2018 summit outcomes and next steps
The 2018 Mayors’ Summit: A Community Discussion on Substance Misuse was a first step toward developing a communitywide strategic plan to reduce non-fatal overdoses and overdose deaths in our community. That said, many agencies and organizations are taking steps now, in addition to helping with the development of a strategic plan, to help address this epidemic.
Below are just a few of the current efforts by Knox County, the City of Knoxville, Knox County Health Department (KCHD), Metro Drug Coalition (MDC) and the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office. Please note, many other organizations are working to address this issue as well, but that work is not captured here. Next steps include:
- Development of this website
- Increase opportunities/effort to remove pills from homes and the community
- Explore distributing medication deactivation packs
- Increase the number of permanent medication disposal sites throughout the county
- Repurpose a KCHD position to oversee the long-term, community strategic plan; this employee, the substance misuse response coordinator, is:
- Working closely with MDC
- Serving as a resource for the community on best/evidence-based practices
- Facilitating the development of a communitywide strategic plan
- Identifying gaps and working with community partners to address issues/needs
- Explore partnership between KCHD and a local hospital, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Appalachia HIDTA, to create a standard protocol for treating overdoses in the emergency department
- Review KCHD policies and protocols to determine what best practices could be implemented in its clinics to help address the epidemic
- Lead by example by comparing current Knox County and City of Knoxville employee policies/benefits to best practices, including:
- Review benefits to see if/how well alternative treatments for pain are funded and how well addiction treatment is covered
- Develop a recovery-friendly workplace policy
- Educate staff about:
- Opiates and risk of addiction
- Identifying addiction
- Determine if staff need:
- Lock boxes for medications
- Medication deactivation pouches
- Explore hosting an employee take-back event
- The City of Knoxville will be developing space on knoxvilletn.gov/opioids outlining the work of the Knoxville Police Department and the Knoxville Fire Department, as well as other efforts in the community.