22-012
Anchorage Opioid Taskforce Begins Accepting Applications
August 1, 2022 (Anchorage) – Today, the Anchorage Health Department provided additional details on the formation of the Anchorage Opioid Taskforce. The taskforce's initial focus will be to address the serious life threat caused by opioid overdoses in Anchorage and to increase the community's readiness to respond to these events with lifesaving opioid rescue kits.
BACKGROUND
In 2021, Anchorage experienced a record-breaking number of overdose-related deaths. Across the nation, more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, with Alaska seeing the largest percentage-based increase of any state. While most people associate opioids with illegally produced fentanyl and heroin, they are also found in common pain relievers like morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxymorphone (Percocet), legal fentanyl, and codeine. In fact, 80% of heroin users began with a legally prescribed opioid.
Opioid misuse impacts people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. From a caregiver whose elderly loved one accidently takes two doses of their medication, to a parent who walks in to find their child unconscious, to a methamphetamine user who is poisoned by fentanyl that was mixed into their drugs without their knowledge, the risk of an opioid overdose impacts each of us.
PURPOSE
The immediate mission of this taskforce is to address the serious life threat caused by opioid overdoses in Anchorage. The taskforce will work to ensure that every resident of Anchorage can recognize the signs of an overdose and is prepared to provide lifesaving naloxone treatments.
To this end, the taskforce will work to raise the public's overdose intervention readiness by improving opioid misuse education, increasing the availability of overdose rescue kits containing naloxone, and working to eliminate the harmful stigma associated with these kits.
Over time, the taskforce's purpose may broaden to include topics like treatment, criminal justice system involvement, and addressing systemic causes of opioid misuse. However, given the sudden increase in overdose deaths, the taskforce must first focus on the immediate life threat by improving the public's ability to respond to opioid overdoses.
MEMBERSHIP
All voting members are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the mayor. The mayor shall select a chair and vice chair from the members. The Anchorage Opioid Taskforce will consist of 13 voting members, with additional advisory subcommittees as determined by the mayor.
With the exception of seats held by members of the impacted public, the taskforce seats will be held at the organizational level. Heads of each organization may appoint representatives to participate in meetings and vote on their behalf.
Administration Representative
- A representative of the Mayor's Office.
General Public
- A member of the public impacted by opioid misuse.
- A member of the public with lived experiences that include opioid addiction recovery.
Healthcare
- Two local hospitals or their parent organizations.
- Two public health officials.
Treatment and Prevention
- Two organizations that provide opioid use disorder treatment services in the Anchorage area.
- Two community organizations who primarily work to address opioid misuse in Anchorage.
Public Safety
- One criminal justice representative.
- One EMS representative.
Additional seats for those with subject matter expertise will be available through the subcommittee process. The taskforce's intent is to be as open and inclusive as possible.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will close on August 26, 2022. To apply to join the taskforce, please provide the following information:
For an individual seat:
- Your resume and a short cover letter explaining how you meet the seat's criteria.
For an organizational seat:
- A brief description of how your organization meets the criteria for the seat.
- For example, if you're applying as a community organization, please briefly describe the work you're doing on this topic in the community.
- The resume or biography of the executive member of your team who will be representing your organization on the taskforce.
- Note that this individual is not required to attend all meetings and is welcome to assign a staff member to act as their designee on the taskforce. Designees can be changed at any time, but we ask that you submit their name and a brief biography in advance of them attending a meeting.
All applicants:
- Your preferred subcommittee assignments (see the next section).
- Your preferred meeting days.
Applications can be emailed to wwahd@muni.org.
SUBCOMMITTEES
Initially, the taskforce will form two subcommittees focused on addressing the most pressing concerns:
- Overdose Intervention Subcommittee
- Initially focused on helping residents recognize opioid overdoses and respond with opioid rescue kits.
- Prevention & Education Subcommittee
- Initially focused on raising public awareness and harm reduction efforts
In the future, subcommittees may be added to address additional topics, such as:
- Substance misuse treatment
- Criminal justice system involvement
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
The Anchorage Opioid Taskforce is assigned to the Anchorage Health Department for administrative support.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
The taskforce chair and vicechair will be selected by the mayor. Subcommittees and their chair will be set by the mayor, but subcommittee membership is at the discretion of the taskforce and each subcommittee. Subcommittee chairs have discretion to invite experts to become members of their subcommittee.
The taskforce will meet, at minimum, once per month. Subcommittees will meet at their discretion.
At times and locations to be determined by the chair, the taskforce may convene public meetings to present information and receive comments.
A majority of the members of the taskforce constitutes a quorum for conducting business. Meetings of the taskforce, or any subcommittees thereof shall be conducted, and notice of meetings provided, in accordance with AS 44.62.310 and 44.62.319 (Open Meetings Act). Records of the taskforce, and all subcommittees are subject to inspection, copying, and distribution as public records under AMC 3.90. The taskforce will make best efforts to adhere to Robert's Rules of Order.
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Media contact: Tyler Sachtleben, AHD PIO, tyler.sachtleben@anchorageak.gov, 907-343-4670