Barnes, Worthy To Speak at NC Substance Misuse Prevention Conference

| June 10, 2021

Michael C. Barnes, JD, and Stacey L. Worthy, JD, both Principal Attorneys at Sequel Legal, are slated to speak at the 2021 North Carolina Prevention Conference. Mr. Barnes will co-present with David Ezzell, MPA, Education Consultant and Paramedic with the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. Their presentation, entitled, “Community Paramedicine: Mobilizing Resources in Support of Prevention,” will examine avenues for community collaboration, types and examples of community paramedicine programs, and the application of community paramedicine programs to substance misuse prevention.

Ms. Worthy will co-present with Anna Godwin, MS, LCAS, CSAPC, CEO of Community Impact NC. Their presentation, “CBD, Delta-8-THC, and Marijuana Law and Policy: An Objective Discussion,” will look at law and policy surrounding CBD, hemp, and marijuana; legal definitions and their applicability to CBD and delta-8 THC products; consumer awareness; and factors to consider as North Carolinians evaluate their own marijuana policy.

The 2021 North Carolina Prevention Conference will take place virtually June 15-16.

Barnes To Speak at Pharmacists’ Institute on Substance Use Disorders

| May 25, 2021

Michael C. Barnes, JD, Principal Attorney at Sequel Legal and Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy, will speak at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 2021 Institute on Substance Use Disorders on Tuesday, June 1. Mr. Barnes will update his presentation from the APhA 2021 Annual Meeting entitled “Don’t ‘Just Say No’: Preventing Diversion and Addressing Medical Needs.” He will co-present with Jake Nichols, PharmD, CEO of Professional Recovery Resources. Mr. Barnes will provide an overview of federal and state laws relevant to a pharmacist’s decision on whether to dispense a controlled medication, including the federal Controlled Substances Act, state mandatory consultation or refusal laws, and professional licensing board rules. He will also summarize recent litigation of interest to pharmacists who dispense controlled medications. The APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders will take place online June 1-4.

Barnes To Moderate at 2021 Rx Summit

| March 16, 2021

Michael C. Barnes, JD, Principal Attorney at Sequel Legal and Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy, will moderate three separate sessions at the 2021 Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit. Topics will include informed addiction policy, post-overdose interventions, and addressing social determinants of health in addiction treatment. The annual conference will take place online April 5-8.  Registration for 2021 Rx Summit is still open, and the full agenda is available online. 

The sessions Mr. Barnes will moderate are as follows: 

  • From Outreach to Outcomes: A Call for Consistent Measures Across Post-Overdose Outreach Interventions, Monday, April 5 
  • Building a Diverse and Informed Bench in Addiction Policy, Tuesday, April 6 
  • Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Addiction Treatment, Wednesday, April 7 

Barnes To Speak at 2021 Pharmacist Conference

| March 1, 2021

Michael C. Barnes, JD, Principal Attorney at Sequel Legal and Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy, will speak at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 2021 Annual Meeting on Monday, March 15. Mr. Barnes will co-present the session, entitled “Don’t ‘Just Say No’: Preventing Diversion and Addressing Medical Needs,” with Jake Nichols, PharmD, CEO of Professional Recovery Resources. Mr. Barnes will provide an overview of federal and state laws relevant to a pharmacist’s decision on whether to dispense a controlled medication, including the federal Controlled Substances Act, state mandatory consultation or refusal laws, and professional licensing board rules. The APhA Annual Meeting will take place online March 12-15.  

Barnes Quoted in PNN Article on DEA Impersonators

| August 5, 2020

Pain News Network (PNN) recently quoted Michael Barnes, JD in an article about Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) impersonators. PNN Editor Pan Anson reported that the DEA has issued a warning to health care providers, pharmacists, and the public about criminals posing as DEA agents and attempting to extort money from them.

According to Barnes, “The scammers are well enough informed of the tactics DEA is employing against controlled-medication prescribers to be able to replicate them.”

In 2019, PNN’s Anson reported on a journal article Barnes authored, in which he call for an end to “indiscriminate raids” of health care providers by DEA and other federal agents.