♪ CRYSTAL: HI, I'’M CRYSTAL HANDS.

ON GREATER BOSTON WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE CENTER IN EAST BOSTON WITH A TOUR OF THE FACILITIES AND DISCUSSION WITH THOSE RUNNING THE CENTER ABOUT THE SURGEON AND WHAT THEY HOPE TO BRING TO THE CITY.

NEW EVIDENCE THAT WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS LIKE OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY MAY CURVE ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

I SPEAK TO A RESEARCHER WITH A STUDY OF HIS OWN.

THE DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE OUTPACES THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

IN ONE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE IN CRISIS HAVE A NEW OPTION EAST BOSTON HEALTH CENTER HAS OPENED A NEW URGENT CARE SERVICE TO PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE FOR CRISIS EVALUATION.

I GOT A TOUR AND LEARN HOW THEY ARE RESPONDING TO A GROWING NEED.

MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE VISIT EAST BOSTON HEALTH CENTER EVERY YEAR.

THE POPULATION OF PATIENTS ARE LOW INCOME AND HIGH NEED.

ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS A BIG ONE.

>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS WHEN A PATIENT DECIDES TODAY IS THE DAY I NEED HELP WHEN THEY LOOK FOR THE CARE THEY CANNOT FIND IT.

CRYSTAL: ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ONE IN FIVE ADULTS HAS EXPERIENCED A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AND ONE IN 20 LIVE WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

MORE THAN HALF NEVER GET HELP.

>> THE WEIGHT FOR MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING ARE SO LENGTHY.

CRYSTAL: THEIR ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM IS A NEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH URGENT CARE UNIT.

>> THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR CREATING TRAUMA INFORMED AESTHETICALLY PLEASING SPACES.

CRYSTAL: I GOT A TOUR GUIDE BY MICHAEL, P OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

FROM OUR CUSTOM MADE TO THE CUSTOM LAYOUT, EVERY DETAIL IS INTENTIONAL.

THAT INCLUDES THE STREAMLINED METAL DETECTOR AIMED AT KEEPING THE SPACE LESS INTRUSIVE.

>> IT'’S GOT FIVE POINTS.

CRYSTAL: VIRTUAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES.

>> WHETHER THEY SPEAK SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, ARABIC OR SOME OTHER LANGUAGE.

CRYSTAL: BILINGUAL STAFF HELPS ELIMINATE LANGUAGE AS A HURDLE TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

>> EVERYTHING NEEDS TO SAY YOU ARE WELCOME, WE'’RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, YOU WILL BE IN COMFORT AND SAFETY.

CRYSTAL: HIGH-COST, SOCIAL STIGMA AND RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE BARRIERS FOR PATIENTS.

CLINICIANS AT EAST BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER HOPE THIS WILL BREAK DOWN THOSE WALLS >> IT IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IF PATIENT NEEDS HELP TODAY BUT THEY CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL ONE MONTH FROM NOW THEIR ENTIRE SITUATION COULD BE DIFFERENT.

CRYSTAL: NOW I AM JOINED BY EAST BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTERS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RYAN.

THEIR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY TRAUMA SUPPORT SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH, AARON, AND MIA JONES, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND COLLEGE DIVISION WITH THE BLACK MENTAL HEALTH ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS A GROWING ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS IS AN AMAZING FACILITY BUT ALSO A LEVEL OF CARE AND THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THE PRIVACY TO THE PATIENT'’S THAT WILL USE IT, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> WE WANTED TO AFFIRM THE HUMANITY OF PATIENTS SO WHEN WE BUILT THE FACILITY WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SAFETY BUT ALSO A PLACE PEOPLE COULD GO AND FEEL THEY WERE VALUED AND CARED FOR THAT WAS COMPASSIONATE.

AND WHERE HEALING CAN TAKE PLACE.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE FACILITY IS BUILT TO PATIENT SPECS, THE MOST ACUTE LEVEL OF CARE, WE TREAT FOLKS WHO WALK IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ONE THING WE ARE OUT ABOUT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT I MYSELF IF TODAY I NEED MEDICATION, THERAPY, IF I CALL IT WILL BE MONTHS BEFORE I CAN GET IT BUT FOR OUR PATIENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE INSURANCE, WHO ARE BELOW 200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL THEY CAN GET MEDICATION AND PSYCHOTHERAPY THE SAME DAY AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF AND WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

CRYSTAL: HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

>> IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED AND ALSO AS RYAN MENTIONED PROMOTE HEALING.

SO THROUGH THE SERVICE AND OTHER HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE OFFER IN THE COMMUNITY, WE SUPPORT PATIENT'’S ABILITY TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND ACCESS THEIR OWN ABILITY TO HEAL.

