Needles found on the streets of Eureka. File photo: Andrew Goff.

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PREVIOUSLY:

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From the office of Sen. Mike McGuire:

The opioid crisis has hit California hard, and in Humboldt County the impact is even more devastating — the county has the second highest rate of opioid overdoses in the state per capita.

That’s why Senator McGuire and Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass, are bringing the community together for a collaborative conversation about this statewide crisis and how we can work to advance solutions here on the North Coast.

“The opioid crisis has impacted communities big and small all across our country, and the North Coast has been hit especially hard. We have to take a comprehensive look at effective strategies to tackle this crisis and implement a variety of options since there is no silver bullet,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “That’s why Supervisor Bass and I are bringing leaders at both the state and local level together tomorrow to focus on solutions to one of our community’s biggest challenges.”

According to state statistics: The opioid overdose rate for the state in 2016 was 4.6 per 100,000 residents. The Humboldt County rate was nearly five times higher at 22.35 per 100,000.

Senator McGuire and Supervisor Bass will be hosting statewide and local experts, health professionals and addiction specialists at the community-wide meeting. They’ll be focused on potential solutions that will help solve this tragic crisis, you’ll hear how Humboldt County is addressing the epidemic and we’ll hear about what’s worked — and more importantly — what mistakes we should not repeat based on experiences from other states when it comes to potential solutions here on the North Coast.

“Our community is on the front lines of the opioid epidemic in California and we are working hard to combat this from every angle,” said Supervisor Virginia Bass. “I am grateful for Senator McGuire’s work and look forward to a thoughtful and productive Town Hall discussion to move the needle on solutions to this crisis.”

TOWN HALL DETAILS:

WHAT: Town Hall on California’s Opioid Crisis: Focusing on solutions for the North Coast
WHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 14, from 6 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Sequoia Conference Center, located at the Humboldt County Office of Education, 901 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka.

ON THE AGENDA:

  • Welcome & Introductions: Senator Mike McGuire & Supervisor Virginia Bass
  • Statewide Trends in Opioid Use & Best Practices for Addiction, Prevention & Reducing Harm: Marlies Perez, California Department of Health Care Services
  • The Opioid Crisis at Home – Humboldt County’s Response: Dana Murguia, Senior Program Manager, DHHS Healthy Communities & Dr. Donald Baird, Humboldt County Public Health Officer
  • Overview of opioid crisis in Humboldt County
  • Challenges our community is facing with the crisis
  • Solutions that are here now and coming in the future
  • Treating Addiction with Medical Care: Dr. Willard Hunter, Chief Medical Director, Open Door Community Health Center & Alex Dodd, CEO, Aegis Treatment Centers
  • Resiliency, Community and Family: Lisa Dugan, Director of North Coast Regional Department of Child Support Services 
  • Questions, Conversations & Next Steps: Senator Mike McGuire & Supervisor Virginia Bass.