Opioid task force defines objectives

Just three meetings from its formation, Schuylkill County’s Opioid Task Force is developing a three-year strategic plan.

The group met Friday at the Lehigh Valley Health Network McCloskey School of Nursing in Pottsville.

The formation of the task force is being facilitated by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, represented by Marco Pugliese, research specialist. Locally, it will be led by Melissa Kalyan, director for the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol.

Defining goals and objectives is a vital part of the plan. Pugliese said that initially the goals are broad, which allows them to be made more specific, or expanded. The goals are:

1. Education and outreach: Educate people and families about addiction and overdose to prevent initiation of substance abuse.

2. Recovery support: Ensure people have the opportunity for successful recovery and build supportive communities.

3. Treatment: Eliminate barriers such as transportation to increase access and utilization of treatment programs.

4. Reduce stigma: Develop a community awareness campaign.

5. Public safety – coordinate efforts between law enforcement, the legal system and first responders.

Participants chose from those five goals and worked to develop “action items” under those categories. Those action plans include objectives, which have specific steps to accomplish.

For example, under Education and Outreach, members learned about a opioid informational program developed through the efforts of high school students involved with Schuylkill’s Youth Summit. The program is designed for the sixth-grade students and will be presented by high school students.

“The superintendents (of the schools) know about the program, and we’ll be meeting with them before the school year begins in the fall,” Commissioner Gary Hess said. “We want to get it implemented in all our schools.”

Out of darkness

Tamaqua’s Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet group will have its fourth annual Out of the Darkness into the Light event (noon to 6 p.m. July 20), which will include an overdose awareness candlelight walk and festival at the Owl Creek Reservoir in Tamaqua.

The event includes a drug take-back by the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Department, inspirational speakers and musical entertainment. For more information, go to www.saferstreetstamaqua.com.