The Hot Springs Convention Center.
PRESS RELEASE
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge yesterday welcomed almost 650 participants to the 12th Annual Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, which was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The annual event is a free training and educational opportunity for Arkansas law enforcement, medical professionals, pharmacists, educators, Peer Recovery Specialists and families.
“Drug abuse continues to plague communities across the nation,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Over the years, this training has provided much needed support to those who are on the frontlines serving their community. I am hopeful that it will continue to be the foundational training as Arkansas collectively battles the drug epidemic.”
Summit attendees heard from Dr. Bertha Madras, a professor of psychobiology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Madras served as a panelist at the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2017, and was appointed to be one of six members of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Fred Muench, a clinical psychologist and the President of The Partnership to End Addiction, also addressed summit attendees.
Mark Westfall, a psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, spoke about five ways to help treat addiction. Westfall is a national recipient of the APA/Mead Johnson Fellowship Award in community psychiatry. He has previously held positions as Medical Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Charleston as well as President of the Frank Kay Psychiatric Clinic in Birmingham. Westfall is the President and Owner of Westfall Psychiatric Services and a radio talk show co-host for “Oh Brother Radio” and “Doc Talk.”
The summit comes the day after Rutledge announced $1 million in funding for the Arkansas Adult Drug Court Program. This funding continues Rutledge’s legacy and commitment to fighting drug abuse across Arkansas. This February, Rutledge announced a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, resulting in Arkansas receiving $216 million to fight the opioid crisis. Additional data and information related to the opioid epidemic in Arkansas may be found here.
In addition to the Attorney General’s office, the Summit is sponsored by Arkansas Drug Director Boyce Hamlet, Criminal Justice Institute, Arkansas Pharmacy Board, Arkansas Alcohol Drug Coordinating Council, Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Medical Board, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Program, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, Arkansas Prevention Network, Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gulf Coast HIDTA, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation, University of Arkansas at Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Arkansans looking for more information on training, resources and presentations should visit ArkansasAG.gov.