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From YouTube: Town Hall Discussion: Drugs and Opioids in Our Community
Description
A town hall on the opioid crisis and how it is affecting our community was held at the Arlington Public Library on October 12 2017. Moderated by NBC4's Mark Segraves, the keynote speaker was parent and Virginia Beach School Board Member Carolyn Weems and panelists included Arlington Chief of Police M. Jay Farr, Commonwealth Attorney Theophani Stamos, parent Avi Garbow, Behavioral Healthcare Division Chief Dr. John Palmieri, and Ms Weems.
For more information on opioid awareness, please visit our website https://health.arlingtonva.us/opioid-awareness/. For substance use programs and services in Arlington County, call 703-228-5150 or visit our website https://health.arlingtonva.us/behavioral-healthcare/substance-abuse/. In case of an emergency, call 911.
A
All
right
good
evening,
I
hear
some
of
you
are
settling
down.
I
know
we're
a
standing-room-only.
We
appreciate
the.
We
really
appreciate
the
large
turnout,
so
we
are
gonna
get
started.
First,
I
want
to
apologize
for
not
being
Jim
Hanley
from
NBC,
for
everybody
was
expecting.
Jim
should
be
down
at
the
Southwest
Waterfront.
Where
he's
been
live
all
night,
I
apologize,
I'm
mark
C
grades
from
channel
4
I'll
do
my
best
not
to
disappoint
you
many
further
throughout
the
evening.
This
is
I.
Do
a
lot
of
these
events
all
over
the
region,
DC
Maryland
Virginia.
A
This
is
a
great
turnout
and
I
really
I
really
appreciate
the
organizers
and
all
of
you
for
coming
out
on
a
weeknight.
They
wanted
me
to
make
an
announcement
and
not
forget
about
it,
so
I'm
going
to
get
that
out
of
the
way
right
now.
The
Arlington
partnership
for
children,
youth
and
families
is
hosting
a
community
conversation
on
their
new
youth
survey.
Data
on
drug
and
alcohol
use
it's
going
to
be
November
15th
from
6
to
8
p.m.
at
the
Farrington
community
center.
A
So
we
wanted
to
make
sure
everybody
on
the
radar
we're
going
to
dispense
with
any
of
the
intros
and
BIOS
and
whatnot,
because
there's
so
many
people
here.
Clearly
you
guys
have
questions
and
tonight
is
about
answering
your
questions
or
at
least
trying
to
begin
a
conversation,
so
we're
going
to
try
to
get
to
that
as
quickly
as
possible.
There
are
a
lot
of
stakeholders
from
the
community
here
to
talk
about
this
opioid
crisis
that
the
country
is
experiencing,
but
but
particularly
here
in
Northern
Virginia
in
your
hometown
and
tonight's.
A
An
event
is
really
a
reminder
of
just
how
Porton
this
is
and
something
that
we
just
can't
ignore,
and
so
we
want
to
to
get
to
this
conversation
as
quickly
as
we
can
and
we're
going
to
begin
by
hearing
a
personal
conversation,
something
I
like
to
do
when
I
go
to
these
community
events
is
kind
of
gauge
the
audience
and
so
just
by
a
show
of
hands.
Could
everybody
who
has
somehow
been
touched
by
this
opioid
crisis
through
friends,
families
or
acquaintances?
A
Just
raise
your
hand
for
everybody
here,
you
know
that's
a
that's
a
powerful
number
and
we
appreciate
you
coming
out
and
and
and
learning
about
this
and
sharing
your
stories
with
us
and
we're
going
to
get
to
a
personal
story
for
here
tonight
and
that
is
from
Carolyn
Weems
I'm,
going
to
read
something
here
for
that's
been
prepared
for
us
tonight.
Carolyn
Weems
was
going
to
share
her
personal
story
about
how
addiction
has
impacted
her
and
her
family,
and
particularly
the
opioid
epidemic.
A
Carolyn
Weems
is
from
Virginia
Beach
she's
been
a
resident
there
for
34
years,
advocating
for
children
and
families
in
her
community.
She
attended
Clemson
University.
We
won't
hold
that
against
her.
She
married
her
college
sweetheart
Billy
and
after
they
graduated
she
and
her
husband,
coach,
tennis,
basketball
at
Old,
Dominion
University,
and
they
opened
up
their
own
business,
managing
as
the
same
time
their
home
filled
with
their
five
children.
A
Carolyn
serves
on
the
Virginia
Beach
school
board,
the
southeastern,
the
southeastern
cooperative
educational
programs,
the
board
of
directors
in
his
vice
chair
of
the
Virginia
School
Board
Association,
the
Tidewater
region,
she's.
Also,
the
co-chair
of
outreach
for
the
Hampton
Roads
opioid
task
force,
and
she
is
currently
in
the
process
of
establishing
Caitlin's
halo.
This
is
a
non-profit
committed
to
helping
addicts
and
their
loved
ones.
Of
course.
Sadly,
she
has
a
story
to
tell
that.
A
We
hope
we
all
never
have
to
tell
ourselves
and
that's
about
her
and
her
family's
life
was
how
it
was
altered
four
years
ago,
when
one
of
their
daughters
Caitlin
died
of
a
heroin
overdose
Caitlin,
it
was
described
as
being
kind
beautiful
funny
athletic
as
she
became
addicted
to
painkillers,
as
so
many
people
in
America
do
after
they
were
prescribed
to
her
after
she
had
several
soccer
injuries
because
of
their
painful
journey.
Mrs.
Weems
has
been
sharing
her
story
at
local
state
and
national
events.
She's
here
tonight
to
share
her
story.
Please
welcome
everybody.
B
B
Now
heroin
and
opioids
were
not
supposed
to
enter
my
family,
because
my
husband
and
I
did
things
right.
We
met
in
college,
we
got
married,
we
raised
our
children,
we
were
involved
with
their
lives,
we
read
to
them.
We
had
family
dinners,
we
disciplined
them,
they
had
consequences.
We
supported
their
dreams,
we
played
with
them.
We
cried
with
them,
so
never
in
a
million
years
would
have
ever
believed
that
I
would
be
here
talking
to
you
about
addiction,
but
sadly,
everything
that
we
did
right.
None
of
it
really
mattered
in
this
case.
B
B
I
was
working
as
the
head
coach
at
Old,
Dominion
University,
and
when
I
was
pregnant,
with
her
I
told
the
athletic
director,
I
need
to
stay
home
with
my
kids,
you
know,
there's
too
many
of
them
and
so
I
became
a
stay-at-home
mom
and
then
at
the
same
time
we
had
started
our
business,
but,
like
I
said
I
was
we
were
good
parents.
We
were
very
good
parents,
Caitlin
was
a
typical
child.
B
You
know
she
we'd
love
to
go
to
the
zoo.
We
did
everything
you
know
with
the
family
unit.
She
took
dance
lessons
there.
She
is
at
the
Christmas
pageant
and
just
a
really
fun
loving,
typical
little
girl.
There
we
are
at
Halloween
holidays
were
a
big
thing.
You
know
when
I
were
when
I
grew
up,
my
family
didn't
really
do
holidays
and
neither
did
my
husband,
so
we
kind
of
over
compensated,
so
birthdays
and
Halloween
and
food
fight
parties
and
Christmas
lights
that
that's
really
big
at
our
house.
So
she
enjoyed
that
immensely.
B
Had
a
great
neighborhood
that
we
lived
in
I'm
active
in
the
church.
Friends
over
our
house
was
kind
of
like
the
go-to
house,
where
everybody
came,
because
we
have
a
couple
acres
on
the
lake
and
trampolines
and
forts
and
everything.
So
our
house
was
always
filled
with
kids,
always
so.
I
was
a
substitute
mom
for
lots
of
folks
I
played
tennis
at
Clemson.
B
My
husband
played
baseball
and
our
five
children
inherited
not
athletic
gene,
so
all
of
them
played
sports
and
Kaitlyn
played
softball
volleyball
field
hockey
and
soccer,
but
about
middle
school
she
kind
of
decided
to
concentrate
on
soccer.
She
was
probably
she's,
probably
my
most
athletic
child
and
I
had
to
go
to
college
on
scholarships.
So
you
know,
athletics
goes
in,
art
goes
in
our
family,
obviously,
and
I
had
wanted
to
play
professional
baseball.
