Melanie Yates

Marylander. Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The Josh Siems Act advocate.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

In case you missed it - I spoke about my history, what led to The Josh Siems Act, and what I’m doing now in the world of social work and addiction.

[University of Maryland School of Social Work @mdsocialwork]

Check out the latest #UMB Pulse Podcast with #UMSSW's @MelanieYates23, LMSW, MSW '23, talking about the Josh Siems Act, a groundbreaking legislation that mandates Maryland hospitals to test for fentanyl.

Listen here, https://t.co/C7jeOheGOW

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Thank you to Dana and Charles at UMB Pulse for having me on - it was lovely chatting with you both. @UMBaltimore @mdsocialwork

https://t.co/WKCIAgrQ7h

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Today is the day that The Josh Siems Act takes effect, making Maryland the 2nd state in the country to require hospitals to include fentanyl in the standard urine drug screen. Thank you everyone for your support, couldn’t have done it without you.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Grateful to be featured in a piece about the work my team and I do in West Baltimore. Check out the full piece at the link below:

https://t.co/TMFZJkSnW3

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Pennsylvania following in the footsteps of Maryland and California - legislation requiring hospitals to test for fentanyl! They’ve added xylazine (‘tranq’) as well - an animal tranquilizer that’s taking over the opioid supply. https://t.co/GOCv9443p7

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Grey’s Anatomy talking about fentanyl testing in hospitals! Juli Shamash sent this to me, our work is hitting mainstream tv which is absolutely wild.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Today is finally the day - graduation. After 2 years of hard work I now have my Master of Social Work and will shortly start working as a dual-diagnosis therapist (addiction and mental health) in West Baltimore.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day. Since The Josh Siems Act passed, MD hospitals have already seen an increase in fentanyl positivities. That’s not because more people are using fentanyl, it’s because it’s in everything.

Use test strips, have Narcan, and never use alone.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Thank you ⁦@JMatter_TV⁩ and ⁦@fox5dc⁩ for following up on The Josh Siems Act!

⁦@JoeVogel_⁩ went to a MD hospital who is already seeing upticks in fentanyl cases after routine testing was implemented. A sad, but eye opening result. https://t.co/q0hlnljWk5

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

The Josh Siems Act was signed by @GovWesMoore yesterday. It will require hospitals to include fentanyl in the standard urine drug screen and will take effect October 1, 2023.

Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support, it means the world ❤️

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Thank you to @adamlongoTV for following up on The Josh Siems Act! @GovWesMoore signed it into law yesterday and it will take effect October 1, 2023.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Today was a big day, luckily we were able to take refuge while waiting for the bill signing.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Thank you again to the ITV crew for coming up to Baltimore to talk fentanyl and the importance of Narcan - it was lovely speaking with you!

Check out the piece and more clips of the Siems and I further down the page! https://t.co/aK8cnNQFVz

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Love getting screenshots from friends in Belfast after they saw me on tv - will post the link soon for my US folks!

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

Bob, Caryl, and I will be on ITV at 7pm tonight talking about fentanyl and Narcan for all my UK friends who want to check it out!

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

This means both HB 811 and its cross-file SB914 are headed to @GovWesMoore!

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

SB914 just passed the House at the end of Sine Die - an absolutely crazy last day of session @SenatorEllis28

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

@erikakelton @pwoodreporter @iamwesmoore Thank you Erika! It definitely was a feat I wasn’t sure we’d be able to do, but the support was overwhelming.

[Melanie Yates @MelanieYates23]

What got done during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session by ⁦@pwoodreporter⁩ - in case you missed it, The Josh Siems Act is on the way to Governor ⁦@iamwesmoore⁩ https://t.co/isImi3Fz77