Governor Raimondo Establishes Overdose Prevention Task Force
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order which establishes the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force on Tuesday. The task force will submit an action plan by November of this year which will include goals, objectives, and metrics to combat addiction and overdose crisis.
"Addiction and opioid abuse are public health priorities that affect our families, communities, and economy, and it's time for a statewide strategy to address them. We are committed to working collaboratively with our dedicated partners across the state to tackle this issue and keep our families and communities safe. We must come together to make sure everyone has the opportunity to make it in Rhode Island," said Raimondo.
The task force will be co-chaired by Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott and Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals Director Maria Montanaro. The task force will hold monthly public meetings to address the overdose crisis in Rhode Island.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLast year, Rhode Island saw 239 people die of accidental drug overdose, and 94 people have already died this year.
"This problem is very real and, as the numbers indicate, it is not going away. I am thankful to Governor Raimondo for putting together this task force, and I look forward to working as co-chair to address the disease of addiction, reduce overdose deaths, and keep more Rhode Islanders safe and healthy," said Alexander-Scott.
Public health experts from Brown University, Miriam Hospital and Johns Hopkins University have received funding from CVS Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island to advise the task force and help develop recommendations.
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