So
we
know
Ryan
Zimmerman,
the
Virginia
Beach
guy,
but
unfortunately
she
had
the
back
of
an
80
year
old.
B
It
was
something
that
she
was
born
with.
She.
She
had
a
squish
disc,
so
her
back
started
really
bothering
her
in
about
eighth
grade,
and
so
we
tried
everything
she
stopped
playing
soccer
for
a
while
stopped
all
the
other
sports.
And
then
we
went
to
physical
therapy.
For
a
good
year
we
had
steroid
injections,
we
tried
acupuncture,
we
flew
down
to
Baylor
University
and
got
a
reflexologist
to
look
at
her
and
nothing
helped.
B
You
know
so
so
she
said
if
my
back's
and
of
course,
they're
not
gonna,
do
surgery
on
a
fourteen-year-old,
and
so
you
know
she
said
if
my
back
still
hurts
I'm
just
gonna.
You
know,
even
if
I
don't
play
soccer,
I'm
just
gonna
go
ahead
and
play
soccer,
so
she
played
soccer
and
was
the
best
on
our
team
and
then
about
right.
Around
10th
grade
the
doctor
finally
decided
to
prescribe
her
heroin.
B
But
it
was
called
oxycotin
so
in
it
helped
it
helped,
and
that
was
about
ninth
grade
in
10th
grade.
She
was
playing
in
the
playoffs
for
her
high
school
and
she
went
up
for
a
header
and
she
came
down
on
the
defenders
head
and
lost
her
three
teeth.
So
we
went
through
a
year
of
coming
to
Richmond
to
a
face
trauma,
doctor
lots
of
pain
and
ended
up
in
nine
root,
canals
and
the
final
removal
of
the
teeth,
because
the
root
canals
didn't
work
and
then
the
dentist
decided
to
prescribe
her
more
heroin.
B
This
time
it
was
called
percocet.
Then
she
went
in
the
doctor
for
kidney
stones
in
the
ER
one
time
kidney
stones
run
in
our
family
and
she
left
the
ER
with
more
heroin,
but
they
called
it
dilaudid.
So
before
long,
my
daughter
was
very
addicted
to
painkillers.
Now
we
didn't
know
no
doctor
had
said
his
whims.
You
have
to
be
really
careful,
because
these
are
highly
addictive.
Never
got
that
information.
B
Now,
of
course,
I
know
to
question
doctors.
You
know
now.
I
know
that
heroin
and
opioid
opioids
are
basically
from
the
same
plant
and
they
basically
have
the
exact
same
chemical
makeup.
They
are
both
very,
very
highly
addictive
one
is
prescribed,
and
one
is
illegal.
Now
I'm
not
saying
you
know,
take
opioids
off
the
you
know
off
the
face
of
the
earth,
because
some
people
do
need
them.
I
understand
that
in
certain
situations,
but
you
don't
need
60
and
120
at
a
time.
B
B
The
disease
of
addiction
now
I
know
that
it's
not
a
disease
of
morality
and
in
some
cases
it's
no
longer
a
disease
of
choice.
It's
a
brain
disease.
It's
not
really
all
about
drugs.
It's
all
about
the
brain
that
these
opioids
completely
hijack
your
brain,
so
that
you
have
to
have
them
and
once
you
get
that
addicted
and
you
have
to
have
the
drug
just
in
order
to
feel
good
to
feel
normal.
Kaitlyn
was
not
a
partier.
B
Her
brother's
there
they're
all
in
camo,
our
first
huge
red
flag
was
when
her
older
brother
Beamer
on
her
right
came
home
for
rehab,
because
he
was
playing
for
the
Texas
Rangers
and
got
hit
in
the
face
with
a
97
year.
97
mile-per-hour
baseball,
so
he's
got
27
screws
in
his
face
and
seven
titanium
plates.
He
took
painkillers
for
one
day
because
he
just
didn't
like
the
way
they
made
him
feel
doesn't
have.
B
An
addictive
personality
came
home
after
his
surgeries
and
in
Texas
to
rehab,
and
he
came
up
to
me
one
morning
and
said
my
pain
mill.
My
pain
medicine
is
gone
out
of
my
suitcase,
and
that
was
a
huge
red
flag.
So
we
confronted
Kaitlyn
and
that's
really
when
we
knew
that
we
had
a
serious
problem,
so
she
was
in
and
out
of
rehab.
We
got
her
help
right
away.
B
Unfortunately,
help
is
not
easy
to
find
I
remember,
taking
her
to
some
outpatient,
counseling
and-
and
she
was
still
you
know,
and
by
this
time
of
course,
I'd
call.
The
doctor
and
I
said:
do
not
give
my
daughter
any
more
of
these
opioids
and
of
course
they
couldn't
talk
to
me
because
of
her
age.
You
know
or,
and
all
that
and
and
then
I
call.
My
insurance
company
I
said,
can
I
just
flag
any
opioids?
No,
you
can't
do
that.
B
You
would
have
to
drop
her
completely
off
coverage
and
then
I
remember
going
to
the
hospital
one
time
the
psych
center
and
she
was
being
assessed
and-
and
she
was
obviously
and
withdrawal
because
she
was
sweating
and
and
everything,
and
so
you
know
we
were
trying
to
get
her
admitted
and
she's
across
the
table
from
the
Assessor
and
the
Assessor
says.
Well,
you
know:
okay,
when's,
the
last
time
you
you
know
you
used
anything.
You've
got
this
long
list
of
and
she
was
very
forthcoming
by
that
time.
B
She's
forthcoming,
she
wants
to
get
help,
she
hates
what
she's
you
know
doing
to
her
family
and
her
body,
and
so
she
said,
katelynn
when's,
the
last
time
that
you,
you
know,
took
a
pill
and
she
said
three
days
ago,
and
thus
she
was
soon.
You
know,
withdrawal
and
the
counselor
said.
Well,
you
don't
qualify
for
our
services
because
you're,
not
a
current
drug
user,
and
so
you
know
I'm.
Like
look
look
at
her
paperwork.
B
You
know
she's
actually
been
here
before
she
had
been
there
like
three
or
four
times
you
know,
and
so
I'm
so
called
a
doctor
friend.
He
said
well
I
hate
to
tell
you
this,
but
you're
gonna
have
to
try
to
get
her
to
take
a
pill
or
good,
buy
her
some
alcohol,
so
I'm
like
wow
what
a
broken
broken
broken
system
so
anyway.
So
her
brothers
and
sisters
kind
of
reacted
to
it
differently
to
were
out
of
the
home
and
two
kind
of
said.
You
know,
get
your
life
together.
B
Her
younger
sibling
couldn't
understand
why
we
were
always
going
to
the
hospital
going
to
the
emergency
room.
If
I
thought
that
she
was
on
something
I
would
take
her
to
the
emergency
room
and
get
blood
tests
done.
You
know
all
that
stuff,
so
it's
very
confusing
for
her
and
then
one
of
her
siblings
just
wanted
to
help
so
bad
and
kind
of
enabled
her.
So
you
have
this
whole
dynamic.
Now
that
your
whole
family
is
pretty
much
broken.
The
finally
Caitlyn
said
you
know
the
rehabs.
B
There
aren't
good,
and
but
this
time
you
know
she
was
sneaking.
You
know
and
getting
pills
from
her
friends.
In
fact,
I
told
her
I
said
why
don't
you
you
know,
hang
out
with
Nicole
who's
gonna
be
going
to
Virginia,
Tech
and
gonna.
Be
a
doctor
I
kept
saying
you
know
why?
Don't
you
hang
out
with
her
you're
trying
to
steer
her
into
like
good?
You
know,
good
friends
well
after
this
is
all
said
and
done.
B
I
hadn't
heard
from
Nicole
in
a
while
and
Nicole
was
in
rehab
for
pills
and
she
was
actually
the
one
giving
them
to
her.
Her
dad's,
a
doctor,
she's
straight-a
student,
so
I
was
steering
her
toward
the
good
friend,
not
knowing
that
the
good
friend
was
was
the
pill
source
at
the
time,
so
I'm,
but
anyway,
Tom
went
on,
and
finally
Caitlyn
said
this
is
just
not
working.
