PWC Committee of 100 panelists to take close look at opioid epidemic on April 20

The opioid crisis in Northern Virginia and Prince William County is real, serious and is impacting lives every day.  PWC Committee of 100 invites the community to join them Thursday, April 20 as they learn about how this crisis came about, how bad it really is and what are the plans being put in place to deal with it. 

Social:  6:30 PM; Dinner: 7:00 PM; Program 7:45 PM; Wyndham Garden, 10800 Vandor Lane, Manassas, VA 20109. RSVP asap to Carol Proven: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Please note: An RSVP is requested from everyone for planning purposes only. There is no charge for the program. Dinner is $25/person for members, $30 for non-members.

From “Inside NOVA” of March 22, quoting police Lt. Brandan Dudley of the Prince William County Police:
The county’s medical examiner observed a 40 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths over the last five years, recording 52 in 2016 alone.  Virginia recorded a 69.3 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths from 2012 to 2016.

Fire and rescue workers have seen a 56.6 percent jump in the number of people they’ve encountered who are experiencing an opioid overdose since 2012. First responders transported 498 people to medical centers for treatment in 2016, compared to 318 in 2012 (and just 187 in 2007).

County first responders have increasingly made use of naloxone, a drug designed to quickly counteract the effects of an overdose, to help save lives. In 2016, fire and rescue workers used the drug 198 times, a hefty uptick from the 108 times they used it back in 2012

The distinguished panel consists of, in alphabetical order:
Alison Ansher, MD
MPH I Health Director, Prince William Health District, VA Dept. of Health

Special Agent Shane Dana
Washington Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation

David Nutter
Former Member of the House of Delegates
Regional Director for Community and Member Outreach for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association

Joseph T. Rannazzisi
Former Deputy Assistant Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration

Moderator
D. Bradley Marshall
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Prince William County