P2R Episode 2 | Fighting Nashville's Overdose Crisis: Lt. Mike Hotz on Saving Lives

In this powerful episode, Marcel Gemme speaks with Lieutenant Mike Hotz of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department about his journey from Army Infantry Sergeant to building Nashville's groundbreaking Overdose Response Unit. Lt. Hotz shares the harsh realities of Nashville's overdose crisis - once the second-highest in the nation - and how his team achieved a remarkable 34% reduction in deaths through innovative harm reduction strategies.Learn about the One Box program, which has placed over 350 overdose reversal kits throughout Nashville and saved 14 confirmed lives. Lt. Hotz discusses the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs, the importance of naloxone distribution, and why 42% of counterfeit pills crossing the border contain lethal doses. He provides practical overdose recognition and reversal training, addresses common misconceptions about addiction, and explains Tennessee's Good Samaritan laws.This episode is essential listening for anyone concerned about the overdose crisis, from families affected by addiction to community leaders looking to implement life-saving programs in their own cities.