I
want
to
go
to
Tennessee
and
live
with
Mama
sue
and
Gramps.
Are
you
sure
you
know
they
live
up
on
a
mountain?
B
No
one's
gonna,
be
there
they're
80
years
old,
yeah
and
she
goes
yeah
because
I
have
got
to
get
away
from
here
and
get
straightened
down,
so
she
went
there
and
that
was
the
healthiest
year
she
had
had
in
six
years
and
in
the
in
the
last
six
years
of
her
life.
She
completely
finished
school
with
straight
A's
started
learning
how
to
play
tennis.
My
dad,
you
know
let
her
join
health
clubs
I
mean.
Let
me
look
how
healthy
she
looks
and
she
was
doing
great.
B
Unfortunately,
she
met
a
guy
there
at
a
church
function
and
his
family
was
very
into
his
mother
and
grandfather
into
pills
and
selling
them.
So
she
started
taking
them
again
and
quickly
quickly
got
addicted.
She
did
have
a
scholarship
to
college,
so
I
went
and
got
her
and
and
I
would
go
visit
her.
You
know
about
once
a
month
down
at
Mama's,
soon
grants
and
you
know
check
on
her
and
everything
was
fine
and
this
boy
I
was
like
you
know,
that's
fine
a
summer.
You
know
boyfriend
or
whatever
didn't
worry
about
it.
B
So
at
then
I
took
her
to
college
and
on
the
twelfth
day
of
college,
she
said
that
she
had
moved
down
and
she
was
going
to
live
with
his
boy
in
Georgia,
and
so
that's
where
she
lived.
So
by
this
time
she
got
back
on
the
drugs
and
he
was
abusing
her
and
getting
her.
You
know
not
to
not
to
get
in
contact
with
us
and
taking
her
cell
phone.
B
Taking
her
car,
taking
everything
and
so
I
told
her
I
said
it's
gonna
get
physical
again,
I
flew
down
there,
I
begged
her
to
come
home,
but
she
just
wouldn't.
She
broke
up
with
him
several
times
and
did
come
home,
but
always
went
back
and
all
her
siblings
knew.
By
this
time
she
was
pretty
addicted
because
she
started
calling
everybody
for
money,
and
so
I
had
told
this
is
when
we
had
to
do.
B
The
tough
love
I
said:
do
not
give
her
a
cent
because
it's
all
going
to
pills,
and
so
they
pretty
much
stood
by
the
tough
love
and
I
tell
you
that
was
hard.
She
would
call
me
and
say:
please,
can
you
send
me
dollars
for
something
and
I
would
say
no
Katelyn,
you
know
I
can't
and
then
I
would
hang
up
the
phone
and,
of
course
start
crying
that
I'm,
the
worst
mom
in
the
whole
world
that
we
stuck
by
the
tough
love.
B
B
Everything
and
I've
got
to
go
to
the
doctor
with
you
and
you
have
to
be
forthcoming
and
all
that
stuff.
So
she
left
the
boyfriend
came
home
and
she
delivered
a
beautiful
little
baby.
Did
not
do
any
opioids
anything
for
14
months,
so
thank
God
that
she
was
able
to
do
that
for
her
child.
She
couldn't
do
it
for
herself,
but
she
did
it
for
her
unborn
baby.
B
B
But
she
was,
she
was
working
and
then
one
day
and
she
was
still
asking
for
money,
but
you
know
no,
no,
no
money,
and
then
one
day
she
called
me
and
she
said:
can
you
please
meet
me
at
Starbucks?
So
I
went
up
there
and
she
said
mom
I'm
in
trouble.
I
have
tried
heroin
and
I
know
how
strong
that
is,
and
so
we
got
her
help
right
away.
We
try
to
get
her
in
a
facility.
We
had
to
wait
18
days
because
nobody
around
there
you
know,
would
take
her
a
few
days
after
that.
B
She
called
me
because
she
was
still
working
and
I
met
her
again
and
you
know
again
we're
frantic
trying
to
get
her
anywhere
and
when
I.
When
she
came
to
the
house,
she
actually
came
to
the
house.
She
just
started,
throwing
up
and
I'm
like.
Have
you
done
something
lately?
She
goes
no
I.
Just
she
was
working
at
Marshall.
B
She
goes
I
just
stole
150
dollars
from
my
employee
and
she
was
so
upset
because
this
drug
had
changed
her
into
some
money
that
she
wasn't
and
so
some
when
you
need
to
go
back,
so
we
went
back
to
that
Marshall.
She
turned
herself
in,
of
course
you
know
they
fired
her,
but
they
didn't
press
charges
and
says
she
said
I
am
so
sorry.
I
cannot
believe
that
this
drug
I
mean
she
felt
so
awful
and
so
I
kept
saying
we're
gonna,
give
you
help
we're
gonna,
give
you
help.
So
she
went
to
a
facility.
B
Finally,
they
opened
up
a
facility
28
days.
You
know
she
had
been
in
and
out
of
facilities
before,
but
and
she
stayed
for
two
weeks
and
then
shakaama
she
cuz
I,
can't
say
anymore.
All
they're
doing
is
pumping
me
with
drugs,
and
so
you
know
if
I
want
to
get
off
drugs,
why
am
I
staying
here
and
getting
drugs?
So
I
said
well,
you've
got
to
have
a
plan.
B
You've
got
to
go
somewhere,
so
she
went
to
a
sober-living
house
and
they
kind
of
took
her
under
their
wing
and
and
she
was
doing
great,
she
was
she
was
there
and
her
plan
was
to
stay
there
for
a
year
and
she
was
healthy.
You
know,
and
you
would
have
never
ever
guessed.
This
child
was
on
drugs
because
she
didn't
you
know
she
didn't
look,
look
like
it
and
that's
that's
the
big
thing
that
I
want
to
leave
with
you
on
the
face
of
heroin
is
not
the
city
urban
person.
B
You
know
with
needle
track
marks.
The
face
of
heroin
is
a
beautiful
girl
who
loved
to
play
soccer.
It's
the
person
next
to
you
and
your
church
pew
its
people
in
here
it's
a
military
guy
who
had
to
handle
his
pain
with
opioids.
It's
it's
the
55
year
old
teacher,
it's
the
Admirals,
son
or
daughter.
You
know
it's
everywhere,
so
she
was
doing
great.
She
called
me
one
night,
her
back
hurt
because
she
had
been
working,
hurts
you
know,
she's
still
dealing
with
this
back
pain
and
I
told
her.
B
The
next
day
and
detective
as
I
was
about
leaving
the
detective
came
to
my
house
and
to
tell
me
that
Caitlin
had
overdosed
and
died
during
the
night
and
she
died
alone.
She
was
so
embarrassed
that
she
went
in
the
bathroom
and
locked
the
door
and
I'm
sure
she
was
trying
to
ease
the
back
pain
and
her
stress
and
trying
to
go
to
sleep,
and
so
she
did
not
win
her
battle
and
what
I
wish
that
I
would
have
known
and
I
want
to
leave
this
with
y'all.
B
What
I
wish
I
would
have
known
was
that
it's
not
my
kids
are
not
going
to
get
exposed
to
drugs
if
you're
out
there
and
if
you're
a
teenager
or
a
parent
or
grandparent
it's
when
it's
when
are
they
going
to
get
exposed?
Is
it
going
to
be
elementary
school?
Is
it
going
to
be
middle
school?
Probably?
Is
it
going
to
be
high
school?
Is
it
going
to
be
a
church
retreat?
Is
it
going
to
be
a
tab
and
trip?
Is
it
going
to
be
at
a
football
game
they
will
get
exposed.
B
The
other
thing
I
wish
I
would
have
known
how
addictive
opioids
were
I
wish.
I
would
have
asked
lot
more
questions
to
doctors.
I
also
wish
that
I
would
have
known
that
once
you
start
heroin,
you
don't
have
a
second
chance,
even
with
her
her
in
the
sober
living
house.
I
kept
thinking.
Well,
even
if
she
goes
back
to
heroin,
we'll
still
have
a
few
months
to
like
get
her
somewhere
and
fix
her
again,
because
heroin
can
kill
you
on
the
first
time
it
can
kill
you
on
the
fifteenth
time
it
can
kill
you.
