ANDERSON – First, it started with a syringe exchange program. Now, the Madison County Health Department is hosting a drug addiction summit.
Kellie Kelley, HIV and hepatitis public health coordinator for the health department, said even though these two initiatives have gotten the ball rolling, this isn’t the end of trying to find a solution to the drug problem in Madison County.
“It’s important to know this is not where the initiative stops,” Kelley said. “This is really just the beginning of some of the conversations we’d expect as far as addressing substance abuse issues in Madison County.”
The Madison County Drug Addiction Summit will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at Flagship Enterprise Center, 2705 Enterprise Drive, Anderson. The summit is presented by the health department and Madison County Chamber.
The summit costs $29 per person and includes lunch. To register for the event, visit getlinkedmadison.com.
The summit will include eight breakout sessions, ranging from the HIV outbreak in Scott County to opioid addiction and medication-assisted therapies to the mental health status of Madison County. Holly Renz, a registered nurse with Community Hospital Anderson, will demonstrate how to use the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and answer questions.
Kelley said she is looking forward to the Scott County HIV Outbreak Response Panel that will feature a few officials from Scott County. She said it will help spread the information about how to prepare for an outbreak like that.
The summit will encourage people to talk about what solutions may be possible for substance abuse issues locally.
“It’s become very apparent our existing programs cannot meet the needs of those who need it,” she said.
Stephenie Grimes, public health coordinator, said she’s looking forward to the medical-assisted therapies for opioid addicts so people can learn about what actually is already available in the county.
“I think there’s some information to be learned about what those options are and if they can be useful,” she said.
Kellie said she expects there will be a mix of attendees, between health professionals and general public. She said she thinks the summit will be close to capacity by Thursday.
Grimes said it’s time for Madison County to have a summit such as this.
“Waiting a few more years would simply be irresponsible, I think,” she said.