addiction clinic integrated for people with care, and
so we're very lucky that Philadelphia has a lot of
these resources.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, well, I want to thank you so much for
joining us. This is a very important topic, and yeah,
it's wonderful that you're getting all these people together to
have a real solid conversation about how you can move
forward and addressing this serious issue, this health public health
crisis tied to injection use and the serious infections impacting individuals, families,
(28:18):
and healthcare systems across Philadelphia. Doctor Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor
of Clinical Medicine and the Division of Infectious Diseases at
the University of penn and the SNA Clinic, Medical Director
of Prevention Point, Philadelphia. Thank you so much for joining
us today.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
You can listen to all of today's interviews by going
to our station website and typing in keyword Community. You
can also listen on the iHeartRadio Appy Words Philadelphia Community Podcast.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard. I'm
Lorraine Ballard Morral and I stand for service to our
community and media that empowers. What will you stand for?
(28:55):
You've been listening to Insight and thank you
Good morning. You're listening to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Balla. Tomorrow. This week we talk
about the growing infectious disease crisis connected to injection drug
use with doctor Jessica Meisner of pen Medicine and Prevention
Point Philadelphia. We also explore food justice and sustainability with
the Black Farmers co Op. So stay with us today
(00:21):
we're talking about food justice, sustainability, and the importance of
preserving Black agricultural traditions and land ownership. Joining us as
doctor Carol Simmons, Executive director of the Black Farmers co Op.
Listening to Insight and our community soil, honoring our ancestors,
ruling our infectious disease. Also joining up to system doctors, directors, staff,
(00:45):
energy and Prevention Point. Event is happening Saturday, more Sturdy
in Philadelphia. Farmers currently talking about the movement for food sovereignty,
community empowerment, and how farming connects culture, health and economic opportunities.
So doctor Simmons, for listeners who may not be familiar,
what is the mission of Black Farmers co Op and
why was it created?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, we were created in twenty twenty two and one
of our founders, Charlene Thomas Moore, was driving and she
saw a food truck and the children were lined up
in the morning and they were buying sodas and candy
(01:27):
and doughnuts and greasy food. And she came back to
us and she said, we are going to have to
do something to change the way people are eating in
our community. And that's how it all started. In twenty
twenty two, we had our first Farmer's Market and we
(01:49):
have been moving forward and educating our community on how
to eat, how to stay healthy, and what some of
the things they can do to maintain that.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Stephanie, this year's theme is a celebration from Soil to Soil,
honoring our ancestors, feeding our future. What does that message
mean to you personally and the organization personally.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It's a reach back to our ancestors. It's a reach
back generations ago from when our people had their hands
in the soil, they were farming, and that was a
means of our survival. That was our sustenance. And today
(02:35):
what we are trying to teach people instead of all
the commercial foods with the pesticides in them, things that
are gmo, genetically modified, those are the things that we're
trying to pull people away from because it's not healthy,
this nutrition, which is feeding your soul. We're here with
(02:57):
this movement to remind people this is where we came from,
this is how we started. Let's not stray too far
away from it, because if we do, we're risking longevity,
We're risking health.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
You know. I think about the phrase twenty acres in
a mule, you know, in greconstruction, and so what is it, Oh,
you've got a we've got a T shirt. What does
the T shirt say?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Twenty acres and a mule, shelter, clothing, food, and it
shows the mule and the forty acres, and we wear
the shirt to remind people of our history and the
importance of farming. And we never did get the forty acres.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Right, that was promised but not fulfilled. But farming has
been a lynchpin for black empowerment over these many centuries.
And so you're talking about preserving and supporting black farmers
in black land ownership, which it's so important because we
know what the struggle has been over the history of
(04:04):
this country in terms of black land ownership. Talk about
why it's so important, especially in urban communities like Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, you know that is a great question. In Philadelphia,
there's forty thousand vacant lots. All we want is four
thousand ten percent. We go into the neighborhoods, the black farmers,
and we look at the lots. We ask people to
start growing on the lots. And this is a movement
(04:35):
because there is a city in Germany they turn the
whole city into a farm where people in the city
can go to any lot and harvest. We would like
to see this here in Philadelphia where we can feed
each community and that they can walk around the corner
(04:57):
or down the street to these vacant lots that are
now community gardens, a peaceful place we're thinking about, you know,
putting benches and one of our community gardens they have
a play area for the children. It's beyond farming. Is
(05:17):
bringing peace to our communities. And it's been proven through
studies that when you remove any type of debris or
anything that's not keeping the street or that block balance,
crime goes down.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
That's right, and we know that greening our community does
not only it reduces crime and creates a community focus,
but it's also really good for our mental well being.