B
B
The
face
of
heroin
is
my
daughter
who
had
so
much
to
give
who
was
kind
would
give
her
shirt
off
the
back
to
anybody.
In
fact,
I
remember
having
a
conversation
with
me
before
she
had
tried
it.
You
know
she
tried
it
December
in
an
April
she's
dead
and
she
said
mom
my
friend
started
heroin
and
once
you
go
to
heroin,
you
never
come
back
I'm,
so
worried
for
Megan
informants
later,
and
another
thing
that
I
wish
I
would
have
known
is
how
prevalent
heroin
is
like
a
different
world.
B
I
mean
that's
us,
it's
not
my
world,
but
you're
buying
and
in
bath
they're
binding
in
bathrooms
and
schools.
It's
up
parties.
It
is
the
drug
that
these
kids
are
using.
It
is
there
everywhere
and
you
smoke
it
first,
you
snort
it
you
skin
pop
it.
Then
you
were
so
addicted
that
you
go
to
the
needle
I.
Had
no
idea
of
any
of
this
I
thought
I
was
immune.
B
So
what
I
leave
you
here
is
a
story
of
a
sweet
girl
who,
thankfully
left
me
an
earth
angel,
okay,
I'm,
so
glad
that
she
was
strong
enough
to
to
be
clean
for
14
months
and
I
want
Kaitlyn's
legacy
to
be
one
of
a
hope,
but,
namely
one
a
prevention
and
education,
because
you've
got
to
talk
to
your
kids.
You've
got
to
have
the
heroin
talk
when
they're
middle
school
don't
be
smug
about
it.
B
The
Kaitlyn's
legacy
will
be
one
of
prevention
and
education,
so
that
kids
and
adults
will
not
get
pulled
down
that
whole
because
it's
hard
to
get
out.
So
please,
if
anything,
that
you
hear
today
go
and
talk
to
your
friends,
no
matter
what
age
about
opioids
and
have
the
heroin
talk,
because
it's
everywhere
it's
getting
worse
and
it's
gonna
stay
for
a
while.
Thank
you
so
much
for
listening.
A
Again,
thank
you
so
much
for
sharing
your
story
and
I
think
it
just.
You
know
really
points
to
how
important
having
this
conversation.
It
isn't
sharing
these
stories
and
how
everybody
in
this
room
was
certainly
moved
by
that,
and
so
we
appreciate
that
so
we're
gonna
start
off
with
one
softball
for
the
four
panelists
here
to
kind
of
get
to
know
each
other
and
then
we're
gonna
go
straight
to
the
audience.
There's
gonna
be
a
couple
of
people
walking
through
the
audience
that
have
microphones
is
that
right.
A
One
gentleman
here
has
his
hand
raised
so,
and
over
here
has
another.
So
once
we
get
through
these
first
four
questions,
you
can
raise
your
hand
we'll
get
you
keep
your
questions
brief
and
we'll
try
to
get
to
as
many
as
we
can
tonight.
I
think
we
appreciate
that
chief
far
we're
gonna
start
with
you.
If
we
could,
you
know
as
first
responders,
your
officers
are
certainly
on
the
front
line
of
this
epidemic.
C
The
poll
to
give
you
such
perspective
on
this,
when
our
office
of
our
Criminal
Investigation
teams
and
the
organized
crime
unit
talk
to
people
the
have
survived
through
an
overdose
but
not
been
fatal,
and
they
did
it
for
the
last
two
years.
I
said
how
many
of
you
are
here
because
of
prescription,
and
we
realize
that
90%
of
the
people
that
we
arrested
that
we
dealt
with
with
these
overdoses.
C
It
had
been
prescribed
this
drug
legally
through
typical
day
to
day
things
like
an
accident
or
an
injury,
and
so
for
me,
the
most
telling
thing
about
that
is
it's
not
some
pathy
hero
through
your
career
pathway,
drugs.
You
hear
that
they
were
doing
X
or
Y.
It's
not
that
it's
anybody
can
be
impacted
by
this
perfectly
legal,
normal
transaction
with
the
doctor
for
a
prescription
of
an
opioid
and
so
looking
at
some
of
the
stats
over
the
last
couple
of
years,
we've
had
from
2015
to
2016
and
our
overall
events
with
us
have
risen.
C
C
The
other
part
of
this
is
sort
of
amazing
to
me
and
is
that
it
doesn't
hit
any
particular
demographic.
It
doesn't
hit
any
particular
part
of
the
county.
We
looked
at
every
single
ZIP
code
in
Arlington
County,
except
for
one.
Every
single
ZIP
code
in
Arlington
County
was
impacted
through
either
fatal
or
non-fatal
overdoses
in
the
last
two
years,
and
it's
it
even
split
almost
15
about
15
point
two
percent
of
those
occurred
south
side
and
about
thirteen
point
four
percent
of
those
occurred
Northside.
So
it's
telling
you
it's
hitting
the
entire
county.
C
It
doesn't
make
any
difference
on
demographics.
It
doesn't
make
any
difference
on
the
economic
strata.
The
entire
county
is
being
acted
as
a
result
of
this.
The
other
part
that
the
only
other
sort
of
quick
stat
that
I
won
this
year
to
give
you
an
idea-
and
this
is
that
in
age,
we're
looking
at
numbers
that
go
anywhere
from
16
to
66
Plus
and
every
single
age
category
in
between
was
impacted
by
this.
So
again,
there's
no
selective
group
there's
no
identified
group.
C
The
only
ones
that
have
the
higher
percentage
are
those
between
21
and
35,
which
makes
up
about
56%
of
the
cases
that
we
take
in.
But
that
means
the
other
half
in
tax
everybody,
the
younger
or
older.
So
it's
pretty
staggering
numbers
for
us
to
take
a
look
at,
and
that
gives
you
a
little
bit
of
an
idea
of
what
the
impact
has
been
in
the
last
couple
of
years.
C
But
every
single
officer
has
had
to
get
much
more
training
than
previous
years,
because
we've
come
to
realize
that
if
you're
handling
this
in
an
evidentiary
capacity,
if
you're
out
on
the
street,
you
make
a
stop
and
you
get
a
hit
fentanyl
or
car
fentanyl
is
so
incredibly
deadly
that
through
and
just
ingestion
through,
the
air
could
possibly
end
up
being
fatal
for
those
that
are
doing
the
crime
scene.
So
it's
become
much
more
prevalent
that
everybody
in
the
department
is
getting
training
in
that
regard.
Thanks.
A
D
You
well
thanks
mark
and
thanks
for
being
here
tonight
to
moderate
and
thank
you
all
for
coming.
Yes,
the
idea
for
tonight's
Town
Hall
did
begin
in
my
office,
and
one
of
the
features
of
my
job
is
kammath.
Attorney
is
I,
get
all
of
the
autopsy
reports
for
any
deaths
that
occur
in
Arlington
in
the
city
of
Falls
Church
and
starting
about
a
year
or
so
ago.
D
We
knew
we
had
a
problem
and
when
we
saw
kids
at
Wakefield
with
LSD
and
athletes
not
making
nothing
able
to
play
because
they're
testing
positive,
we
have
at
Yorktown
the
new
principal
has
taken
the
doors
off
the
bathrooms
in
order
to
stop
vaping,
but
also
to
be
to
deter
kids
from
buying
and
selling
marijuana
in
the
bathrooms
and
other
drugs.
So
yeah.
The
idea
for
tonight
did
emanate
from
my
office,
but
it
was
a
community
effort
in
a
community
response
to
we
have
a
drug
problem
in
Arlington.
We
are
not
immune.
D
We
are
not
it's
not.
You
know
it's
not
only
in
Southeast
Ohio
or
in
New
Hampshire
or
in
parts
of
West
Virginia.
So,
as
Carolyn
said,
this
is
not
a
happy
discussion
and
tonight
is
the
beginning
of
a
discussion.
Not
one
of
us
is
going
to
sit
up
here
and
tell
you.
We
have
the
answers
to
these
problems,
but
the
fact
that
so
many
of
you
came
out
tonight
and
that
you're
here
standing
around
the
room
to
have
this
discussion
is
a
really
good
start.
So
thank
you
all
for
being
here
can.
