Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins addressed the Tennessee Judicial Opiate Working Group on Tuesday to discuss the impact the September 2016 Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative Summit has made. Judge O. Duane Slone was chosen to lead the working group and also serves as chairman of the leadership committee. He has met with stakeholders in addition to several state agencies to foster future partnerships.
The group has developed a model of comprehensive strategies to address the opioid epidemic which includes working through the currently established Drug Recovery Courts. The intent of the model is to provide framework to develop a comprehensive “recovery oriented system of care” to address addiction, mental illnesses and adverse childhood experiences.
In September 2016, the Tennessee Delegation attended a Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event was the first of its kind and brought together judges, experts and specialists from ten states. The delegation was assembled at the request of then Chief Justice Sharon Lee and consisted of individuals with expertise and passion to address the opioid epidemic.