CRYSTAL: IT IS NOT JUST A SPACE.

ART IS ON THE WALL BUT IT IS ALSO SAFE FOR FOLKS.

COLORS ARE CHOSEN TO BE, AND SOOTHING AND OTHER SERVICES WILL COME INTO PLAY LIKE MEDITATION OR YOGA AND HAVING ACTIVE SNARES COME IN SEEMS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THE BASE LEVEL OF CARE IS.

I IMAGINE THAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.

>> YES, WE BELIEVE IN TREATING THE WHOLE PERSON SO WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATED WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH.

IT IS NOT A SEPARATE PLACE THAT YOU GO.

TRADITIONALLY THE BUILDING IS NOT AS NICE, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MET A STANDARD THAT I WOULD WANT TO GO TO, SEND MY LOVED ONES TOO.

THAT'’S THE STANDARD THAT WE SET.

AND WE LOOKED TO BRING IN OTHER HEALING ARTS SO IT'’S NOT JUST AS A PROVIDER SAYING IT JUST NEEDS TO BE THE THINGS I LEARNED WHEN I WAS STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY.

WE ARE DOING YOGA, LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PERSON AND BRINGING ALL THESE PIECES TO BEAR TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL.

CRYSTAL: WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATISTICS, ONE IN FIVE ADULTS HAS EXPERIENCED A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE, MORE THAN HALF OF FOLKS DO NOT GET HELP.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A RESOURCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I TELL YOUNG PEOPLE YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH JUST LIKE PHYSICAL HEALTH, SO HAVING ACCESS TO THINGS IN ADDITION TO THERAPY BRINGS NOT JUST TRAUMA INFORMED CARE BUT IT TAPS INTO HEALING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO AFFIRM ALL PARTS OF THEMSELVES AND REALLY EXPLORE DIFFERENT OUTLETS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

CERTAINLY WHEN WE ARE WORKING WITH PATIENTS AND CLIENTS BEING ABLE TO HAVE NONTRADITIONAL SPACES AND HELP THEM FEEL SAFE WILL HELP WITH HEALING.

CRYSTAL: THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS TO ACCESS OR EVEN ASKING FOR HELP, ONE BEING STIGMA, AND MESH AND THAT'’S BIG IN THE YOUTH POPULATION.

>> IT IS DECREASING WITH ALL THE PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE LAST THREE YEARS NATIONWIDE, EVEN GLOBALLY, LIVING THROUGH PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE BEING OPEN AND HONEST BUT IN URBAN AREAS WE STILL HAVE SOME REMNANTS OF STIGMA LEFT OVER IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE TOLD TO PRAY ABOUT IT OR WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS HOUSE STAYS IN THIS HOUSE SO PUSHING PAST THAT AND GOING TO A PLACE THAT IS AFFIRMING AND START THE JOURNEY FOR SOMEONE TO WORK ON MENTAL HEALTH.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW THE POPULATION THAT COMES TO EAST BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY HOW MANY LANGUAGES CAN BE ACCESSED TO HELP ALL POPULATIONS.

>> THAT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WORK WITH MANY IMMIGRANTS.

OUR ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE HEALTH EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND OUR INTERPRETATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS US WITH THAT.

HAVING BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL PROVIDERS AND THINKING ABOUT HEALING MODALITIES WE HAVE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HEALERS THAT WE WORK WITH SO IT IS REALLY SERVICES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY HEALING CENTER PROJECT FOR AND BY THE COMMUNITY, SO HAVING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AS THE CENTERPIECE OF THAT.

>> ANOTHER POINT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IS AROUND TRANSLATIONS.

WE DO OVER 200 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WE CAN TRANSLATE.

LAST WEEK WE DID 205 TRANSLATIONS.

THIS YEAR WE WILL DO 220,000.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PATIENTS TO SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AND WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS MENTAL HEALTH AND LOOK AT CLINICIANS ONLY 20% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AT THIS FACILITY ALONE WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THAT JUST IN OUR LATINX STAFF.

WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHEN PATIENTS SHOW UP THEY SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEMSELVES, WE THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY IN THE HEALING PROCESS.

CRYSTAL: TO GO BACK TO YOUR POINT WHERE A PERSON CAN COME IN WITH AN ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, YOU TREAT THAT BUT MAYBE THEY ALSO NEED A CHECK UP A HEALTH ISSUE THAT THEY'’VE BEEN IGNORING BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

MAYBE THEY'’VE BEEN ON WAITING LISTS WE'’VE ALL TRIED TO MAKE A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT BUT IT ENDS UP BEING A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ACUTE CARE IN GENERAL.