We need to be in nature, and even if we're
in the city, having these little patches of green and
actually growing things that people can eat has to be
(05:58):
tremendously good, not only for our health, that our mental wellbeing, right, Stephanie.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Absolutely, And you know, Lorrain, I'd like to just take
a step back and piggyback on something that doctor Carroll
just spoke about. It is important to understand before you
can start farming, just how critical it is that you
have land ownership.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I don't know if you were on the website, I
don't know if you read Stolen Land versus the Promised Land,
but so much land has been taken from our community
and even today. This is a call out to the
city of Philadelphia. If y'all listening out there, this is
a call out, especially to counsel to understand you have
(06:45):
not been the greatest stewards of vacant land in the
city of Philadelphia. Dolen Land versus a Promised Land talks
about Pastor Darien Thomas and his family who had land.
They purchased land when they came here, they purchased a
home and they actually had a property of land, vacant
(07:08):
land that was adjacent to their home, that belonged to them,
and the city, through eminent domain, took it from them
with the promise of building on it. And that was
in nineteen seventy something.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Yeah, that's called irmit renewal, but it was urban destruction
for so many Yes, communities for sure, absolutely on the bottom.
I mean there's so many communities that have been erased
from existence because of urban renewal. And like you said,
eminent domain. I want to get back to the fourth
anniversary celebration that's happening on May thirtieth. Doctor Simmons, tell
(07:44):
us about the celebration and how we can participate.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh, we're so excited about our anniversary because this month
May is Black Pharmer's co Op month and our fourth
year celebration culminates the month May thirtieth, and we are
bringing to our community a host of activities ways showing
(08:11):
them how they can farm, showing them is the healthy
ways to eat. We have activities for children. We are
about educating our community on how to live better. And
so this fourth anniversary is very, very meaningful to us
(08:32):
because we want the whole city and beyond to understand
the importance of an I'd like to make one point.
We are asking people to come, of course, and it's
at seven hundred Cobscreek Parkway, right at Cobbscreek and Catherine Street.
It's at the Environmental Community Center. But we want people
(08:57):
to know that they can grow food produce right in
their own environment and how important that is. The importance
of growing your own Nothing beats going out to your pot,
to your land, your backyard and picking stream beans and
(09:18):
coming in rinsing them off and then steaming them, or
your collar greens. One of our farmers, Ben Miller at
sixty first and Ryan Hart Ryan Hart Farms. Last Thursday,
we just harvested bok choi. We harvested collar greens, mustard greens, lettuce,
(09:39):
the biggest head of lettuce you ever want to see,
and it's all organic. And what people need to know
when you go to the supermarket, they don't have an
organic section of like sprouts or whole foods. But you
need to look at the numbers on the fruit. Means
(10:00):
it's organic, eight means it has been genetically modified. Four
means it's been pesticides have been used on it. We
need to understand the codes. So that's part of our
educational process, and so the fourth anniversary brings all of
(10:21):
that together. We'll have presentations on various ways in which
people can start growing their own food.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
I love it, and that's happening on May thirtieth, from
eleven to four. Black Farmers co Op fourth Anniversary Celebration
from Soil to Soil Again. It's at the Environmental Center
seven hundred Cobs Creek Parkway, right here in Philadelphia. Stephanie.
If people want more information, where do they go.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Black Farmers co Op dot org dot org. That's our website,
or they can email us Black Farmers co Op twenty
twenty five at gmail dot com, pharm As co Op
and that's like Coop Coop two zero two five at
gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
I want to thank you both for joining us here
today and letting us know about this very important celebration.
