Surgeon general supporting local addiction summit

WASILLA — Local opioid abuse combatants are excited about Sen. Sullivan’s upcoming Wellness Summit at Mat-Su College, especially the participation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ surgeon general.

“I think it’s giving the state of Alaska hope in that the federal government is acknowledging this is a problem, and they are here to assist, support, help with possibly new policies, regulations and laws,” said Michael Carson, vice president for the homeless youth center MY House.

Carson also chairs and mediates the meetings of the Mat-Su Opiate Task Force, a fluid group of individuals with a stake in the local fight against the Valley’s opioid epidemic. Through this group — which formed in February of this year — Carson and other task force members have advocated for solutions that are now being presented at the state and federal level right in the Palmer-Wasilla area.

This Thursday, Aug. 4, Sen. Dan Sullivan invites the general public to attend a first-ever Alaska Wellness Summit subtitled “Conquering the Opioid Crisis” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mat-Su College. Featured speakers include Vice Admiral Dr. Vivek Murthy, surgeon general for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Dr. Mary Wakefield, DHHS deputy secretary; Dr. Jennifer Lee and Dr. Karen Drexler with the Veterans Health Administration; Dr. Jay Butler, chief medical officer for the Alaska DHHS; Cook Inlet Tribal Council CEO Gloria O’Neill; Jeff Jessee, CEO for the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority; Dr. Joshua Sonkiss, medical director for Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services; and Kara Nelson, executive director for Juneau Haven House. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young may also participate, though they are not featured on the summit agenda.

Rep. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) said she would not be able to attend the entire summit — she’s been busy campaigning for a position in the state senate — but is in full support of the event and its goals of spreading awareness and discussing solutions for Alaska’s opioid abuse and related problems.

“We’ve got a crime problem in this valley, and it’s related to the drug problem, so addressing the drug problem is important for public safety reasons as well as for the livelihood of the individual struggling with addiction,” Hughes said.

Wasilla resident Terria Walters — whose son 23-year-old son, Christopher Seaman, was murdered last June before he got a chance to really beat his heroin addiction — said she’s looking forward to hearing more voices speak not only about the numbers but about addicts as humans who need help.

“I am so excited about people coming out and breaking the stigma and just loving the addict, rather than making them feel ashamed,” Walters said.

Walters is the founder of Fallen Up Ministries, and deals with addicts seeking recovery on a regular basis. While addicts, like anyone else, need to take responsibility for their actions and crimes, she said, punishment has overshadowed treatment for too long.

“My attitude is, rehabilitation over incarceration and investment over punishment,” she said.

Walters and four other women who planted the seed for the summit in Sen. Sullivan’s mind last fall will be the first to speak on Thursday after an introduction and welcome by Michael Tucker with the Knik Tribal Council in the Glenn Massay Theater.

Following the noon lunch break, the surgeon general will sit for a “fireside chat” moderated by Butler, with “breakout sessions” for small group discussion in the Machetanz Building afterward.

Breakout session topics will be passed out at the registration tables in the theater before the summit. Sessions will have two different tracks — “Resources at Home” and “Federal Policy” — with two different goals: education and suggestions to take back to D.C., respectively.

There will be 3-by-5-inch cards available at registration and throughout the event to jot down questions and comments for follow up at a later date. A receptacle to receive the cards will be designated in the lobby of the theater, and Sullivan staff may also collect cards from individuals directly.

“There are lots of moving parts (to this issue) and we can all be part of the solution at our own levels,” Carson said.

To pre-register for Thursday’s free wellness summit, visit www.sullivan.senate.gov/wellness-summit.

Summit participants are encouraged to use #AKConquersOpioids on Twitter and other social media outlets when posting about the event.

To tune into the ongoing conversation about opioid abuse in Alaska, visit the Alaska Opioid Task Force website at dhss.alaska.gov/AKOpioidTaskForce. The next state task force meeting is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon, accessible by the public via teleconference using the number listed in the agenda.

Alaska Wellness Summit Agenda

Registration — 8:30-9 a.m. in The Glenn Massay Theater

Welcome by Michael Tucker, Knik Tribal Council

Alaskan Speakers

The women who inspired the summit: Kara Nelson, Terria Walters, Christina Love, Kim Whitaker and Julee DouglasGloria O’Neill, president and CEO, Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilJeff Jessee - CEO, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

Federal Speakers

Dr. Mary Wakefield, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesDr. Jennifer Lee, deputy under secretary for health for policy and services, Veterans Health AdministrationDr. Karen Drexler, acting National Mental Health Program director for addictive disorders, Veterans Health Administration

Science of Addiction

Dr. Joshua Sonkiss, medical director, Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services

Lunch — noon

Fireside chat with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy moderated by Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jay Butler

Breakout sessions in the Fred and Sara Machetanz (FSM) Building

Panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jay Butler

Closing remarks by Sen. Dan Sullivan, concluding at 3:30 p.m.