Public ServicePublic Service
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu Robinson talks with Utah legislator Brad Daw about how public policy shapes addiction recovery, from Medicaid access for inmates to medical cannabis regulation. Their discussion highlights how everyday people, treatment providers and lawmakers can work together to push for practical, life‑saving changes.
49:09•14 Sept 2020
Public Service, Policy, and Second Chances with Rep. Brad Daw
Episode Overview
- Public service can directly reduce addiction deaths by creating policies that link people leaving jail with immediate treatment through Medicaid.
- Occupational licensing reforms can help addicted doctors and other providers receive treatment while safely maintaining their careers under strict supervision.
- Medical cannabis can be a safer option than opioids for some patients when treated as genuine medicine, prescribed by trained doctors and dispensed by pharmacists.
- Citizens can influence laws by bringing specific, researched problems and being open to practical solutions rather than only expressing frustration.
- Local legislators can often help more than national figures, but people need to know who represents them and be willing to make contact.
“As a society, the best thing we can do is look out for our brothers and sisters, look out for those who are struggling.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This conversation between Coach Blu Robinson and Utah State Legislator Brad Daw shows how public service can directly shape the chances people have to rebuild their lives after addiction. You’ll hear Brad explain how he “forges policy that [he] think[s] can save lives,” especially around addiction, incarceration and access to care.
He shares how ideas come from everyday people, frontline professionals and agencies, then turn into concrete laws – like Utah’s effort to get people leaving jail onto Medicaid 30 days before release so they can be “handed off right to treatment” instead of dumped on the street. Brad also talks about occupational licensing reforms that support doctors and other prescription providers who become addicted, helping them get treatment while keeping their careers if they meet strict conditions.
The aim is to stop one bad chapter from wiping out an entire life’s work. Another big topic is medical cannabis. Brad walks through his shift from scepticism to cautious support, insisting it be handled as real medicine: prescribed by trained doctors, dispensed by pharmacists, and kept far away from “bud tender” culture. He and Blu chat about stigma, fear, and how better education and research can reduce harm without turning Utah into a free‑for‑all.
The episode is aimed at people in recovery, their families, and anyone wondering how to push for policy change without just ranting on social media. Brad keeps stressing that “this is our government” and shows how one young caller with a driving‑school complaint ended up changing state law. If you’ve ever thought, “Someone should fix this,” this chat might have you asking a different question: what part could you play in that change?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.