Showing posts with label Substance abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Substance abuse. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse Holds First Meeting

(Everyone Got Stoned Before The Meeting:)

The Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse held its first meeting Wednesday, November 12, to recommend immediate steps to address a growing and dangerous epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in Virginia, with the ultimate goal of improving public safety and public health.

“I want to thank the members of this task force for their commitment to preventing drug addiction, cracking down on drug crimes in the commonwealth and reducing the number of Virginians who die each year from overdose,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe. “These are ambitious goals, but working together we can make this state a healthier and safer place for everyone.”

Task Force Co-Chairmen Dr. Bill Hazel, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, welcomed the 29 task force members and thanked them for their commitment. The Task Force, created under Executive Order 29, was signed by Governor McAuliffe on Sept. 26 and is composed of representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, the legislature, and the judiciary, as well as relevant state and local agencies, law enforcement, health professionals, community advocates, and individuals with personal experience with addiction.

“We’re here today because Virginia is in the midst of an alarming increase in heroin and prescription drug abuse, and we have seen a tragic spike in the numbers of overdose deaths and increasing crime resulting from this unrelenting disease of addiction,” Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran told task force members. “Your work over the coming months will positively impact the health and safety of thousands of Virginians.”

“It is our goal to get more Virginians who are addicted to prescription drugs and heroin into treatment so they can recover and have the chance for a healthier life,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel. “However, we cannot be successful unless we address both the health and public safety issues with a coordinated, collaborative approach.”

On Oct. 2, Secretary Moran and Attorney General Mark Herring, in partnership with the Department of Criminal Justice Services, hosted a summit for approximately 175 people representing local, state and federal agencies, treatment providers, prosecutors and law enforcement, legislators and citizens.

They were provided with data detailing the heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic. 

"I hope that some of the great ideas and input generated by local, state, and federal partners at our October summit will be helpful to the Task Force's important work,"said Attorney General Herring. "Between the summit, the innovative work of local agencies, initiatives launched by my office, and Governor McAuliffe's Task Force, it should be clear that Virginia is serious about reducing the tragic number of deaths associated with heroin and prescription opiod abuse."

During the summit, participants identified specific problems and provided recommendations to address problems in their regions.  These recommendations, as well as those developed last year in conjunction with the National Governor’s Association, are being taken up by the five work groups established under the Executive Order, focusing on the areas of Education, Treatment, Storage and Disposal, Data, and Monitoring and Enforcement.

(All other forms of drug abuse are not under consideration at this time so please enjoy!  Also, pay no attention on how these drugs get here in the first place.)

Friday, October 3, 2014

Governor McAuliffe and Attorney General Herring Announce Agenda for Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit

Police State 2- The Takeover
Police State 2- The Takeover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Beware The Coming Police State:

Governor McAuliffe and Attorney General Herring today released the full agenda for the Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit, to be held on October 2, 2014 in Charlottesville, and hosted by Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Attorney General Mark Herring. The summit will include law enforcement representatives from the local, state, and federal levels, and will feature Michael Botticelli, the Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, as the keynote speaker.

Director Botticelli has more than two decades of experience supporting Americans who have been affected by substance use disorders.  Prior to joining ONDCP, Mr. Botticelli served as Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where he successfully expanded innovative and nationally recognized prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During the summit, Director Botticelli will discuss the federal government’s role in working with localities to reduce drug trafficking and abuse, and resources available to combat this issue.

The Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit is held by the Virginia Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Office of the Attorney General, with the goal of addressing the  growing and dangerous epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in the Commonwealth. Governor McAuliffe also recently signed Executive Order 29, establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse, co-chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel, and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. The order asked the task force to suggest strategies that will raise public awareness about the dangers of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, train health care providers on best practices for pain management, identify treatment options and alternatives to incarceration for people with addiction, and promote the safe storage and disposal of prescription drugs. The recommendations outlined and issues discussed in the Charlottesville summit will be factored into the overall recommendations by the task force.

The full agenda is below.

Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit

October 2, 2014

Charlottesville Doubletree Hotel

AGENDA

8:30 a.m.         Opening Remarks           

                        The Honorable Brian Moran
                        Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
                               
            The Honorable Mark Herring
            Attorney General            

9:00 a.m.          Plenary Session
Personal Impact: Stories of Tragedy and Survival
               
Moderator:        Phillip Figura
Assistant Attorney General

Panelists:
Teresa Nelson, Stephens City, Virginia
Carolyn Weems, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Honesty Brackett Liller, Richmond, Virginia


10:30 a.m.       Plenary Session                                                                                               
Heroin by the Numbers: Data in Virginia
                               
Moderator:        Victoria Cochran
Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Panelists:
William Gormley, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health
Linda Jackson, Director, Virginia Department of Forensic Science
Jayne Thatcher, Ph.D., Toxicology Group SupervisorVirginia Department of Forensic Science
Mellie Randall, Director, Office of Substance Abuse Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
Captain Gary Settle, Division Commander, Virginia State Police, Culpeper Field Office
Gregory Cherundolo, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration


