Seats still available for Southwest Missouri Opioid Crisis Summit at MSSU

(From the City of Joplin)

In 2016, one out of every 66 deaths in Missouri was due to opioid or opiate abuse. This is a 34% increase from 2015 when one out of every 89 deaths were opioid-related. Addiction to opioids is all too real, impacting families regardless of job class, bank account or personal connections.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recognizes this epidemic as one of the largest health issues the nation is facing today, and has made fighting it a top priority for their agency. A collaborative initiative has been launched with a series of nine Opioid Summits being held around the state to bring awareness to the issue, spur innovative action and address the specific problems found in different communities throughout Missouri.

Joplin leaders have organized the Southwest Missouri Opioid Crisis Summit to be held on Tuesday, October 17. Everyone is welcome to attend this free half-day meeting that unites state leaders with our community of healthcare personnel, law enforcement, first responders, pharmacists, government staff, business leaders and concerned citizens as they learn more about this crisis and discuss potential solutions for intervention.

The Summit will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Missouri Southern State University in the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium. There is no charge for attendance, and everyone is welcome. Participants should pre-register at http://www.onejoplin.com/opioid-crisis.html or call 417-624-0153.

“As part of the State’s summit series in Missouri, we look forward to hearing from state and national speakers on this critical issue,” said Joplin City Health Director Dan Pekarek. “The summit will bring many questions to the table and provide a great opportunity for participants to discuss and review our efforts and further develop possible solutions to many difficult issues this healthcare crisis has created.”

As the third of nine summits scheduled by DHSS, the Southwest Missouri Summit is hosted by the City of Joplin Health Department and One Joplin, a movement of people working to create a collaborative environment in which Joplin can flourish among various segments, including health and well-being.

“We will gather 500 people to focus on the opioid issue, and it is a great opportunity for people to learn more and share their ideas,” said Pekarek. “Community collaboration is needed and will help identify potential solutions to address this complex epidemic.”

Pekarek is chairing the organizational efforts with a committee of other healthcare-related professionals in this region. “We invite everyone to the table because this issue is one that knows no boundaries. It crosses into every age bracket, job area, and financial status. We hope to see a wide representation at this Summit so we can hit this target from all angles.”

Sponsors of the Summit include the Joplin Public Health Department, One Joplin, Missouri Southern State University, Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, Ozark Center, Mitchell’s Drugstores, The Lettershop, and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.