Appointed Committees

COMMITTEE ON ADDICTION July 5, 2017 Page 1 Committee Members Present: Mayor Barney, Paul Stroklund, Patti Eisenzimmer, Jason Olson, Robert Barnard, Chris Ray, Mark Schaefer, Lisa Tankersley, Mark Vollmer Members Absent Dennis Lindahl, Dr. Jeffrey Sather, Shannon Straight, Stephan Podrygula, Laurie Gotvaslee, Val Potter Others Present: Mark Jantzer, Josh Wolsky, Miranda Schuler, Lisa Jundt, Lisa Clute, Renae Byre, Jill Schramm Mayor Barney called the meeting to order at 4:15 pm. Introductions Mayor Barney thanked everyone for agreeing to be on the Committee. He said, the issue is happening across the nation and he believes finding a local solution would be more prudent than waiting for nationwide assistance. Those in attendance introduced themselves and explained their goals for the committee. Paul Stroklund, a parent of an addict, said he has spent six years trying to figure out the system to deal with addiction issues. His goal is to educate and identify facts rather than opinions. He is an advocate and said we should do what we can with any funding we can get. Mark Schaefer, of Community Medical Services, operates an opioid treatment facility in Minot. He said they currently treat about 70 patients. There is also a facility in Fargo, which opened two months ago and treats about 65 patients. His goal is to provide treatment but he said they haven’t been able to reach enough people. Mayor Barney said he will try to learn as the group progresses and he will offer the weight of the Mayor’s Office to accomplish everyone’s goals. His plan is to identify available resources and identify the gaps that need to be filled. He spoke about the resistance from the community when the opioid treatment facility was trying to open. He commended Mr. Stroklund for providing testimony during the City Council meeting that was so strong, no one spoke in opposition that night. Jason Olson, City of Minot Police Chief, said he has been with the Department for 29 years but in the past year, he has seen heroin on a daily basis. He has witnessed frequent overdoses and he elaborated on how it is a nationwide crisis. His goal is to identify the gaps in terms of treatment and the approach of first responders. He explained, the Police Department recently began carrying narcan and in the first 48 hours, used it four times. He stated, narcan is a Band-Aid on a huge problem and stressed the importance of prevention. Robert Barnard, Ward County Sherriff, echoed the statements by the Police Chief. He is concerned with public safety and maintaining the safety and control of jail inmates. He said, treatment is still a mystery to most people and there needs to be more available. He has witnessed court ordered treatment but said the patient must be willing in order for treatment to work. Chris Ray said he has been with Ward County Corrections for seven years. His goal is to facilitate help to inmates to prevent repeat offenses. He interviewed some inmates for opinions on the Committee on COMMITTEE ON ADDICTION July 5, 2017 Page 2 Addiction and their response is that they want treatment available. Mark Vollmer, Minot Public Schools Superintendent, said addiction affects everyone including parents, children and families. He believes that help from the local community will be the best answer. Lisa Tankersley, Community Resource Coordinator, said she works in community outreach after rehab. She explained, they provide structure to help ease addicts back into the community without relapse. She described her personal experience coming from a family of addiction and said she can use that to provide insight to the committee. She said, she approached the Mayor’s office when she realized addiction was such a problem in Minot. She wants to do everything she can to help keep Minot the unique community it is. Patti Eisenzimmer said, she had no idea her daughter was an addict and now she is in prison. She described how addiction affects everyone and she is not the only parent in this kind of situation. She wants to find a solution. The Mayor stated, he is grateful to have a diverse group of people at the meeting and said the different perspectives that members bring will have a huge impact on the committee. Mayor Barney then introduced Lisa Clute from First District Health Unit, and stated her appointment to the committee will take place at the next City Council meeting. Committee Purpose and Objectives The Mayor stated again, the purpose of the Committee is to identify the resources available and the gaps that need to be filled. Ms. Tankersley said, it is important to raise awareness through news stories. She suggested having a weekly segment on addiction issues where interviews can take place with the Police Department or with Mark Schaefer at the opioid clinic. She said there needs to be free education for the public. Mayor Barney said he would contact the City Public Information Officer to