D
Do
we
have
a
drug
court
which
is
you
know,
like
we
say,
we're
not
gonna,
be
able
to
prosecute
our
way
out
of
this
problem
and
after
I
became
the
Commonwealth's
Attorney
and
every
Eastman
is
back
here
who
runs
our
drug
court
from
my
office
and
because
of
Judge
Louise
DiMatteo.
We
have
a
very
successful
drug
court
that
works
to
keep
people
out
of
jail
out
of
the
penitentiaries
and
and
using
prevention
and
treatment
as
the
way
to
redirect
their
lives.
So
it's
a
successful
program.
A
E
I'm,
probably
no
different
than
many
of
y'all
out
there.
In
fact,
I
I
think
I
know
a
handful
folks
in
the
audience.
So
I've
got
three
kids
elementary
school
middle
school
in
high
school
I've
been
in
Arlington
all
of
their
lives.
Public
schools-
and
you
know
I-
will
tell
you
that
nine
months
ago
I
would
not
have
been
here.
I
wouldn't
have
been
where
you
are
I
would
certainly
not
have
been
where
I
am,
but
literally
nine
months
to
the
day
tomorrow
was
having
drinking
wine
and
cheese
with
my
wife.
E
I
spent
the
night
in
the
hospital
with
him
bloodied
and
almost
unrecognizable
chained
to
his
hospital
bed
a
day
later
watching
him
in
juvenile
detention
facility.
In
you
know
the
typical
orange
jumpsuit
and
then
our
first
interaction
with
a
court-
and
you
know,
there's
been
a
lot
since,
but
but
what
I
really
wanted
to
do
is
kind
of
tell
you
a
little
bit
how
we
got
to
that
weekend
because
that's
not
what
we
had
expected
to
be
doing
nine
months
ago
we
I
think
like
Carolyn,
we
we
were
and
we
are
really
good
parents.
E
We
love
our
kids,
they're
they're,
lovely
people,
they
bonded
well
with
us.
We
did
great
things,
they
were
doing
well
in
school.
We
had
the
drug
talk,
not
the
heroin
talk
of
the
opioids,
but
for
us
it
was,
you
know,
mainly
Merrill,
on
a
pot
and
that
kind
of
thing,
particularly
with
our
10
year
old
and
I,
remember
in
ninth
grade.
E
We
knew
we
knew
that
these
kids
were
getting
exposed
to
pot
and
other
stuff
and
and
and
my
son,
we
had
a
great
relationship
and
he
would
tell
us
you
know
yes,
I've
been
around
it
or
I've
been
offered
it,
but
you
know
I
say
no
and
I've
got
he's
got
his
whole
system
worked
out.
How
he
can
you
know
kind
of
say
no
and
not
and
not
be
too
uncomfortable.
I
was
really
proud
of
him
and
a
really
great
relationship
and
then
it
kind
of
springtime
of
freshman
year
in
high
school.
E
We
get
a
call
from
a
close
friend
of
ours
who
says
you
know.
We
just
heard
your
son
had
kind
of
boasted
to
his
son
about
being
high,
so
we
called
our
son
in
and
we
sat
him
down
and
it
was,
you
know,
really
difficult.
Yes,
just
a
week
earlier,
he
said
he
tried
pot
and-
and
you
know
it's
legal
and
in
all
these
other
places,
dad
and
I've
been.
You
know,
kind
of
depressed,
and
this
is
my
new
passion
and
it
it's
the
only
thing
that
makes
me
feel
better.
E
That
kind
of
thing
and
it
was
about
to
go
to
summer,
camp
and
and
we're
gonna
take
a
family
vacation.
So
we
thought
we
were
working
through
it
and
and
over
the
course
of
a
number
of
months
you
know
there'd
be
times
when
you'd
smell,
it
pot
smells
or
actually
here's
the
the
clue
not
always,
and
so
we
thought
you
know
we
could
tell
if
he
had
used
marijuana.
We
thought
that
was
it
as
though
you
know
that
was
somehow
okay
and
we
thought
we
had
things
somewhat
under
control.
He
was
seeing
a
therapist.
E
There
were
some
depression
and
anxiety
issues.
A
lot
of
kids
have
those
we
were
seeing
somebody
to
help
with
just
some
substance:
abuse
counseling.
Our
son
was
kind
of
saying
the
right
things
and
it
got
to
the
point
again
where
we
weren't
catching
him.
We
weren't
smelling
it
and
then
you
know
fast-forward
to
the
bloody
face
and
the
hand
on
the
ground.
What
we
ended
up
finding
out
is
that
within
the
first
week
of
trying
marijuana,
he
was
doing
it
daily
within
weeks.
He
was
probably
doing
it
multiple
times
a
day.
E
He
began
to
I
think
do
edibles
vaping,
you
know
you.
Can
there
the
now
it's
no
longer
sniffing
the
laundry
or
you
know
to
figure
out
whether
he's
done
it,
so
we
couldn't
figure
that
out.
We
used
to
you,
know,
search
the
house
and
never
found
anything.
We
later
learned.
He
was
abusing
alcohol
in
the
house.
He
was
getting
everything
by
the
way
at
school,
most
of
the
purchases
and
much
of
the
use,
as
far
as
we
know,
was
on
school
grounds,
and
then
we
ended
up
finding
out.
E
You
know
certainly
the
day
of
the
incident
that
I
relate
to
you,
that
for
the
school
money
I
gave
him
to
buy
lunch,
he'd
bought
tabs
of
LSD
at
the
school
and
and
that's
what
kind
of
led
to
the
incident.
So
you
know
for
us
it
was
a
wake-up
call
in
many
respects.
We
never
thought
that
we
would
go
through
this
with
our
kids,
given
as
healthy
as
we
thought
we
were
we'd
had
the
conversations,
then
we
thought
well.
E
We
knew
everything
you
know,
we'd
had
an
open
relationship
and
we
sit
down
and
we
thought
that
well,
I,
guess:
we've
had
this
honest,
open
conversation,
I,
look
back
on
it
and
I
realized.
There
was
no
way
that
this
kid
was
going
to
tell
us
the
truth.
The
the
drugs
were
too
powerful.
I
agree
with
Carolyn
I.
You
know
this
is
an
addiction.
I
mean
when
a
kid
tries
it
within
the
first
week
is
doing
it
multiple
times
a
week.
E
You
know
something
is
off
and
it
was
you
know,
there's
some
addictive
personality,
whatever
you
call
it
in
the
brain.
It
was
not
allowing
us
to
be
the
kind
of
parents
that
we
thought
we
were
or
should
be,
and
you
know
there
are
lots
of
red
flags
that
I
had
wished
we'd
caught
in
in
hindsight
again,
you
know
the
the
notion
that
the
problem
is
so
pervasive
and
involving
our
schools,
which
is
why
I
think
it's
so
important.
You
know
at
all
levels
that
we
have
the
right
folks
engaged
here.
E
I
mean
that
was
as
disheartening
thing
as
anything
coming
from
Arlington
County
Virginia.
To
think
that
you
know
my
kid
has
taken
his
lunch
money
and
it's
a
smorgasbord
in
some
of
these
schools
and
I
know
plenty
of
parents
by
the
way
whose
kids
do
just
great
and
can
say
no
and
and
I'm
so
happy
for
them
and
their
families
and
their
kids.
But
I
guess.
E
My
purpose
on
the
panel
is
to
tell
you
that
there
are
many
of
us
whose
kids,
either
can't
or
didn't,
say
no
and
and
it's
a
difficult
place
to
be
in
there's
a
lot
of
resources.
But
you
know
at
the
end
of
the
day,
you
can't
be
a
parent
to
your
child.
If
you
don't
know
what
your
child
is
doing
or
being
exposed
to
thanks.
A
Very
much
for
sharing
that.
We
really
do
appreciate
that
doctor
we've
heard
from
two
parents-
you've
nodded
your
head
in
the
affirmative
through
through
all
this,
like
you,
I'm
sure,
heard
a
lot
of
this
before
there.
There
are
high-functioning
addicts
out
there
who
do
a
very
good
job
of
covering
their
addiction
up
and
so
tell
us.
You
know
what
are
the
things
parents
should
do
and
those
uncomfortable
things
parents
need
to
do
and
then
tell
us
a
little
bit
if
you
can
about
the
resources
that
either
are
or
aren't
available.