>> THE COOL THING ABOUT THE BUILDING IS THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS ON THE SAME FLOOR JUST STEPS AWAY.

THE PHARMACY SHARES A WALL WITH THE FACILITY SO YOU CAN COME IN FOR URGENTLY NEEDED THERAPY AND MEDICATIONS AND GO NEXT-DOOR AND GET THE MEDICATIONS RIGHT AWAY.

IF IT IS URGENT WE CAN TAKE YOU TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO THE FACILITY BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST PLACE FOR A PATIENT GOING THROUGH A PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS.

WE WANTED TO BUILD THIS FACILITY WHERE IT WOULD BE SEPARATE.

IF YOU GO TO THE SECOND FLOOR ADULT MEDICINE PRACTICES ARE THERE.

THE THIRD FLOOR IS WHERE PEDIATRIC PRACTICES ARE AND WE HAVE SAME-DAY PEDIATRICS SO A MOM CAN SHOW OF WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND GET CARE.

YOU CAN WALK INTO ONE BUILDING, GET EMERGENCY CARE, FULL COURSE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, CRISIS IN TREATMENT INTERVENTION, ADULT MEDICINE AND PEDIATRIC MEDICINE ALL WITHIN THE SAME BUILDING.

THAT'’S SOMETHING WE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT.

CRYSTAL: I'’M THOUGHTFUL OF THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST THAT WE HEARD IN THE PIECE, LAURA, WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS READY TO GET HELP YOU'’VE GOT TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND OR A CIRCUMSTANCE HAPPENS.

TALK ABOUT THAT WORK ABOUT MAKING SURE SOMEONE NEEDS HELP RIGHT NOW HOW IMPORTANT THE MOMENT IS.

>> TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE SO WHAT WE SEE AND PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED IT IS WAIT LISTS ARE LONG FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS SO BEING ABLE TO SEE A PATIENT AND GIVE THEM MEDICATION AND TAKE THAT JOURNEY WITH THEM FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE THE LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE TO PROCESS WITHIN THEMSELVES OR WITH A FAMILY MEMBER THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SKILLS THAT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM, ALL KINDS OF DECISIONS COULD BE MADE THAT COULD IMPACT FUTURE GENERATIONS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO WORK.

SO THAT'’S THE FIRST THING THAT GETS CUT IS IF I'’M HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR PROCESSING THROUGH THINGS I DON'’T GO TO WORK.

THEN I CAN'’T TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY OR I SEEM WEEK.

IF THAT PERSON HAS MADE THE DECISION TO GET HELP AND THEY'’RE ABLE TO GO INTO THIS SPACE IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE AND THE IMPACT IS ON THAT DAY AND DAYS TO COME FOR SURE.

CRYSTAL: WE'’VE SEEN A RISING NUMBER OF FOLKS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISES SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'’RE SEEING AT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> THE BLACK MENTAL HEALTH ALLIANCE IS DEDICATED TO TAKING MENTAL HEALTH TO THE COMMUNITY.

OUR FOUNDER WAS COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS INDIVIDUALS GO TO THE COMMUNITY FIRST.

SO WE ARE ALL ABOUT TRAINING INDIVIDUALS AROUND WHAT MENTAL HEALTH LOOKS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU THAT WANTS TO MAKE A CHANGE.

HOW CAN YOU HELP FROM STEP ONE.

WERE SEEING YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING CONTROL OF BEING ABLE TO INFORM OTHERS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, SO THEY TAKE CLASSES TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT DIAGNOSES TO HELP OTHERS.

WE ARE SEEING ADULTS IN BARBERSHOPS AND BEAUTY SALONS REDUCING THE STIGMA AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE REALLY ENGAGE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET BETTER.

THE ISSUE IS OFTEN WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION, WE HOLD A DATABASE OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND THERAPISTS WHO ARE READY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH AND EXCEPTIONAL CLIENTS BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE WELLNESS CHECK INS BECAUSE THERE NEEDS TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AND YOU MAKING THAT DECISION SO WE STAND IN THE GAP TO HAVE QUICK CONVERSATIONS AS A LISTENING EAR TO SUPPORT YOU.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET BETTER, IT'’S JUST A MATTER OF WHERE THEY GO AND ORGANIZATION SUCH AS WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY STANDING IN THE GAP, PEOPLE WILL GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

CRYSTAL: IN OUR LAST 30 SECONDS TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH IS.

