High-Level Findings
- Selling into states is hard and based on relationship building
- A new product needs demand from Counties and can't take power away from people
Background
Erin works for the Health Management Associates (HMA) and got her start in the opioid space at Prevention Point Pittsburgh. At HMA, Erin works closely with the CDC and SAMSA. She's interested in Policy, and is currently working to create a safe supply of heroin for Washington state.
How do States Buy New Products?
First, she notes that it's hard to sell into States, taking at least a year to make a deal. In order for a State to buy a product, there needs to be internal buy-in and demand from counties. The best way to make that happen is to make friends withanizations. The thing to avoid is talking to people before a real product is available because people get burned out by pitches. Erin notes that she often gets emails about new products and deletes them.
For the Harm reduction space, a new product would need to not take the position of abstinence being the solution, to not be permanent, and to not take away rights or autonomy of the patients.Kermit was concerned a device like this would remove power and so autonomy.
Erin's Product Ideas
The device could be worn in safe use spaces for pre-od monitoring.
The One Thing that Keeps Her Up at Night
The one thing that keeps her up at night is the need for a government restructuring and overhaul in this space.
Follow-Up
- talk to Ju Park at Brown University
- DPA reform conference in detruit 2025