F
Thank
you
and
thank
you
all
for
coming
this
evening,
so
before
I
answer
those
questions.
I
just
wanted
to
make
a
couple
of
introductory
comments
about
kind
of
the
landscape
of
substance,
use
and,
and
what
I'm
going
to
say
is
not
a
surprise
to
anybody,
but
I
think
it's
worth
repeating
that
uses
common
use
starts
early
and
uses
increasingly
complex.
F
So
the
substances
that
are
being
used
today
are
not
always
the
the
substances
that
we're
most
familiar
with
historically
they're
difficult
to
trace,
they're
difficult
to
detect
in
drug
testing,
and
they
have
very
serious
consequences
in
terms
of
behavior
and
behavioral
symptoms
at
Fir.
I
know
somebody
mentioned
earlier,
the
the
risk
behavior
survey
so
for
those
of
you
who
have
not
seen
it
I
definitely
would
recommend
taking
a
look
at
it
because
it
really
does
highlight
the
complexity
of
use.
F
That's
happening
in
the
schools,
including
use
of
over-the-counter
medications
to
get
high
and
use
of
prescription
drugs
by
children
for
whom
the
drugs
are
not
prescribed.
So
that's
that's
sixth,
graders,
eighth,
graders,
tenth
graders
and
that's
all
available
information
and
alarming
information
and
the
risk
behavior
survey,
and
that,
in
terms
of
impact,
I
just
want
to
highlight
that
there's
sort
of
a
triad
of
factors
that
I
think
make
the
impact
even
more
devastating
now
and
that's
that
risk
behavior
for
many
populations
is
up.
F
The
perception
of
risk
is
down
for
many,
including
young
adults,
adolescents,
who
really
don't
fully
appreciate
the
consequences
of
use
or
may
think
that
they're
not
vulnerable
to
to
use
or
maybe
not
experience
the
same
consequences
of
somebody
else
might
and
the
potency,
which
is
a
really
key
factor.
The
potency
is
much
higher
than
it
used
to
be
for
many
substances,
including
opioids
in
marijuana.
F
So
the
fact
that
risk
is
increased
and
people
don't
perceive
that
risk
to
be
high
and
they're
using
more
dangerous
substances
is
a
very,
very
dangerous
combination
in
terms
of
other
impact.
I
also
just
want
to
echo
with
Carolyn
said
earlier
about
the
the
impact
of
drugs
on
the
developing
brain,
because
this
is
really
significant.
So
what
we
know
about
brain
development
is
that
for
most
humans,
the
brain
does
not
really
fully
develop
until
their
mid-20s.
The
impact
of
drug
use
is
substantial
on
a
developing
brain,
including
lots
of
different
executive
functions.
F
Attention
learning
one
of
the
most
consistent
findings
is
related
to
IQ
points
actually
being
lower
in
marijuana
users
who
use
an
adolescence.
So
there's
lots
of
impact
and
the
the
which
he
said
about
hijacking.
The
system
is
exactly
right.
The
reward
system
gets
entirely
corrupted
by
drug
use
so
that
what
would
be
normal
rewarding
activities
is
actually
no
longer
rewarding
for
individuals
who
are
using
substances
to
that
degree.
In
terms
of
warning
signs,
I
think
and
recognition
of
use
I
mean
I.
Think
that
there
are
lots
of
things
to
be
looking
out
for
I.
F
Think
that
the
panel
has
already
highlighted
some
of
these,
but
certainly
physical
signs,
so
fatigue,
red
eyes,
coughs,
sleep
and
appetite
changes.
You
know
sometimes
we'll
see
emotional
changes
in
terms
of
withdrawal,
irritability,
family
discord,
increase,
argumentativeness,
breaking
rules,
change
in
school
function
that
could
be
truancy.
It
could
be
not
showing
up
for
school
decrease
interest
just
to
decline
in
academic
performance
overall
and
then
just
social
factors
that
could
be
the
clothing
that
people
are
wearing
deodorizers
smell,
paraphernalia,
different
friends.
F
All
of
those
things
can
certainly
be
indications
to
ask
more
questions
about
what's
going
on,
and
the
communication
piece
is
really
critical.
I
think
it's
also
important
to
acknowledge
that,
for
some
none
of
these
things
may
be
present,
and
it
doesn't
mean
that
they're
not
using
because
these
these
warning
signs
or
risk
factors
are
not
present.
So
really
it's
about
the
communication
for
families
for
schools,
for
providers
in
the
community.
F
To
really
have
these
honest
conversations
about
use,
one
of
my
favorite
sayings
in
AAA
is
that
you're
only
as
sick
as
your
secrets
and
I
think
it
really
does
speak
to
the
fact
that
there's
so
much
shame
and
ambivalence
about
having
these
conversations
that
it's
really.
It
really
behooves
us
all
to
really
have
open
dialogue
to
maintain
a
curious
stance,
not
be
overly
reactive
and
encourage
ongoing
communication,
for
there
are
a
couple
of
online
resources
going.
F
Oh,
that
was
one
of
your
questions,
so
the
NIDA
National
Institute
for
drug
abuse,
which
is
teens
drug
abuse,
gov,
is
an
excellent
resource
for
information,
for
parents
has
lots
of
information
on
all
different
types
of
substances
that
are
in
use
today
and
then
the
partnership
for
drug-free
America,
which
is
drugfree.org
similarly
has
lots
of
great
resources
for
parents,
teachers,
individuals
who
are
seeking
and
I'll
be
happy
to
answer
other
questions.
We.
A
A
We
know
you
want
to
get
to
them
as
well,
so
we
have
two
gentleman
wanting
each
side
of
the
room
who,
if
you
just
raise
their
hand,
though
run
right
over
yeah
I
know,
everybody
wants
to
be
first
someone's
coming
to
you
and
if
we
can
keep
our
questions
brief,
our
answers
will
be
brief
and
we
get
to
as
many
as
we
can.
Yes,
man
thanks
one.
G
Of
the
things
is
that
there's
so
much
of
pressure
about
sports
that
kids
sometimes
just
to
stay
in
that,
even
if
they're
hurting
they
go
to
taking
pain,
medications
and
that's
an
important
piece
to
tell
them
that.
Look!
It's
okay!
If
you're
hurting
you
don't
need
to
take
the
pain
medication,
you
can
stay
off
the
game
for
a
little
bit.
G
There's
a
lot
of
peer
pressure
going
around
the
sports
and
which
you
know,
I
have
seen
that
with
sometimes
I'm
a
physician
and
kids
are
having
so
many
injuries
repeated
injuries
because
of
the
sports,
and
then
they
end
up
taking
pain,
medications
to
mask
it.
So
they
can
go
back
to
playing
the
sport
and
it's
it's
an
important
message
to
give
them
that
it's
okay
to
stay
off
and
not
play,
and
first
so
listen
to
your
body.
So.
A
A
D
I
mean
we've
got
a
lot
of
people
have
a
superintendent
Pat
Murphy
is
here
and
number
folks
from
the
schools
are
here.
My
both
my
boys
played
high
school
basketball
and
it's
certainly,
we
have
the
concussion
protocols
and
those
kinds
of
things
are
in
place,
but
you
know
I'm
not
sure
that
there's
a
particular
drug
screening
that
takes
place
for
athletes
who
have
been
medicated
because
of
an
injury,
whether
they
have
to
be
cleared
I
mean
I,
don't
I,
don't
I'm,
not
aware
one.
D
D
Has
your
teeth
removed
or
you
know
the
doctors
will
say
you
take
this,
get
ahead
of
the
pain,
get
ahead
of
the
pain,
I
think
that's
probably
the
worst
phrase
the
medical
community's
ever
come
up
with,
because
you
know
you
don't
you
don't
need
30,
percocet
pills
to
get
ahead
of
the
pain
after
your
teeth.
Are
removed
and
I
think
as
parents
you
know
we
have
to
moderate
what
our
kids
are
taking
and
I
mean
if
nothing
else,
you
go
to
the
you.
D
B
I
just
want
to
say
the
other
day:
I
got
a
call
from
somebody
in
the
school
system
that
said
Thank
You
Carolyn,
because
if
we
would
not
have
seen
your
documentary,
we
would
have
taken
the
pain
medicine
that
the
doctor
prescribed
after
my
son
had
ACL,
and
so
we
just
handled
it
with
ibuprofen,
so
I
think
that's
you
know,
of
course,
the
the
best
way
to
do.
