Bill Kinkle, RN, EMT-P, CRS Profile picture
Husband, father, student, paramedic, nurse, non-using drug user. Co-host of Health Professionals in Recovery podcast @HPIRPodcast *Opinions my own.

Jun 15, 2022, 12 tweets

A THREAD REMINISCING AND REFOCUSING.

One thing I’ve had the opportunity to do while sitting in this room for the past 2 months is reflect on my past advocacy efforts and refocus on the direction we are going in the future based on my neck injury and hospitalization.

One thing I miss is working in the field as a harm reductionist. Spending time in the encampments, providing #naloxone, sterile syringes, basic wound care etc. was a highlight of my life.

Testing drugs for my friends…(fake pressed Xanax bars in photo).

Making balloon animals to bring out a smile with my friends experiencing homelessness…

Bringing buprenorphine to where folks were via telemed in the field.

Article here:

rollingstone.com/culture/cultur…

Various advocacy roles whenever we could…
USA Today piece here:

usatoday.com/in-depth/news/…

Inquirer piece here:

inquirer.com/philly/health/…

This is Kensington, Philadelphia. I took a bunch of photos of the community to highlight its beauty amid so much negative press and hung these photos in my office to remind my friends that there is hope in the darkness.

More Kensington.

Our podcast with @sean_fogler
Episodes here:

stitcher.com/podcast/health…

I’m fairly certain our focus is going to be more focused on destroying stigma now that I’ve experienced its effects first hand. I think this will allow me to speak from experience and give me credibility.

I’ve tried to raise awareness in real time throughout the past 2 months and I will continue to do so. This work is important and I’m saddened at how deep stigma is embedded in American healthcare. My life is dedicated to changing this.

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