>> YES, SO IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS ONE MAIN DRIVER OF BAD PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

YOU CAN'’T DO GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH INTERVENTION WITHOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

I HEARD A COLLEAGUE SAY WE'’VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF MEDICAL LYSING POVERTY AND SO A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING OUR CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY.

SO BY THE TIME SOMEONE SHOWS UP IN THE EXAM ROOM IT IS ALMOST TOO LATE SO WE TRIED TO GO UPSTREAM BY PROVIDING OVER 200,000 MEALS PER YEAR, HELPING WITH HOUSING, SOCIAL JUSTICE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A COMMUNITY APPROACH AND LOOK AT IT THAT WAY BECAUSE THE PATIENT DOES NOT LEAVE US AND GO INTO A GLASS BUBBLE, THEY GO INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE VIEW OURSELVES AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO HEAL THE INDIVIDUAL.

CRYSTAL: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME.

GREAT CONVERSATION.

OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY, WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS WE'’VE HEARD ABOUT FOR MONTHS, MAY HAVE ANOTHER BENEFIT FOR USERS ACCORDING TO A STUDY THAT FOUND THAT THE DRUG SEMI-GLUE TIDE, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT WAS ABLE TO REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

THE STUDY FOUND SIX PARTICIPANTS ALL OF WHOM HAD ALCOHOL USE DISORDER, SAW A DECREASE IN SYMPTOMS AND NOW THE CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES AT OSU IS DOING A LARGER STUDY AND I'’M JOINED BY ONE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY, KYLE SIMMONS.

HE IS A PROFESSOR OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY AND AN ADDICTION PSYCHOLOGIST AT MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

SO KYLE OR DR. SIMMONS, TALK ABOUT THE STUDY AND I'’M SO CURIOUS ABOUT THE USE FOR ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

>> YEAH, SO ON THE BASIS OF PRECLINICAL RESEARCH DONE IN RODENTS AND MONKEYS AND EVIDENCE FROM PATIENTS, MY COLLEAGUE JESSIE AND I WANTED TO LOOK CLOSELY AT WHETHER IT MIGHT LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

JESSE IS AN UP-AND-COMING STAR WHO LEADS AN OBESITY CLINIC IN TULSA.

WITH THE TEAM DID WAS IDENTIFY SIX PATIENTS IN THE CLINIC WHO SCREENED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL USE DISORDER AND THEN WHO RECEIVED IT AS PART OF THEIR TREATMENT FOR OBESITY.

AFTER BEGINNING TREATMENT ALL SIX PATIENTS EXHIBITED MARKED REDUCTIONS IN SYMPTOMS, SO THAT IS VERY INTERESTING, IT IS EXCITING.

TWO THINGS I WOULD NOTE ABOUT THAT, THE AVERAGE TIME FROM INTAKE TO FOLLOW-UP WAS FIVE MONTHS SO THE EFFECTS SEEMS TO BE QUICK.

THE OTHER WAS DOSE THAT WAS USED.

MOST PATIENTS WERE ON LOW DOSES OF SEMI-GLUE TIDE WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR LONG-TERM TREATMENT.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A SMALL CASE STUDY AND WE NEED GOLD STANDARD DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL TRIALS TO TELL US IF THIS IS SAFE FOR PATIENTS.

SO THAT'’S WHAT WERE DOING NOW.

CRYSTAL: DR., YOU WORK IN ADDICTION MEDICINE.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.

IS THIS EXCITING?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF MIND OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

THESE PATIENTS ARE COMING IN AND PART OF HAVING THE DISORDER CAN PREDISPOSE YOU TO DIABETES, HYPERTENSION AND THEY'’RE TAKING A MEDICATION.

WE ARE SEEING IN THE CLINICS THAT THEY ARE TAKING MEDICATION AND THERE IS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.

THEY DON'’T HAVE THE DESIRE TO DRINK ANYMORE.

THIS IS TURNING HEADS BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH APPROVED MEDICATIONS BUT WE ARE SEEING THINGS THAT ARE HELPING PATIENTS AND THEY ARE MORE EXCITED TO DO THINGS, FAMILY LIFE HAS BEEN RESTORED, SO THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

CRYSTAL: COULD YOU SEE USING THIS AS PART OF AN ALTERNATIVE THERAPY PROGRAM?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WERE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL.

WE ARE ADDRESSING THE PHYSICAL.

AND A LOT OF PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER, IT GOES BY INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT AND SCREENING ASSUMING THAT THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE TREATMENT.

WE ARE ABLE TO ENABLE AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO AND THEIR FAMILY BEING RESTORED.