It
definitely
I.
Think.
H
Hello,
my
name
is
Michael
thanks
panel
for
being
here
and
thanks
for
having
this
meeting
I
came
in
down
here.
For
a
couple
of
reasons.
One
is
I,
don't
speak
for
the
department,
homeland
security,
but
that's
where
I
work,
so
I
was
kind
of
interesting
how
the
city
was
gonna,
handle
this
issue,
and
second
I'm
actually
doing
a
paper
on
this
thesis
for
my
school
on
opiates
and
just
throw
out
another
stat
that
I
found
online
was
that
ninety
people
a
day
die
from
this
day
the
cost
of
government,
seventy-five
billion
dollars
for
this
epidemic.
H
So
my
question
was,
and
I
just
was
online
doing
this
was
now
early
in
the
year
the
president
establishes
Commission
on
combating
drug
addiction
and
opiate
crisis
in
July.
His
Commission
recommended
him
to
declare
a
national
emergency
on
this
in
August.
He
himself
said
it's
a
national
emergency,
so
moving
forward
the
way
ahead
for
Arlington.
How
are
you
going
to
in
the
long
run,
try
to
medically
specifically
I
guess
we
know
how
it
is
in
law
enforcement,
but
medically,
but
the
treatment
for
these
people.
F
Thank
you
for
your
question.
So,
yes,
it
is.
It
is
an
emergency
and
it's
it's
devastating
to
communities
and
it
has
been
in
Arlington
as
well
in
terms
of
the
number
of
overdoses
we're
seeing
fatal
and
non-fatal
overdoses.
There
are
some
things
that
we've
recently
implemented
in
the
Department
of
Human
Services
to
provide
more
treatment
available
for
people
with
opioid
use
disorders.
F
So
one
of
the
evidence-based
practices
is
a
program
called
Obata
office
based
opioid
therapy,
and
so
this
is
a
program
that
provides
medication,
assisted
treatment
or
suboxone
is,
as
people
commonly
know
it
in
conjunction
with
a
number
of
other
Behavioral
Interventions,
individual
and
group
therapy.
Peer
supports
recovery
supports
to
really
provide
wraparound
services
for
individuals
who
are
struggling
with
the
disorder.
We
also
are
engaged
in
a
stakeholder
group
which
other
people
here
could
probably
speak
to
as
well.
But
it's
really
a
group.
F
That's
comprised
of
treatment
providers,
the
schools,
law
enforcement
really
looking
at
ways
that
we
can
respond,
because
there
are
lots
of
people
who
don't
ever
even
come
to
our
front
door.
So
we
are
seeing
increasing
numbers
of
people
seeking
treatment,
which
is
good
that
they're
seeking
treatment,
but
there
are
lots
of
people
that
were
not
reaching
in
the
community,
and
so
we
really
do
need
to
draw
upon
some
of
these
stakeholder
relationships.
F
Work
with
the
hospital
emergency
departments
work
with
the
EMS
to
really
identify
these
people
who
are
experiencing
multiple
overdoses
repeatedly
in
the
community
and
who
never
make
it
to
our
office.
So
we
really
need
to
work
on
those
relationships
as
well.
So
there
are
evidence-based
practices
that
we're
implementing
in
the
clinic
in
the
treatment
setting
and
then
also
doing
a
lot
of
community
engagement,
work
and
outreach
to
really
try
to
find
the
folks
who
aren't
finding
us
I.
Think.
I
Hi
I
have
a
seventh
grade,
son
and
a
fifth
grade
daughter,
and
when
my
son
was
in
fifth
grade,
the
school
resource
officer
came
to
our
elementary
school
and
had
a
night
for
the
students
and
fifth-graders
where
they
talked
about
alcohol,
and
several
of
us
asked
why
we
weren't
talking
about
drugs,
and
we
were
told
that
there
was
not
a
problem
in
the
middle
schools
with
drugs
and
I'm
wondering.
Are
we
changing
our
approach
now
and
will
my
fifth
grader
get
a
different
message.
C
I
believe
our
officers
do
talk
about
that
and
our
SROs
do
have
programs
with
these
schools.
When
we
put
our
program
together,
we
work
collectively
with
the
schools
on
the
message
we're
gonna
take
to
them,
but
I
know
that
as
I
look
through
here
we
talk
about
substance,
abuse
and
it
isn't
just
about
alcohol
and
isn't
just
about
marijuana.
We've
expanded
the
conversation
beyond
that.
So
there
is
a
a
more
I
believe
open
conversation
we've
had
in
the
last
year.
C
Our
vice
narcotics,
organized
crime
units
detectives,
have
gone
into
the
schools
and
talked
about
the
things
we're
doing
and
the
consequences
the
action
so
I
don't
think
the
SROs
are
trying
to
shy
away
from
that
and
I
can't
speak
for
your
previous
time,
but
they
the
the
school,
the
SRO
that
are
currently
schools,
now
do
invest
time.
In
that
conversation,
no,
during
during
training
during
school
sessions.
C
A
B
B
They
are
learning
the
science
of
it,
what
it
at
what
opioids
actually
do
to
your
brain,
because
kids
don't
want
to
just
listen
now,
for
you
know
a
mom
who
doesn't
know
anything
to
say
no,
they
are
really
finding
what
it
does
to
your
brain
and
what
it
causes
and
by
ninth
grade
so
we've
got
assignments
and
we
looked
at
one
the
other
day.
Kids
are
doing
commercials
PSAs
about
opioids
and
heroin
and
they're
taught
you
know.
So.
We've
got
a
great
curriculum.
Your
superintendent's
here
somewhere
I
heard.
So
you
can
take
it
all.
A
J
K
J
L
If
you
take
your
drugs
and
you
mix
them
up
with
something
like
coffee
grounds
or
a
kitty
litter
and
put
them
in
the
trash
can
outside
of
the
bottle
that
makes
them.
Nobody
wants
a
big
through
that
you've
kind
of
gotten
rid
of
the
problem,
but
that's
how
you
can
dispose
of
them.
You
don't
want
to
flush
them
down
the
toilet,
taking
out
the
bottle,
mix
them
with
kitty,
litter
or
coffee
grounds,
and
throw
them
in
the
trash.
Can
that's
how
you
can
get
rid
of
those
I.
B
Know
in
Virginia
Beach
we've
recently
established
that
every
police
station
has
a
Dropbox
24/7
365
days
a
year.
You
can
go
in
there.
It's
very
simple!
You
just
drop
it
in
there
every
time
and
there's
actually
a
few
CVS
pharmacies
now
in
Virginia
Beach,
who
are
doing
the
same
so
I
hope
that
maybe
Arlington
will
think
about
that.
B
F
Think
there
are
I'll,
so
just
so
you're
aware
there
are
also
inactivation
kits
many
of
which
have
been
distributed
through
the
Virginia
Department
of
Health.
So
we
have
some
of
those
at
the
Department
of
Human
Services
many
pharmacies
will
hand
them
out
for
free
and
they're,
basically
envelopes
that
contain
chemicals
which
basically
will
inactivate
the
medication,
so
you
just
mix
them
in
water
and
then
dispose
of
them.
Next.
M
F
Can
speak
a
little
bit
about
that,
so,
yes,
in
Virginia
and
in
many
states
there
have
been
new
regulations
and
restrictions
around
opioid
prescribing
particularly
the
the
length
of
time
that
you
can
prescribe
medication
for
so,
whereas
it
used
to
be
30
days.
Unlimited
amounts
of
pills,
there's
been
a
lot.
There
have
been
a
lot
more
restrictions
on
the
length
of
time
for
which
you
can
prescribe
opioids.
F
There
also
are
now
new
requirements
for
medical
providers
to
use
a
system
called
the
purchaser
prescription
monitoring
program
which
exists
in
Virginia
and
most
other
states
as
well,
and
so
as
a
provider
I'm
Alba.
If
I'm
going
to
prescribe
a
controlled
substance,
I'm
obligated
to
check
a
centralized
registry
which
basically
looks
for
any
controlled
substances
that
have
been
filled
at
any
pharmacy,
and
it
actually
now
also
includes
pharmacies
from
DC
and
from
Maryland.
