The Cost of Coal & Importance of Advocacy- Black Lung Disease with Dr. Drew Harris

Dr. Drew Harris, MD, FCCP is a lung doctor who specializes in lung disease related to coal mine dust and is passionate about healthcare for rural and disadvantaged populations. He serves as the medical director of the Black Lung Program at Stone Mountain Health Services in southwest Virginia. He joins me today to discuss the black lung crisis in Central Appalachia, where over 1000 people have been diagnosed recently with progressive massive fibrosis, the most feared form of black lung disease. We discuss today what causes this completely preventable disease, how we can prevent it, and what makes for effective and equitable advocacy in often toxic political climates.

To Do:

1- Contact your members of Congress to tell them that you are worried about the health of people who produce our energy. Insist on occupational safety standard improvement for coal workers and other miners. 

2- From coal workers lung disease to pollution of local communities to climate change, energy derived from coal is unhealthy. See what you can do in your own community to transition off of fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. 

3- Learn more about this issue from the Appalachian Voice at appvoices.org.

4- If you work in healthcare or have someone in your life affected by lung disease, look into Chest Advocates to learn more about how to advocate in your own community.

5- If you want a framework for how to start advocating, check out the “Clean Air and Climate Advocacy for Busy People” episode from earlier in the season.

6 - Consider a donation to the Appalachian Citizens Law Center at aclc.org who provides free legal representation to coal miners.

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