Public meetings about opioid abuse are planned in Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island next week.
A town hall meeting in Craig is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Craig High School auditorium. According to the event flyer, a panel of local and statewide experts will be on hand to answer questions and listen to concerns.
Guests will include State Medical Officer Jay Butler, Andy Jones of the state Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention, and Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Other panelists include officials from Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s Klawock office, Alaska State Troopers, and Hollis teen representative Kimi Jo Lambeth.
Earlier on Monday, two other events are planned in Craig. The Prince of Wales Opioid Task Force will meet from 9-11 a.m. at the PeaceHealth Conference Room; and from 1-3 p.m., Project HOPE will host training in administering Narcan.
Narcan, or Naloxone, is a drug that can save the life of someone overdosing from opioid abuse.
In Ketchikan, a day-long opioid event is set for Wednesday. It starts at 8 a.m. at Cape Fox Lodge, and runs through 3:30 p.m. It’s hosted by the Alaska Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention.
According to Elana Habib of the state Department of Health and Social Services, the event will include roundtable discussions in the morning and afternoon. The morning session will focus on the current state of opioid abuse in Ketchikan. The afternoon session will focus on the community’s strengths and opportunities in responding to opioid abuse.
Each session will end with a general discussion.
The event is open to the public. Coffee and a light lunch will be provided.