12:15 p.m.        Keynote Speaker:           
The Honorable Michael Botticelli
Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
                               
1:00 p.m.          Director Botticelli, Attorney General Herring, and Secretary Moran media availability

1:15 p.m.          Plenary Session
Policy and Legislation: Strategies for Virginia
                               
Moderator:        Marc Birnbaum
Assistant Attorney General

Panelists:
The Honorable Timothy Heaphy, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Virginia
Tonya Vincent, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security  
The Honorable Nancy Parr, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Chesapeake
Chief Timothy Longo, Sr., Charlottesville Police Department
The Honorable Timothy Carter, Sheriff, Shenandoah County and Chairman, Northwest Virginia Regional Drug/Gang Task Force

2:30 p.m.         Regional Breakout Sessions

4:00 p.m.         Regional Reports and Recommendations                                            
                               
4:30 p.m.         Adjourn

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Leaders Applaud Governor McAuliffe’s Efforts to Curtail Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse in Virginia

Since the bikini was introduced in 1946, it ha...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe today signed Executive Order 29 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse.  The task force will recommend immediate steps to address a growing and dangerous epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in the Commonwealth.

This executive order has received praise from leaders across the Commonwealth:
  
Attorney General Mark Herring:

"Too many families are losing loved ones and too many communities across Virginia are confronting a terrible rise in opiate and heroin abuse and overdose fatalities. The Governor's task force, along with efforts initiated by my office and the outstanding work of local law enforcement, shows that the Commonwealth is taking this problem seriously and responding aggressively. It will take a combination of prosecution, treatment, education, and prevention to turn the tide, and strong partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities, and the recommendations of this important task force, will be key."

Senator Don McEachin, Henrico:

"I commend the governor's initiative on heroin and prescription drug abuse -- problems that have brought terrible pain and cost to Virginia families. Attorney General Herring also recently announced a plan to address these  issues; I look forward to working with both the governor and the attorney general to remedy these problems."

Senator Bill Carrico, Grayson:

“I applaud Governor McAuliffe for his actions today to make Virginia communities safer and healthier. The creation of this task force is a significant step towards curtailing prescription drug and heroin abuse in the Commonwealth.”

Delegate John O’Bannon, Henrico:
                                                    
“I commend Governor McAuliffe for tackling this issue head on and I am in complete agreement that Virginia must curtail this unfortunate epidemic. The steps the governor announced today will put Virginia on a pathway toward building safer and healthier communities."

Delegate Keith Hodges, Middlesex:

“As a practicing pharmacist and legislator, I am proud of this bipartisan effort to address the prescription drug and heroin abuse epidemic.  Governor McAuliffe’s multi-faceted approach will go a long way in curbing this epidemic and ensuring the future health and safety of our families, communities and neighborhoods.”

Governor McAuliffe Signs Executive Order Establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse

Ritalin
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe today signed Executive Order 29 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse.  The task force will recommend immediate steps to address a growing and dangerous epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in the Commonwealth.  The order asks the task force to suggest strategies that will raise public awareness about the dangers of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, train health care providers on best practices for pain management, identify treatment options and alternatives to incarceration for people with addiction, and promote the safe storage and disposal of prescription drugs.  The task force will also seek to expand use of the rescue drug, naloxone, which has been shown to prevent death from overdose, and leverage the Prescription Monitoring Program to reduce abuse of prescription drugs.  Overall, through these efforts, the task force will seek a measurable reduction in deaths from prescription drug and heroin abuse.
“Prescription painkiller and heroin abuse is a nationwide problem, and is spreading rapidly across the Commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe.“We must take immediate action in Virginia, or these terrible trends will continue to ravage our families, our businesses and our economy.  As part of my plan, A Healthy Virginia, I am creating this statewide task force so we can identify and implement strategies that will prevent drug abuse and help people with addiction get the treatment they need to recover.  I am confident that by working together to address this growing problem we will be able to make our communities safer, save lives, and put us on a pathway toward building a new Virginia economy.”
Governor McAuliffe was joined by Senator Tim Kaine at the announcement, who noted: “I am grateful to Governor McAuliffe for forming a task force to address the prescription drug and heroin abuse epidemic that is threatening the health and safety of our communities. This summer, I witnessed firsthand the impact of addiction and the importance of recovery as I spoke with Virginians across the Commonwealth, including at a drug court graduation in Salem and a Project REVIVE training session in Lebanon. I’m proud to see Virginia taking innovative approaches to combat this crisis and I am committed to being a partner at the federal level.”
The Task Force will be co-chaired by Dr. Bill Hazel, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and will be composed of representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, the legislature, and the judiciary, as well as relevant state and local agencies, law enforcement, health professionals, community advocates, and individuals with personal experience with addiction.
“We recognize that we cannot simply arrest our way out of the serious opioid and heroin problem we face,” stated Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran.  “Using a collaborative approach that addresses public health and public safety, we can save lives, reduce crime and target scarce law enforcement resources on dealers and traffickers”

Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel added: “Health care providers have been effectively engaged in the effort to discourage misuse of prescription opioids.  The rise of heroin abuse should not discourage us, but inspire us to work harder, in coordination with our partners to prevent heroin addiction and overdose death. The work we began last year to reduce prescription drug abuse offers a sound foundation for our future efforts.”


