NC Gathering Offers Education and Discussions

Released by the NC Harm Reduction Coalition

Law enforcement and community leaders will gather at the legislature to discuss legislative solutions to reducing the negative impacts of Heroin in our communities. Law enforcement and community leaders will discuss increasing access to naloxone, syringe exchange, law enforcement angel programs, law enforcement assisted diversion, increasing access to social services, detox and rehabilitation activities.

This event is scheduled for May 12, 2016, 8:45am-1pm. It takes place at the North Carolina General Assembly, 16 W Jones Street, Raleigh NC.

Confirmed speakers for this event include:

Thomas Bashore, Chief of Police, Nashville Police Department, Nashville NC
Tessie Castillo, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Raleigh NC
Michael Cardwell, Lieutenant, Winston Salem Police Department, Winston-Salem NC
Robert Childs, MPH, Executive Director, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Wilmington NC
William H. Hollingsed, Chief of Police, Waynesville Police Department, Waynesville NC
John Ingram, Sheriff, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Bolivia NC
Jim Johnson, Ret. Chief of Police, Huntington Police Department, Huntington WV
Melissia Larson, Grants Administrator, Pitt County Sheriff, Greenville NC
Mike Page, Community Advocate, Wilmington NC
Lars Paul, Captain of Internal Affairs, Fayetteville Police Department,Fayetteville NC
Scott Proescholdbell, MPH, Epidemiologist Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, DHHS, Raleigh NC
Donnie Varnell, Ret. Special Agent in Charge of the State Bureau of Investigation/Harm Reduction Policing Coordinator, NC Harm Reduction Coalition, Mateo NC

For more information on this Summit, contact Robert Childs, 336.543.8050 or via email.

The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) is the state’s only comprehensive harm reduction program. NCHRC engages in grassroots advocacy, resource development, coalition building and direct services for law enforcement and those made vulnerable by drug use, sex work, overdose, immigration status, gender, STIs, HIV and hepatitis. Their information may be found on their website or Facebook page.

According to the NCHRC website:

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a prescription medicine that reverses an opioid overdose, which can be caused by prescription analgesics (e.g., Percocet, OxyContin), and heroin. Naloxone will only reverse an opioid overdose, it does not prevent deaths caused by other drugs such as benzodiazepines (e.g.Xanax®, Klonopin® and Valium®), bath salts, cocaine, methamphetamine or alcohol. However, naloxone may also be effective for polysubstance overdoses such as a combined opioid and alcohol overdose. It cannot be used to get high and is not addictive. Naloxone is safe and effective; emergency medical professionals have used it for decades. For more detailed information, visit www.drugs.com/pro/naloxone.html

Naloxone availability in NC is expected to be addressed during the event.

Ed. Note: Naloxone was approved for opioid overdose in 1971. Starting in 2013, rises in its price and manufacturing access — monopolization — have been debated. In 2015-16, a push to make Naloxone readily available across the US, by law enforcement and individuals, has helped to increase access.