Will Discuss New Law with Local Law Enforcement, Judges, Non-Profits
HOUSTON—Today U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will host a roundtable discussion on opioid addiction in Houston and how his legislation which was just signed into law, the Substance Abuse Prevention Act, will help local groups in Houston combat substance abuse.
During the roundtable, representatives from The Council on Recovery, Addiction Policy Forum, the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Court Program, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), both the Fort Bend Community and Southeast Harris Prevention Coalitions, and Higher Dimension Church will discuss their efforts to fight Southeast Texas’ illegal drug supply, divert those with substance abuse problems to treatment and recovery programs, and work with local communities to prevent illegal drug use.
The Director of Recovery Support Strategies will then provide a demonstration of how to use a Naloxone overdose kit and present 100 overdose kits to Houston High Intensity Drug TraffickingArea for redistribution to their law enforcement affiliates in at-risk areas.
Sen. Cornyn’s Substance Abuse Prevention Act, which passed Congress and was signed into law last week as a part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, reauthorizes critical programs to reduce demand for narcotics, provides assistance to law enforcement and service providers so they can better combat opioid addiction, and supports those recovering from substance use disorders.
Following the roundtable, Sen. Cornyn will hold a joint press conference.
WHO: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
William M. “Mel” Taylor, President/CEO, The Council on Recovery
Jessica Hulsey Nickel, Founder & President/CEO, Addiction Policy Forum
Julie DeNofa, Texas State Chair, Addiction Policy Forum
Katherine Cabaniss Parsley, Judge, 248th Criminal District Court of Harris County
Denise Bradley, Judge, 262nd Criminal District Court of Harris County
Kristin Guiney, Judge, 232nd Criminal District Court of Harris County
Vanessa Velasquez, Judge, 183rd Criminal District Court of Harris County
Mary Covington, Program Director, Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Court Program
Mike McDaniel, Director, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
- Michael O’Connor, Sheriff, Victoria County / Chairman, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
Lisa Poynor, CEO, Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition (FBCPC)
Laura Jenkins, Project Director, Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition (FBCPC)
Amber Buras, Coalition Coordinator, Southeast Harris Prevention Coalition (BACODA)
Nickcole Byrd, Coalition Coordinator, Higher Dimension Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Jana Magee, Founder/Director, Recovery Support Strategies
WHEN: Tuesday, October 30, 2018
10:00am – Roundtable begins
10:40am – Demonstration of overdose kit
10:50am – Press conference
WHERE: The Council on Recovery
McCullough Lecture Hall (Rm B165)
303 Jackson Hill St
Houston, TX 77007