AAC
COVER STORY Among those speaking at the news
conference were State Drug Director Kirk Lane, who shared alarming statistics about opioids in Arkansas. Lane said between 2013 and 2016, more than 1,000 Arkansans had died due to overdose. “In 2016 alone, a minimum of 401 lives were lost attributed to drug overdose — 355 of those to opioids,” he said, noting that the numbers will only climb. “In 2017, the death toll in Arkansas
— overdose deaths — will exceed 401 as preliminary overdose rates are showing to be 30 percent higher than those in 2016,” Lane said. “I applaud these city and county and state leaders that are represented here today for being able to recognize this important issue and having the tenacity to do something about it.” Other speakers included Little
Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, the 2018 president of the National League of Cities who discussed the research of the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic; Baxter County Sheriff
John Montgomery,
who said he has seen an increase in property crimes and heroin use in the last two years; and Trumann Police Chief Chad Henson, who discussed how opioids have changed the role of law enforcement officers. Arkansas Municipal League
Executive Director Don Zimmerman spoke about the process by which cities, counties and the state came together in this effort starting last fall when the first County Opioid Task Force meeting was held. Zimmerman, who was a guest at the meeting, said he left convinced that county, city, and state officials must work together to achieve the best resolution to the state’s opioid problem. “Arkansas’ one-voice approach to this lawsuit is one that gives us a seat at the table,” Zimmerman said. “Neither the state or any county or city is big enough alone; this litigation approach ensures that recovered damages remain in Arkansas.”
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Top: Arkansas Municipal League Execu- tive Director Don Zimmerman (left) shakes hands with AAC Executive Director Chris Villines during a news conference an- nouncing that cities, counties and the state had filed suit against the opioid industry. Middle: City, county and state officials, as well as members of the public, attended the news conference. After final remarks, the speakers entertained questions from the media and the audience. Right: Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery (left) and Jerome Tapley, an attorney representing the cities and counties in their litigation, listen to the speakers.
Photos courtesy of Stone Ward COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2018
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