Opioid Abatement Commission

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Opioid Abatement Commission met with Dr. Stephanie Raglan presiding. The meeting included three agenda items: two informational presentations and one action item. Presentations were delivered by Dr. Twin Tran and Alex Elswick, both of which were informational in nature. The Commission also took up Work Group Recommendations, which were approved. Across the meeting, four votes were taken, two presentations were given, and no public comments were heard.

Attendance

The following members were present at the February 14, 2025 Commission meeting:

• Dr. Stephanie Raglan
• Tara Stanfield
• Kimberly Baird
• Sierra Bowman
• Brandon Helm
• John Moses
• Connie Neal
• Margaret Pesciano
• Dale Sanders
• Mark Woods
• Angela Evans

Absent: Dr. Matt Webster and Laurie Brock were not in attendance. No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took four votes during the February 14, 2025 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

• Adoption of the Meeting Agenda 3:18: Brandon Helm moved to adopt the agenda, seconded by Sierra Bowman. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Approval of the December 13th Meeting Minutes 5:26: Connie Neal moved to approve the minutes from the December 13th meeting, seconded by Mark Woods. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Approval of Recommendations to the Mayor 1:32:12: John Moses moved to approve the recommendations to the mayor, seconded by Mark Woods. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Adjournment 1:35:22: A motion to adjourn the meeting passed by voice vote. No mover or seconder was recorded for this motion.

All four votes were conducted by voice vote; no roll call votes were taken, and no individual vote tallies were recorded.

Presentation by Dr. Twin Tran

12:03

Dr. Twin Tran delivered a presentation focused on the treatment of addiction, with particular emphasis on opioid use disorder. The presentation addressed the medical dimensions of addiction treatment and highlighted the critical importance of providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals who are incarcerated.

A central theme of Dr. Tran's presentation was the elevated overdose risk faced by individuals with opioid use disorder, particularly upon release from jail. Dr. Tran underscored that making medication-assisted treatment available within jail settings is a key intervention for reducing this risk, as individuals who are abruptly cut off from treatment during incarceration face significantly heightened danger when they return to the community.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the Commission with a clinical and public health framework for understanding opioid use disorder as a medical condition requiring evidence-based treatment, rather than solely a behavioral or criminal justice issue. No votes or formal actions were taken as a result of the presentation.

Presentation by Alex Elswick

1:03:50

Alex Elswick presented on behalf of Voices of Hope, describing the organization's work in providing recovery support services and harm reduction to individuals in the community.

Elswick emphasized the organization's philosophy of meeting people where they are — an approach centered on engaging individuals at whatever stage of their recovery journey they may be in, rather than requiring them to meet predetermined conditions before receiving support. This framing underscored Voices of Hope's commitment to accessible, non-judgmental services.

The presentation was informational in nature, and no votes or formal actions were taken as a result.

Work Group Recommendations

1:22:34

Dr. Stephanie Raglan presented three recommendations from the work group regarding the use of opioid abatement funds.

The three recommendations were:

• Annual Summit: Establishing a recurring annual summit related to opioid abatement efforts.
• Grant Opportunities: Creating grant opportunities to direct opioid abatement funds toward relevant programs and initiatives.
• Interest-Bearing Account: Establishing an interest-bearing account to support the long-term sustainability of opioid abatement funding.

The commission discussed these recommendations, with the interest-bearing account proposal noted as a mechanism for ensuring the funds remain viable over time. All three recommendations were approved by the commission.