We need to get back to the land to understand
the importance of eating healthy and also elevating our abandoned lots. Stephanie,
you did a call out to city council, so hopefully
somebody out there is listening.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What would you like to see them do? I would
like to see them move the vacant lots, not with
the difficulty that exists now for property that is in
the land bank. We understand that there's a bunch of
legal stuff and liability that is currently with the way
(11:49):
that they move the property.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Make it easy.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I believe we're smart enough to figure a way to
make it easy.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I believe that you're right about that. Hopefully somebody's listening,
and we want to make sure that all of those
abandoned properties are vacant lots of which there's so many
in this city, such potential there, and I love what
your mission is. I love that you're all raising our
awareness and hopefully folks will come out to this fourth
(12:16):
annual Soil to Souls Saturday Black Farmers co Op fourth
Anniversary celebration on May thirtieth. Checkout blackfarmersco Op dot org
to find out more. Thanks to Executive Director the Black
Farmers co Op and that is doctor Carol Simmons and
Assistant to the Executive Director, Stephanie James. Thank you both
(12:37):
for joining us here today and thank you for doing
what you're doing to raise our awareness with the importance
of farming, land ownership, culture, health, economic opportunity, all those
things wrapped into your mission. Thank you for all that
you do. Today, we're talking about a growing public health
(13:00):
crisis tied to injection drug use and the serious infections
impacting individuals, families, and healthcare systems across Philadelphia, from hepatitis
and HIV to life threatening heart and skin infections. Medical
experts across the region are coming together to develop community
and formed solutions rooted in care prevention and harm reduction.
(13:22):
Joining us right now is doctor Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor
of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at
the University of Pennsylvania and Santa Clinic medical director at
Prevention Point Philadelphia. She's here to talk about the challenges,
the stigma, and the collaborative efforts underway to address this
urgent issue. Doctor Remisner, thank you so much for joining us,
(13:45):
and I wonder if you can explain how injection drug
use is contributing to arise in severe infections across Philadelphia
and the region.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
An thank you so much for having me. So this
is something that we've been seeing for decades, but it's
constantly changing, and I think Philadelphia is a very special,
unique situation because we always have the newest adulterance in
our drug supply, and so we're constantly having to adapt
on the fly and learn how to do the best
(14:18):
care in that moment. And this I think the best
example would be with the xylazine wounds, where we are
seeing horrible wounds coming out of the xylazine that was
in the drug supply and really having to learn in
real time the best wound care for it. And in
Philly we're seeing HIV hepatitis, we're also seeing a lot
(14:38):
of endocarditis, more bacterial infections, and it's really been a
big challenge to infectious disease providers here how to provide
the best care.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well. People may think about HIV or hepatitis, but as
you mentioned, hard infections, bloodstream infections, and as you mentioned
severe wounds are connected to drug use. Right now, you're
right there in the front line. So what exactly are
you seeing and what is the impact of all these
(15:09):
new drugs. It seems as though there's a new designer
drug that is going to be out in the world
in the wild, impacting people who have substance use disorder.
So tell us more about what you're seeing on the street.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So in my clinic at prevention point, I have a
low barrier HIV clinic, and the majority of the infections
I see there are skin and soft tissue infection, so abscesses, cellulitis,
wounds that have inhaled, and a lot of that is
just from being potentially unhoused, not having access to clean water,
(15:48):
not having access to new supplies to use, or even
something as simple as just you have skin that lives
on everyone's bacteria, and so if you're injecting through it,
there's going to be a risk of an infection. And
so we're seeing a lot of skin infections. And then
the more severe ones is when that bacteria then gets
into their blood and goes to other places and it
(16:09):
doesn't always present classic like you would see with other patients,
and so you really have to have a curiosity and
really talk to the patient and figure out, oh, your
neck pain is more than just neck pain, maybe there's
an abscess there.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
For example, we've heard about xylazine, but are there any
other drugs that are starting to pop up that we
should be aware of that are on the street.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
So the biggest adulterate right now in the Philadelphia drug
supply is metatomine, and that has surpassed silazine by far,
we luckily are not seeing infections from it, but where
the challenge is withdrawal. The withdrawal from metatomitine is very severe.
It's dangerous. People who actually die from it, which is
(16:51):
something we hadn't seen before. And it's impacting infections because
when someone goes to the hospital meeting treatment there, withdraw
is so severe that they leave the hospital to feel better,
and so we're not really able to address their infection
because the withdrawal isn't being treated appropriately because we don't
have the options to do that yet.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So the typical drugs that you use to help with
withdrawal don't apply exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Wow, that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
The hospitals are using a medicine called dex metatomity, which
is our kind of human version of metatomity, but it's challenging.
You need to be in the ICU, you need to
have close nursing care, follow up with them, close watching,
and so it's just really taking the hospitals out of
capacity and really filling up our ICU bes and making
it challenging for everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Wow, that is something I was not aware of now.