The full text of Executive Order 29 is below.

NUMBER TWENTY NINE (2014)


ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND HEROIN ABUSE


            Nationally, prescription drug and heroin abuse has reached epidemic proportions. Since 2000, deaths from prescription drug overdoses in Virginia have more than doubled, while deaths from heroin overdoses have doubled in the past two years. Though prescription drugs are generally safe when used as prescribed, the misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers (opioids) can lead to addiction, and even death. In addition, individuals that are addicted to opioids are shifting to heroin, as prescription drugs become less available.

            Prescription opioid and heroin abuse has also led to an increased burden on law enforcement and elevated health care costs from drug-related emergency department visits and treatment admissions. While the numbers of Virginians requiring treatment for addiction to drugs are substantial, resources for treating those who are addicted are limited. It is vital to the Commonwealth’s interests to take immediate steps to reverse this dangerous trend of abuse. Therefore, I am directing relevant state and local agencies, health and behavioral health care professionals and organizations, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to work together toward reducing prescription opioid and heroin addiction, curtailing related criminal activity, and enhancing the health, safety, and well-being of all Virginians.

Establishment of the Task Force

            Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to §§ 2.2-134 and 2.2-135 of the Code of Virginia, and subject to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby establish the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse (“Task Force”).

            The Task Force will serve in an advisory role, in accordance with § 2.2-2100 of the Code of Virginia, and will be responsible for recommending short-term and long-term measures that can be taken to tackle prescription drug and heroin abuse and addiction, using best practices and evidence-based strategies.
Composition of the Task Force

            The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security will serve as Co-Chairs. The Task Force will be composed of representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, legislature, and judiciary, as well as relevant state and local agencies, law enforcement, health and behavioral health care professionals, providers, community advocates, and individuals with personal experience, as appointed by the Governor. The Governor may appoint any other person(s) deemed necessary and proper to carry out the assigned functions.

Key Objectives

            The Task Force will offer recommendations to meet the Commonwealth’s objectives listed under the following five major areas: 1) education, 2) treatment, 3) data and monitoring, 4) drug storage and disposal, and 5) enforcement. 

            The Task Force will also recommend specific metrics to be used to track progress in each of these five areas, and will suggest a target for each area with a date by which the goals should be met.
Overall, the Task Force will seek measures for the reduction in deaths from prescription drug and heroin abuse within 5 years.

1.     Education
·       Raise public awareness about the dangers of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs
·       Distribute information about appropriate use, secure storage, and disposal of prescription drugs
·       Train health care providers regarding best practices for opioid prescribing, pain management, the use of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), and identification and treatment of individuals at risk of substance abuse through screening, intervention, and referral tools
·       Train first responders to more effectively respond to calls involving overdose, and use evidence-based interventions to reduce overdose deaths

2.     Treatment
·       Improve access to and availability of treatment services
·       Foster best practices and adherence to standards for treatment of individuals addicted to opioids
·       Strengthen and expand the capacity of Virginia’s health workforce to respond to substance abuse treatment needs, including encouraging health professions schools and continuing education programs to provide more education about how to identify and treat substance abuse

3.     Data and Monitoring
·       Share and integrate data among relevant licensing boards, state and local    agencies, law enforcement, courts, health care providers and organizations,     and programs such as the PMP, in order to clarify and address public safety and public health concerns, understand emerging trends, and utilize data-driven decision-making to mitigate harm 

4.     Storage and Disposal
·       Advance effective solutions that lead to safe storage and proper disposal of potentially dangerous prescription drugs

5.     Enforcement
·       Identify and promote evidence-based best practices and strategies across the criminal justice system to address public safety risks and treatment needs of individuals with opioid addiction, training in the use of life saving interventions, expanded alternatives to incarceration, including drug courts, and cross-system collaboration to improve access to and the availability of treatment
Staffing

            Staff support for the Task Force will be furnished by the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and such other agencies and offices as designated by the Governor. The Task Force will meet upon the call of the Chair at least four times per year. The Task Force will provide initial recommendations to the Governor on or before December 31, 2014, a comprehensive implementation plan by June 30, 2015, and any additional reports as necessary.

Effective Date

            This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and, pursuant to §§ 2.2-134 and   2.2-135 of the Code of Virginia, shall remain in full force and effect for a year from its signing or until superseded or rescinded. 

            Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 26th day of September, 2014.






Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor






Attest:             _______________________________________
                        Levar M. Stoney, Secretary of the Commonwealth