Stephen Ziegler

Background

About Stephen Ziegler

Humanitarian, filmmaker, and humorist with decades in drug control policy research and improving access to medicines and treatments to reduce unnecessary human suffering. A significant amount of my work has involved public policy analysis and development in the fields of health and drug policy, medical ethics, law, access to medicines, investigations, and entertainment. I have been engaged in nonprofit development, drug policy research (opioids and cannabis), podcast and film production, comedy pitch writing, volunteering for the Norman Lear Center (Hollywood, Health, and Society at USC Annenberg School for Communication), continuing medical education, investigations (administrative and criminal), drug abuse and overdose prevention, and the effective regulation and safe access to essential palliative medicines in pain and symptom management (domestic & international, chronic and at end of life). I have also served as a peer reviewer for medical journals, chair and panel discussant at professional conferences, invited public speaker (domestic and international), grant recipient, and a Mayday Pain and Society Fellow and Pain Scholar. I was also the lead author in an Amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that argued for reversing the convictions of Dr. Ruan and his colleague in the matter of Ruan v. United States. The U.S. Supreme Court would later reverse their convictions in an historic 9-0 decision. Prior to my work as a professor, I gained experience and insight as an assistant prosecutor, defense attorney, appellate attorney, and as an investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration at the U.S. Department of Justice. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead, Ph.D.