Can changes in medical technology and drug policy tackle the growing issue of drug dependencies and overdose? Miranda Gottlieb explains how transitioning from public health policies focused on drug prohibition towards a framework based on harm reduction and consumer education can save lives and improve public health.

Miranda Gottlieb is a Senior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Political Science and Hispanic Studies. She is active on campus in numerous health and leadership organizations, but passes much of her time working on public policy reform. Her combined experience as an intern at the New Mexico Department of Health and the Drug Policy Alliance greatly influenced her to begin working on local advocacy projects and form Students for Sensible Drug Policy on campus. Miranda is a Baker Scholar in the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy, but beyond working in drug policy reform, she has an insatiable desire to travel. She is in the process of completing her senior thesis, but permits adequate time to day dreaming and planning for her next adventure.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx