Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio August 24th through the 26th, 2016 delegates from nine states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee were hosted by the Ohio Supreme Court for a first of its kind Regional Judicial Opioid Summit. The purpose of the summit was to bring together delegates from each state, representing multiple disciplines, to begin a one year long process of developing a regional action plan and begin implementation of regional strategies to combat the opioid epidemic that is devastating our communities.
The Tennessee delegation (as appear in the photograph from left to right) included: Honorable Shayne Sexton, 8th Judicial District Circuit Court; April Snell, Knox Regional Director, Department of Children’s Services; Honorable Andrew Farmer, 17th District House of Representatives Member; Mary-Linden Salter, Executive Director, Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services; Dr. Marie Crosson, Executive Director, Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals; Dr. Tara Sturdivant, East Regional Medical Director, Department of Health; Pierce Beckham, Deputy Director of Investigations, Department. of Children’s Services; Dr. Kenneth Williams, Medical Director, Department of Corrections; Dr. Stephen Loyd, Medical Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Honorable James B. Dunn, 4th Judicial District Attorney General; Honorable Duane Slone, 4th Judicial District Circuit Court; Thomas Farmer, Special Agent in Charge, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation & Director of the Governor’s Dangerous Drugs Task Force.
“The Tennessee delegation that was assembled at the request of Chief Justice Sharon Lee, was composed of individuals with incredible expertise and passion to address the opioid epidemic. It was an amazing opportunity to work with each other and learn from our colleagues from the other eight states and the nation. Our delegation returned home with a commitment to continue working together as an advisory group to both state and regional stakeholders,” said Circuit Court Judge Duane Slone
The delegation already has had an opportunity to make recommendations concerning proposed rules in Tennessee that will regulate Outpatient Based Opioid Treatment.