coordinate an effort with media outlets. Mr. Stroklund said there should be citywide fact based meetings. He gave examples of some misconceptions and said the public needs factual information. He suggested meetings with Rotary and Sertoma and said people want to have a dialog and need to learn warning signs. The Mayor suggested a speaking tour and Paul Stroklund and Mark Schaefer volunteered to speak with the groups. Mr. Vollmer said the medical community needs to be involved and said Trinity will play a role in finding a solution. He said, problems can start with prescriptions and mental health issues. Mayor Barney reminded, Dr. Sather is a member of the committee and, although he was unable to attend the meeting, he will attend future meetings. Existing Conditions Ms. Tankersley stated, people in the community don’t know what services are available so the COMMITTEE ON ADDICTION July 5, 2017 Page 3 information should be organized and on file for those who need it. She also said, patients with issues should discuss options with a social worker before leaving the hospital. There needs to be more approachable programs for treatment so addicts aren’t afraid of getting arrested when they seek rehab or treatment. The Mayor said he will direct staff to collect a list of services and provide it at the next meeting. He also suggested finding out what programs work in other cities. Chief Olson said it would be helpful to outline the challenges for the community by stating what options are available if someone is in the criminal justice system versus if they are not. Mr. Vollmer brought up the behavioral issues that occur in high schools and said, often times the counselors don’t know which route to take. It would be helpful to work with counselors and parents to catch early warning signs of drug addiction. Mayor Barney stated there may be special training and grants available for juvenile counselors. Current Opportunities Upon questioning by Mayor Barney, Mark Schaefer described the services provided by Community Medical Services. He said, it is medication assisted treatment where methadone is distributed daily in liquid form and patients speak with a counselor. The treatment helps to take away cravings and withdrawal symptoms to help curb addiction. Patients come in on their own which has a better success rate compared to when law enforcement requires treatment. The Mayor brought up funding and grants and said there is a grant proposal due soon that would be beneficial for the committee. Lisa Clute gave more information on the grant and said it is due by July 21st. She said, First District Health Unit takes on a preventative role but the grant requires 20% prevention and 80% treatment. She introduced Renae Byre, a First District Health Unit coordinator and said she is working to complete the proposal. Mark Schaefer said he is currently working on a statewide portion of the same grant with the City of Fargo and can work with First District on the treatment portion of the proposal. The Mayor suggested they plan to meet soon in order to submit the application on time. Mayor Barney also mentioned a group called, Power of the Purse, who raise money for a variety of topics and said they intend to participate with the committee. Ms. Eisenzimmer said her daughter is afraid to come back to Minot because of the worry she will fall back into old habits. She has a felony, no job and no money and Ms. Eisenzimmer is concerned there aren’t any resources to help her. She said, Trinity turned her away and Heartland is only temporary and patients are free to walk out. The Mayor commented on the human aspect of a support structure needed after treatment. There needs to be a network for everyday challenges. Ms. Tankersley said, Minot is largely unprepared for this situation. She said larger cities have programs COMMITTEE ON ADDICTION July 5, 2017 Page 4 in place that Minot can implement. People from the community can be trained to work with addicts. Community advocates can be available to those with no one to call. They can help with kids in school or people getting out of jail and can assist them in getting housing and finding jobs. The Mayor stated, there will be a number of subcommittees organized to tackle different elements of this vast issue. For example, a grant committee, treatment options committee, and a support network aftercare committee. Next Meeting Mayor Barney concluded by saying, the next agenda will reflect the conversation from this meeting so the big picture can be sliced and focus on smaller groups. The committee discussed what time future meetings should take place and suggested 6:30 pm. The Mayor said it is important everyone has an opportunity to speak. He will send out an agenda and notice of the next meeting date as soon as it is available. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:09 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Kelly Matalka City Clerk