Opioid Awareness Summit Arms Educators to Combat Opioid Abuse

FRESNO, Calif. — Sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, more than 225 educators, school nurses, counselors, mental health clinicians and others with an interest in student health have convened today at the Opioid Awareness Summit for Educators. The daylong summit is being held at Fresno State University.

The summit is focused on four specific goals 1) building awareness of the scope and state of the national opioid epidemic and its impact on young adults in our region; 2) destigmatizing opioid misuse to provide for more effective treatment interventions; 3) having a beneficial conversation with a student if approached about drug misuse; and 4) building awareness of the warning signs that a student or child is misusing opioids.

Participants will hear from medical, public health and law enforcement professionals about the science of addiction, treatment options, ready-for-use resources for educators, and best practices for implementing an opioid awareness program in their own schools. Additionally, U.S. Department of Justice policy and current enforcement efforts will also be discussed.

U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott said: “Opioid abuse is one of the most urgent law enforcement and public health challenges facing our country today and needs a three-pronged approach: education and prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Today’s opioid summit for educators brings together all three prongs and highlights our office’s ongoing commitment to keeping communities safe by preventing drug abuse and overdose deaths.”

Jim Yovino, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools explains about the importance of this summit: “The opioid crisis is not only a national epidemic, but it is gripping families close to home. As educators, we must participate in this important discussion to keep our students healthy and safe.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is sponsoring the summit, along with the California Narcotic Officer’s Association, the Central Valley Opioid Safety Coalition, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Foundation at FCOE, the Fresno County Department of Public Health, the Fresno Madera Medical Society, the Fresno Police Officer’s Association, the Fresno State Police Department, the Fresno State University, and the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. Assistance was also provided by the California Health Collaborative, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, the Fresno Police Department, the Lock It Up Project, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.