Kate Snow 19:01
I want to I want to stick on mental health and substance use just for a second since we were just on that subject, I have so many things I want to ask you about. But we had two panels yesterday that I moderated one was Youth Mental Health, and a lot of discussion about the lack of a system and lack of access to mental health care. And then separately, a panel right here where we talked about substance abuse. And you know how many I think 88% of people who are struggling with substance use disorder do not get help. So my question to you as the guy in charge of the systems, what can we be doing? What can this room help you do to make that better?
Xavier Becerra 19:39
And I'm glad you ended by asking what people can do because well, it may look like we're in charge. We really help is really a state function under the US Constitution. We help because we supplement but we can't drive what states will do when it comes to health care. That's their prerogative. But what we can do is give you some money to incent you to do certain things. So in mental health, one of the things that we're doing is we are launching in less than a month, a three digit phone number 988. For anyone who is going through crisis, rather than have to dial a 10 digit number in a particular state, which is different than it is in another state, if you really are looking for some help, if you're willing to turn for help before you go in the wrong direction, then we want you to be an answer to get somebody who's a professional who can help you. July 16, we launched nine ad, this Suicide Prevention Lifeline to help people we're also including text messaging there, because so many young people use text messaging. And so our goal is to make sure we can weave together all the states that have disparate programs, so that we can have a functional nine ad similar to what you expect on 911. Problem is, it's it's 50 separate parts. We don't own it, but we're trying to bring it together like the glue.
Kate Snow 21:01
So just on that I just did a story on NBC Nightly News about 988. And we went to South Carolina, we went to the only center, the only call center that exists in South Carolina, and in the room where all these workstations and empty desks because they can't afford to hire anyone, because the state has not passed any legislation. You know where I'm going. But for the room going, a lot of states haven't passed laws that would actually support the the money that's needed for 988. What do you do about that?
Xavier Becerra 21:28
Colorado, by the way, did Colorado pass the law, so it will have a independent funding space to support 988. And that's what you got to do. We put President Biden gave us close to $300 million to really help launch 988. Not enough, because you need to have to keep going, you can't just do it once. And there are states that are still behind, but we're working with them to get them going. We're setting up backup call centers, so that if a state doesn't have the ability to answer a particular call, you know, the worst thing you can do is say I'm going to reach out before I go the other way, and you get a busy signal or you're put on hold
Kate Snow 22:06
And get transferred to other states, which is what I was told will happen well
Xavier Becerra 22:09
That we we won't have any choice if we want to have actual pickup of the phone. And we're not going to let people just hang. So we're setting up call centers, we're trying to get every state to the point where they don't need to rely on some other call center in some other state to get there. Colorado do the right thing. California has done the right thing. We need other states to join.
And I'm sorry, I interrupt. Go ahead. I interrupted before you got to substance abuse, you're gonna talk about that, too.
Xavier Becerra 22:39
We we we broke last. And we changed our strategy on drug addiction and overdose. Because they're typically in the past, we've treated drug addiction as something that should stigmatize you as not just you're not the victim, but you are the perpetrator of your own problem. It's your fault. Yeah, it's your fault. And unfortunately, it's already probably traumatizing to go through it. If you are ready to make that call the 988 are actually ready to get some help. The last thing you need is for someone to point a finger in you and say, you know, you're your fault about time. And so what we did is rather than just have a prevention of drug addiction, treatment of drug addiction approach, we're also now inserting what we call harm reduction, which a lot of places in the country have already started, which is that rather than wait till they're about to commit suicide, or OD, let's stop them because they're doing their body a lot of harm in between. And if we can stop them from doing the harm, when they finally get on track, they'll be ready to get back into life in a lot better shape than if they have totally ruined their body and their brain. And so harm reduction becomes a major focus. That's why you see we're giving opportunities for fentanyl strips to be used at some of these sites. Before it was all you got to keep your hands off of fentanyl strip strips that people use to test their drugs. Yeah, you strip that let you test the drug you're about to take which you shouldn't be taking that you're about to because fentanyl is so pervasive. Now, too many of these drugs unknowingly are laced with fentanyl, which is deadly, you could die and that's what's happening. So we're now supporting centers that offer fentanyl strips to people who are about to use drugs illicitly.
So they can at least know if they're about to inject something in them that could kill them. A lot of folks say you're just promoting drug abuse. We're saving a life. And we'll talk about the other part later. Let's save the life.
And now we're also going to do follow we're not going to let someone say hey, you went through treatment. Good luck. You're on your own. Now we're going to follow them now. We're going to try to be their support centers that want to provide follow up services so we don't let someone just dangle once around the naked world trying to survive after getting themselves clean.
Kate Snow 24:54
I feel like this is rapid fire. Can I go to COVID now? Sorry, it's I'm looking at the clock. I'm so I feel like this is rapid fire. Can I go to COVID now? Sorry, it's I'm looking at the clock. I'm so COVID this week, shots, vaccines available for the smallest of children. And parents. You heard I'm sure from a lot of parents concerned or worried or not sure. What do you say to parents who aren't sure what to do?
Xavier Becerra 25:16
Talk to the best person who can give you the best advice. That's your pediatrician. Please don't talk to a politician. Talk to your pediatrician, talk to your medical adviser. Talk to the people you consult with if you don't have your own insurance and your own pediatrician. Family clinics are all over the country, and they offer you services, talk to people who understand and then I trust. If you do that you're going to make the right decision for your child. We've put out several million vaccines around the country already. Parents are asking, there's going to be a slower uptake. Most parents will say I'll wait till my child is ready for their pediatrician visit before I get the vaccinated.
Kate Snow 25:53
And that's another visit before school.maybe
Xavier Becerra 25:56
That's not the best way to do it. But at least if they get their child vaccinated, look, the vaccine has proven itself effective, including for kids. We waited this long, because we wanted to make sure for the our tiniest we had the right combination.
Kate Snow 26:10
Should so it's time should schools be requiring it this fall? should watch it schools and preschools be requiring
Xavier Becerra 26:16
Education is a state function, not a federal function. And so what's your My opinion is? If I had my kids going to school, I'd say Why aren't you offering them a chance to get vaccinated. And but I'm not an educator and I am not a school district board member. But it seems to me that the quickest and fastest way to protect your child and by the way, protect the child to protect your their grandparents and other relatives. The immunocompromised family member is to get your child vaccinated where it's most easy. They've made it. I suspect most people who are here watching this, it's not an issue. But go to parts of Alabama go to parts of Central California, where families don't have a lot of money and a lot of options. It is a big issue there.
If your kid can't get vaccinated to school, you don't have health insurance, you probably aren't getting your child vaccinated right away. That is not a reason why we should help protect people from a deadly virus.