There is also a lot of talk about these drug
store types of drugs. There I'm sure you saw the
news where a guy breaks into like a I guess
a convenience store and goes on a rampage for crab
tom right. So are you seeing that use escalating and
(17:59):
what what is that that people need to know about,
because I think a lot of folks are thinking, oh,
you know, you can get that at the gas station.
It should be fine, So tell us more.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah, So a lot of the gas station drugs or
you know, some of the drugs that we see more
like party drugs. They may not have the same impact
of the bloodstream infections or the skin infections, but anytime
you inhale something, depending on what it is, there could
be you know, fungal elements, bacteria, anything damaging your lungs
(18:32):
and cause lung issues. We also see, you know, increased
of more risky sexual behavior, and so if someone is
more disinhibited, they're not using condoms, they're not having safe sex,
and so we're seeing increases with STIs around that potentially
or increase HIV acquisition. We're really trying to focus on,
like a harm reduction approach, just giving people the tools
to keep themselves safe and as healthy as possible. And
(18:55):
you know, addressing it from multi prong areas.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Let's talk about harm reduction because it can often be misunderstood.
There are a lot of yeah, I'm sure that's an understatement, right.
There are a lot of folks who have very distinct
judgments about people who have substance use disorder, And so
tell us what does a compassionate, evidence based harm reduction
(19:21):
approach actually look like in practice for patients and communities.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I mean, I think it's really as simple as just
meeting people where they are and treating patients with dignity
and respect. That's the simplest version of it. When I
see my patients, especially at prevention point, really having a
patient cenator approach, what are your issues that you're most
worried about? Okay, you're maybe not at a point where
(19:49):
you want to stop using. What can I do to
keep you as happy and healthy as possible right now?
And really making sure it's part of a collaborative effort
with the patient. And I think people forget that substance
use disorders are a medical problem, just like diabetes, high
blood pressure, ASTHA, and we need to remove the stigma
around it and just treat the medical condition and give
(20:11):
people the care that they need.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I imagine that. However, the challenge is that because of
the nature of substance use disorder, that is very difficult
to say. You know, you may know that you should stop,
but being able to stop is not that easy, right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Yeah, And especially nowadays with the adulterance and the drug supply,
metatoming is incredibly hard to get someone through their withdrawal.
And so I have patients that desperately want to stop
using and we just don't have the right medical tools
to help get them to that point.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Tell us, what do you think that we should do
policy wise in the city of Philadelphia to support individuals
who really want to get better, or even those who
don't want to get better but we really need to
help them anyway. What kinds of policies do you think
would be compassionate and effective and we need to see
(21:12):
more of.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I mean, I think the biggest thing is our shurnd
services programs, So having access to clean works, which is
what people use when they use drugs, and making sure
people have new needals what we call cookers or cotton
steril water. Really just having access to medical care, having
people be able to get into a methodone clinic or
(21:35):
a suboxone clinic easily. I will say, the Health Department
does a lot of support for us. My clinic is
funded by the Health Department. Our syringe exchange is supported
by them a lot, and so the city is pouring
in a lot of funds in it. But trying to
remove the criminalization around substance juice, I think is a
big key thing. This isn't something that we should lock
(21:57):
people up for, something that we should give better treatment options.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
It's for let's also talk about needle exchange. It's something
that Prevention Point has been very well known for. There
are some pushback, I think in the community around needle exchange.
I'm sure you're very aware of that because a lot
of times those needles do end up on the street,
and then kids are walking on the street, and you know,
neighbors that live there are faced with having to address
(22:25):
needles on the street. So what are you telling folks
in the neighborhoods who might not be that compassionate or
supportive of the idea of needle exchange because of how
it's impacting them.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Can I say in comment?
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Okay, no comment, All right, Well, I guess we'll leave
it at that it's a big issue, but certainly we
know that needle exchange does reduce the incident of sexually
transmitted diseases or other types of diseases.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Is that right right?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
So, I think surrendered exchanges are often viewed as negative
things for the area. You don't want it in your backyard,
but evidence shows that reduce the risk of HIV and
hepsy in the community. And so if you're reducing the
community viral load, you're helping keep everyone healthy, right, And
I think at prevention point, especially, we're collecting use needles
(23:20):
and syringes, and so people are turning in millions of
syringes a year to us, and we're disposing of them safely,
and so that's actually getting them off of the street.
