U.S. Congressman Hill Holds Opioid Conference

Suzanne Kellar McCarty, whose son died of a fentanyl overdose, shares her personal story. Parent Teacher Association President-Elect Melinda Kinnison, right, listens.

Above: Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane. Far Left: Mack Hutchison, Quality Assurance Manager for Metropolitan Emergency Management Services. Left middle: Sheila Thrower, Little Rock Central High School nurse. Left: Jim Tom Bell with Quapaw House.

Panelists suggest more rehabilitation choices, education to fight opioid crisis

Story and Photos by Holland doran AAC Communications Coordinator

Solutions to the opioid epidemic plaguing Arkansas was one of the topics a panel of eight people across a variety of fields discussed at the “Opioids in Our Community: Resources and Stories in Central Arkansas” meeting June 18.

The event was hosted by U.S. Rep. French Hill at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The panel discussion was moderated by Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe, who offered his expertise on treating opioid addiction: “It’s a disease and you have to treat it as a disease.”

Rep. Hill opened the meeting by welcoming attendees, and also took part in the panel discussion by answering questions regarding the U.S. Congressional efforts to produce legislation to combat the opioid crisis.

Hill said the House of Representatives passed more than 36 bills covering a range of issues, including law enforcement, criminal justice, and addiction prevention and treatment.

Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane expressed the urgency to develop solutions to end the epidemic, and stressed that the biggest obstacle to combating the problem in Arkansas is “adapting to change.”

Lane also shared the successes of programs such as the Arkansas Take Back program that has been the most successful program of its kind in the country.

Above: CDR Karen Hearod, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Regional Administrator, U.S. Congressman French Hill and Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe chat before the meeting.