City Club Forum: Idaho’s Opioid Crisis

In 2021, we lost 241 Idahoans to opioid addiction related causes, and saw over 5,000 emergency department visits related to drug overdoses. In 2022, Idaho Governor Brad Little and former Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced a $119 million settlement with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors who have played a significant role in the opioid addiction crisis. This settlement is the second-largest in Idaho state history, behind the 1998 national tobacco settlement.

Just recently, Governor Little announced the launch of the “Fentanyl Takes All” campaign, partially funded by opioid settlement funds, to raise awareness of the prevalence and dangers of Fentanyl use in Idaho.

Join our group of panelists in discussing what Idaho’s evolving opioid epidemic looks like today, and efforts to combat it now and into the future.

Panelists:

Rosie Andueza, Substance Use Disorder Program Manager, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Shawn Rayne, Ada County Paramedics

Evan Burke, Idaho Harm Reduction Project

Sgt. Curt Sproat, Idaho State Police

Moderated by City Club programs committee member  Corey Surber, Director of State Advocacy at Saint Alphonsus Health System.

This forum is sponsored by Saint Alphonsus & Terry Reilly Health Services

Where: Idaho State Museum

When: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 pm

Tickets:

$10 Members registration (includes water, coffee, iced tea, and/or canned beverages as available at venue)

• Add lunch: $19

$16 Non-Members registration  (includes water, coffee, iced tea, and/or canned beverages as available at venue)

• Add lunch: $19

$350 Reserved Table