Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announcement.
For the first time in 3 years, Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force’s annual summit will be an in-person event, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday, March 23 at Pioneer Park Pavilion, 220 S. Meridian, Puyallup.
Creating a system of culture and care in our community is the theme for the 2023 summit. The half-day event features task force committee updates, activities, breakout rooms to discuss creating a culture of care, and discussion about the opioid settlement funds.
You can register in advance to attend.
Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force is a partnership between Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Pierce County, the City of Tacoma and Elevate Health.
“Pierce County has been hit especially hard by the opioid epidemic,” Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health Vice Chair and Pierce County Council District 6 Representative Jani Hitchen said. “This summit is a chance to talk about opportunities before us and how to best leverage our collective resources to help the people and communities impacted by this preventable epidemic. I truly appreciate the many years of work the Opioid Task Force, community leaders, advocates, experts, and those impacted have put in to finding innovative solutions to support our county residents.”
Drug poisonings have increased at an alarming rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual summit allows a space to concentrate on education, access to treatment and reducing stigma.
“The urgent need to address the crisis of opioids—both nationwide and in our county—grows more apparent every day,” said Director of Health Dr. Anthony L-T Chen. “Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force’s work to prevent substance use disorder, give people access to treatment, and provide the right services at the right time saves lives. I have faith in this group’s ability to lead the way out of the opioid crisis in Pierce County.”
Coffee and lunch will be provided at the event. Those who can’t attend in-person can watch the event’s live-stream.
Looking forward to see how I as a member of the community can help in any way possible to stop this epidemic.
We just had our 8th arson in 3 or 4 years, in the Tacoma Dome district last night, just on properties I own.
Another building up the street was burned as well.
This has come at great expense to me and my tenants.
As far as we can assess, these fires were all started by some drug-crazed street urchin, slinking around in the dark, unquestioned by any authority.
The police and city leaders have done little to nothing to prevent, investigate, or bring justice.
One guy we caught was turned loose, scot-free, after a short stay at Western State.
I am now of the opinion that the answer is not to help wean these losers off drugs, but to provide a warehouse full of drugs, free of charge – unsupervised, as they are on the street.
The dead bodies can be composted and used in the flower beds – never to reoffend.
This by far would be the highest and best use of this special class, and what a step-up in evolution! Perhaps we lowly law-abiding property-owners and tax-payers could sleep through the night without having to respond to the next break-in or fire.
But then, perhaps this mayhem isn’t as random as it seems?
taComa, your “normal” has gotten beyond weird.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. How about first sealing our borders to cut off supply? The Biden “open borders” policy is letting in a flood of opiates and exacerbating the problem.
“Culture of care”? How about “culture of enforcement” of existing law? How’s that culture thing working out for you among the homeless? Not very well apparently as their numbers and drug infestation continues to grow despite millions thrown at the problem.
“Preventable epidemic”? Yes by cutting off supply and enforcing laws. Certainly treatment has its place after the fact but what exactly do you proposed in the form of prevention?
“…….discussion about the opioid settlement funds.” Ahhh! Follow the money. If there was no opioid problem then there would be no opioid money. Looks like it’s a growth industry for government agencies!
“…reducing stigma.” So is opioid addiction to become the new “normal”? Treat human beings with the respect due them as human beings. However, that does not require society to respect what those humans choose to do with their lives. There should be a very real stigma associated with opioid abuse as part of any preventative program. We don’t want our children growing up with the idea that homelessness and drug abuse are just other acceptable “alternative lifestyles”.
Until government admits that the protection of society is their prime responsibility we will be plagued by increasing lawlessness from those who have lost their fear of accountability and consequences.
Yes, while our “leaders” blame us for violent crime, and conspire to disarm us, claiming it to be a war on the very crime they are complicit with.
Replace “crime” with “mental health” and presto – we are the problem.
Gaslighting at its very best.