SO WE'’RE DOING THE WELLNESS PART OF IT USING WEGOVY WITH TREATMENT AND LOOKING INTO OTHER VITAMINS SO I'’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

CRYSTAL: DR. SIMMONS, SIX PEOPLE, PATIENTS, IS IT ENOUGH TO GET HIGH HOPES?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTEXTUALIZE THAT.

THERE IS A REALLY INTERESTING SET OF PRECLINICAL DATA IN RODENTS AND MONKEYS THAT SUGGEST YOU SHOULD SEE A REDUCTION IN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.

WE HAVE SIX -- THIS CASE SERIES OF SIX PATIENTS BUT I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS AND REALIZE THAT'’S NOT THE SAME THING AS A GOLD STANDARD CLINICAL TRIAL AND IT'’S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE THREE APPROVED MEDICATIONS FOR ALCOHOL USE DISORDER AND PATIENTS SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO THEIR CARE PROVIDER AND SAYING I WOULD LIKE OZEMPIC FOR MY ALCOHOL DRINKING BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER TREATMENTS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE.

THE FINDINGS ARE ENCOURAGING.

CRYSTAL: MY OTHER THOUGHT IS WE KNOW OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY ARE SCARCE BECAUSE OF THEIR POPULARITY AND THEY COST A LOT OF MONEY.

SO IF IT GOES THROUGH THE GOLD STANDARD OF TESTING AND IS PROVEN EFFECTIVE COULD THAT BE A CONCERN LIKE ACCESS TO IT AND THE COST?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS HOPE THAT OVER THE COMING COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THERE WILL BE A BIG EXPANSION IN THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE THESE MEDICATIONS.

MY HOPE IS SUPPLY-SIDE ISSUES WILL FADE BUT THE COST WILL BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND SOMETHING THAT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL HAVE TO RECONCILE.

CRYSTAL: I AM THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE USING MEDICATION TO TREAT A UD, IS THAT THE LAST RESORT OR THE FIRST RESORT?

>> WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ALCOHOL USE DISORDER SO IS IT MILD, MODERATE OR SEVERE.

WE START WITH LIFESTYLE CHANGES LIKE EXERCISE IN CHANGING THE WHOLE LIFESTYLE.

IF IT BECOMES MODERATE AND IS AFFECTING THEIR CAREER AND FAMILY LIFE, THEIR HEALTH, EVERYTHING.

SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF COMORBIDITIES, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

YOU CAN'’T LET THE INDIVIDUAL CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY'’VE CRIED FOR HELP AND IT COULD BE JUST A SUBTLE THING SO WE PAY ATTENTION TO THAT NO MATTER HOW SUBTLE.

WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT AND THAT'’S WHY YOU'’RE HERE.

YOU'’RE NOT JUST DRIVING DOWN TO SAY GIVE ME ONE THING.

YOU WANT ME TO FIGURE IT OUT SO THERE IS THERAPY.

WE HAVE FDA APPROVED MEDICATIONS AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE COMORBIDITIES WE SAY THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING YOU CAN USE AND THEN THEY ARE ABLE TO SAY THESE ARE THE RESULTS I AM SEEING.

IN OUR CLINIC WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE SAY I DON'’T HAVE THE DESIRE TO DRINK, I DON'’T HAVE THE DESIRE TO SMOKE READ THESE ARE INTERESTING AND I'’M EXCITED TO SEE MORE DATA AND RESEARCH.

CRYSTAL: SOMEONE WHO WOULD TAKE A DRUG THAT WE HAVE APPROVED AND PERHAPS THIS WILL BE ONE OF THEM, WOULD THAT BE SOMEONE WHO HAS ACUTE ADDICTION OR SOMEONE STRUGGLING OR A WILD WHO TRIED OTHER THINGS AND IT DID NOT WORK?

>> WE START WITH APPROVED MEDICATIONS SO IF IT HAS NOT WORKED FOR THEM AND THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THIS, ABSOLUTELY WE WILL SEE HOW THEY DO WITH IT.

WE HAVE PATIENTS DOING WELL.

SO IF THEY ARE ADDRESSING DIABETES HIGH CHOLESTEROL OR COMORBIDITIES THAT WERE SEEING WITH MEDICATION THAN WE ARE ABLE TO CAN YOU WITH MEDICATION AND SEE IMPROVEMENT ON OTHER AREAS WE ARE INDIRECTLY TARGETING.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW EVERYONE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS OF YOUR STUDY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

PARIS ALSTOM SITS DOWN WITH CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY.

A TASTE OF THE BLUE RIBBON BRASS EARLY IN FENWAY WITH THEIR HEAD CHEF TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I AM CRYSTAL.

GOOD NIGHT.

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