Episode notes
When Boots-on-the-Ground Meets Policy Hell
This week, Steve sits down with Nathan "Narcan Nate" Smiddy, a fellow traveler from the rooms who went from small-town Tennessee addict to one of the most respected harm reduction advocates on the West Coast. Nate's story cuts deep—from growing up in a cop family in Jellico to chasing that first devastating high, to finding his calling keeping people alive on the streets of San Diego. He doesn't sugarcoat the reality: people use meth to stay awake and safe on dangerous streets, they lose their cars to $600 parking tickets while living in them, and the system is designed to punish rather than heal. But Nate shows up anyway, carrying Narcan, treating wounds, and testing drug supplies because he knows that staying alive is the first step toward getting better.
The Fight ...