The original item was published from 4/21/2017 2:58:16 PM to 4/26/2017 12:00:02 AM.

News Flash

Media Releases

Posted on: April 21, 2017

[ARCHIVED] Community Leaders to Host Opioid Roundtable at Center for Public Safety, April 25

Mayor Sammy Phillips, State Attorney Josh Stein, Chief Michael Yaniero and other law enforcement officials will join community leaders in an Opioid Roundtable, Tuesday, April 25 at the Jacksonville Center for Public Safety.

“I’m very concerned about the impact of opioids on military families,” said Mayor Sammy Phillips. “We’ve seen the effects of those who are returning from combat, the effects of military life on families and all the other stresses for military children and their parents.”

April is the Month of the Military Child and the roundtable will help focus attention on the effects on military and civilian families. Many homes have opioids present because of battle injuries and some abuse has occurred.

“This combined with the rapid and wide availability of synthetic opioids in our community has caused a special threat to our community,” said Jacksonville Police Chief Michael Yaniero. “We need the community’s help, the help from the state and from others as this cannot be solved by law enforcement alone.”

The Attorney General has been participating in several roundtables around the state and has made the military connection special for some of the events during April, the month of the military child.

“Learning from military leaders, local community leaders, including law enforcement, public health experts, healthcare providers and the people who have experienced addiction first hand, is critically important,” said Attorney General Stein. “The opioid epidemic is tearing families apart. I’m particularly concerned about the impact the opioid crisis has had on children in both military and civilian families. I look forward to hearing about what Jacksonville leaders are doing to address the crisis.”

Mayor Phillips is expected to discuss a special task force composed of County Commissioners and City Council members. They are working on a special mental health initiative that can help the effects of opioid abuse in some community members.

The Opioid Roundtable is set for 11:30AM in the Community Room at the Center for Public Safety, 200 Marine Blvd.