And we also have like monthly cleanups, so we're going
out and helping clean up the neighborhoods. And so I
think we're trying to really uplook the entire community that
we're in. And it's easy to kind of say, oh,
(23:42):
this is potentially risky, but reality is we're actually improving
the community health.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So you have this symposium that's coming up, and I
understand that you're so successful in recruiting people that you're
closed out.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
But what are you hoping to.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Accomplish in this symposium, which I know is multi disciplinary
and you've got people from all over the region that
are coming together to have these conversations. What are some
of the things you're hoping that we'll be accomplished in
this I guess you're calling it the Inspire Symposium.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, so this symposium really started as a grassroots effort.
There were a lot of infectious disease physicians and providers
in the area that were already we were already having
unofficial meetups. Oh, we're seeing a lot of diarrhea infections.
Are you guys seeing that too, We're seeing a lot
of this specific bacteria. Are you seeing that too? And
(24:35):
we were, you know, collaborating best practices and comparing notes
and oh, I have your patient, what are you doing?
And we realize that we have such a special wealth
of knowledge in Philadelphia around infections and substantiose and so
we really wanted to spread that knowledge and show our collaboration.
And I think the goal is to really educate people
that substantutes and infections really go hand in hand and
(24:58):
you can't address one without the other and that how
this is collaborative and that you need to really work
with other areas. And so we have people from social
work talking, and we have pharmacists talking, we have addiction
medicine doctors talking. We have a loom care nurse. We
have a surgeon coming from the surgical perspective, because I
think that's always really important. And it's also multiple institutions.
(25:21):
So we have someone from every academic center in Philadelphia,
with which I think is incredibly unique and something that
I'm really proud of that, you know, Drexel, Jefferson, Cooper, Temple, Penn,
Prevention Point. Everyone's included and was part of the planning
for this.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And finally, I wonder if you could maybe make this
real for us and maybe share with us a story
of someone that you were able to help and who
that person was, and I mean, just paint a picture
for us, because I think that what we forget is
that people that are living with substance use disorder with
(25:57):
somebody's daughter, somebody's son, somebody's brother, somebody's sister, somebody's mother,
somebody's father. Right, So I wonder if you can maybe
paint a picture for us, it's something specific in your experience.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
I have so many happy stories for my patients, especially
from prevention point, because I think you're right, you can
forget the humanside and that these are all people with
loved ones who have dreams and hopes and want, you know,
to be connected with them. I have a specific patient
who I saw had a cute HIV so missed an
(26:33):
opportunity for prep, no one was talking to her about it.
Came in, was incredibly sick, had horrible infections, multiple overdoses,
and I was able to get her on injectable HIV meds,
injectable puper norphine for OPS disorder, and just being there
where she was and continuing to support her, we got
(26:55):
her eventually to the point where she was able to
go to the hospital, and she's now been in covery
for over six months and is doing amazing, has gained
weight back, is in touch with her family, and that's
something that it's so amazing to see. And I'm lucky
to see it a lot as someone who works in
this field, but I think someone who's meeting them in
the hospital or seeing them on the street might not
realize how amazing the outcome can be. If you just
(27:19):
meet people where they are.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
If people want to know more about prevention point or
if they're interested in finding out more about the results
that you come up with with this Inspire symposium, how
do they find out more.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
PROVENSALIN has amazing websites with all of our cool resources.
Anyone can always reach out to us. All the academic
centers are developing new ways to deal with Metatamini, electroal
building up, addiction and infections. Here at ken we have
an ID addiction clinic integrated for people with care, and
so we're very lucky that Philadelphia has a lot of
these resources.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, well, I want to thank you so much for
joining us. This is a very important topic, and yeah,
it's wonderful that you're getting all these people together to
have a real solid conversation about how you can move
forward and addressing this serious issue, this health public health
crisis tied to injection use and the serious infections impacting individuals, families,
(28:18):
and healthcare systems across Philadelphia. Doctor Jessica Meisner, Associate Professor
of Clinical Medicine and the Division of Infectious Diseases at
the University of penn and the SNA Clinic, Medical Director
of Prevention Point, Philadelphia. Thank you so much for joining
us today.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
You can listen to all of today's interviews by going
to our station website and typing in keyword Community. You
can also listen on the iHeartRadio Appy Words Philadelphia Community Podcast.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard. I'm
Lorraine Ballard Morral and I stand for service to our
community and media that empowers. What will you stand for?
(28:55):
You've been listening to Insight and thank you
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