F
D
D
A
Can
I
just
clarify,
so
is
that
incumbent
upon
the
physician
to
follow,
because
if
we
go
when
we
try
to
by
claritin,
I
have
to
show
my
driver's
license
and
even
if
I
go
out
of
state
and
I've
reached
my
limit
that
pharmacy
in
Florida
knows
that
I've
reached
my
limit
in
Maryland?
Is
that
system
not
the
same
for
this?
What
you're
saying
the
system
is
not
the
same
for
opioids
and
it's
incumbent
upon
the
physician
to
make
sure
that
they're
not
shopping
doctors
I
mean.
F
N
You
this
has
been
a
fantastic
forum,
especially
for
highlighting
the
problem
I'm
just
curious,
if,
given
all
the
statistics
and
the
stories
that
we've
heard,
if
if
there
is
someone
from
ApS
here,
if
dr.
Murphy's
here,
if
we
could
maybe
hear
a
response
about
what
the
schools
are
doing
and
how
they
would
potentially
highlight
and
incorporate
parents
into
that
response,
I
have
elementary
school
kids.
I
would
love
to
know
what
am
I
supposed
to
be
saying
to
my
kids.
So
we
can
prevent
this
in
the
future.
We'd.
O
N
P
Well
good
evening,
it
is
a
pleasure
to
be
here
I
want
to
thank
the
panel
for
the
work
they've
done
and
pulling
this
together.
I
do
want
to
say
Carolyn
and
the
APS
parent
I'm.
Sorry
to
hear
your
stories
very
much
and
I
also
appreciate
the
fact
that
you've
been
willing
to
share
some
of
your
experiences
with
us.
I
know
we
have
several
other
individuals
here
this
evening
from
ApS
I.
P
Think
one
of
our
messages
is
first
about
education
and
awareness,
and
there
are
a
host
of
different
things
that
we
do
throughout
the
curriculum
that
reinforced
that
message.
I
would
ask
if
you
have
questions
about
that,
and
you
want
to
know
more
details
about
that
to
speak
directly
to
your
principals
I'm
sitting
here
with
our
CC
PTA
president,
who
has
taken
on
also
the
advocacy
to
Network
this
through
many
of
our
PTAs,
and
we
are
working
very
closely
with
many
of
our
secondary
middle
and
high
school
PTAs.
To
get
that
message
out.
P
Folks,
we
walk
a
fine
line
and
I
want
to
bring
this
to
your
attention
and
I
feel
strongly
about
that.
The
message
I
want
to
send
to
you
tonight
is
one
of
education
and
awareness
and
prevention,
but
it
is
not
one
of
prosecuting
students
or
bringing
them
forward,
and
so
how
do
we
do
that,
so
that
we
help
children
and
support
them
when
these
things
happen?
That
are
very
unfortunate
and
as
you've
heard,
this
is
something
that
is
a
disease,
but
we
need
a
partnership.
P
I
will
tell
you
that
I
came
here
in
2009
and
that's
in
the
spring.
I
sent
home
a
letter
in
prom
season
and
I
said:
I
need
your
help
in
talking
with
your
children
about
prom
and
graduation
season.
I
need
your
help
with
alcohol
prevention.
I
need
your
help
with
them
partying.
This
has
got
to
be
a
partnership.
None
of
us
can
do
this
alone,
but
the
reason
I'm
here
tonight
is
to
send
a
very
clear
message
that
we're
in
this
together.
This
is
only
the
first
step.
You're,
absolutely
right.
P
P
P
A
Q
A
nurse
practitioner
in
oncology,
so
you
can
imagine
I,
prescribed
opioids,
and
this
is
a
important
conversation
and
my
daughter
was
offered
three
tylenol
with
codeine
for
a
headache
at
a
at
a
baseball
game.
So
it
is
shocking,
but
I
also
want
to
remind
people
that
if
you
have
a
loved
one
with
cancer,
it
is
crucially
important
to
control
that
cancer
pain,
because
if
you
don't
their
quality
of
life
diminishes
at
the
same
time.
If
you,
therefore,
by
necessity,
have
to
have
opioids
in
your
house,
you
need
to
lock
them
up.
Q
It
is
shocking
how
long
they
hang
around
and
how
they
sometimes
disappear,
and
it's
really
important
to
lock
it
up
and
and
it's
really
important
to
get
rid
of
them
when
they're
not
needed
and
and
they
will
not
take
them
back
at
our
pharmacy
and
I.
Think
CVS
only
knows
what
other
places
a
patient
has
tried
to
get
drugs
at
another
CVS
I.
Don't
think
they
know
if
it's
at
another
Rite
Aid.
So
you
might
want
to
check
on
that
I'm,
not
sure,
but
I,
don't
think
it
always
works.
Let's.
E
So
I
I
thought
we
had
spread
awareness
in
my
family,
so
I
mean
I,
guess,
I
I
think
it's
great
that
we're
talking
about
education
and
awareness
and
dialogue,
it
honestly
it
it
failed
a
little
bit
in
our
household.
We
had
those
conversations,
our
kids,
we
thought
were
aware.
We
had
pretty
in-depth
conversations
about
all
aspects
of
it.
I
thought
you
know
for
me,
the
better
question
is
well,
you
know
once
you're
exposed-
or
you
know-
or
god
forbid,
once
you
try
it,
then
what
right?
What's?
What's
the
recourse?
E
You
know
seeing
other
families
for
kids
to
actually
hear,
perhaps
from
others
of
their
peers,
who
have
made
those
mistakes
who
have
had
the
same
conversations
but
made
you
know
difficult
or
bad
decisions
in
their
lives.
I.
Just
you
know,
my
own
experience
is
oftentimes.
That
is
a
more
powerful
message
and
received
in
different
ways
than
you
know.
Then
what
we
tried
in
our
own
household,
but
it's
a.
A
A
C
School,
the
the
SROs
are
in
the
schools
for
the
primary
reason
to
engage
community
we're
not
there
for
enforcement,
we're
not
there
for
we're,
not
there
to
be
the
police
of
the
schools,
we're
trying
to
have
that
dialogue
all
the
way
through
and
to
listen
to
his
question.
You
know:
there's
gonna
be
a
lot
more
weight
with
his
peers.
When
he
does
talk
to
that
SRO,
he
does
have
an
appreciation.
I
can
guarantee
you.
The
SRO
will
listen
to
him.
They'll
answer
them
honestly
and
they'll
help
him
with
a
response
to
that.
C
But
it's
one
thing
for
the
police
to
come
down
to
a
classroom
and
suggest
ABC
I
think
there'll
be
a
lot
more
weight.
If
that
young
man
goes
back
and
says
you
know,
I
talked
to
the
police,
I
believe
what
they're
saying
and
let
me
share
the
story
with
you,
so
I
would
encourage
them
to
talk
to
us
at
any
time.
Thanks.
R
Hi
I
just
wanted
to
ask
first
of
all,
as
far
as
transparency
I
know,
a
lot
of
us
are
parents
here
in
the
room
and
I'm
kind
of
a
little
disappointed
that
ApS
wasn't
up
talking
about
what
they're
doing
in
the
schools,
especially
since
the
kids
are
getting
the
drugs
in
the
schools.
They've
got
cell
phones,
they're,
saying
hey
meet
me
in
the
bathroom.
You
know,
and
you
know
it
doesn't
sound
like
also
I
just
found
out.
R
My
kid
is
now
a
freshman
at
Yorktown
and
I
was
literally
shocked
by
the
numbers,
because
I
actually
have
seen
the
youth
risk.
Behavior
and
I've
gone
to
some
of
these
substance,
abuse
and
I.
Think
if
you're,
your
town
parent,
you
will
be
shocked
at
what's
going
on
as
far
as
drug
use,
and
you
know,
I
wish
that
for
many
years
that
I
would
get
a
report,
maybe
quarterly
yearly
whatever.
That
would
tell
me
overall,
what's
happening
as
far
as
drug
use
in
the
schools.
How
many
you
know
kids
were
caught
with
drugs?
R
How
many
assaults
were
there?
How
many
of
those
kinds
of
things
so
that
the
parents
actually
have
an
idea
of
what
is
happening
in
the
school?
The
transparency
is
what
we
need,
because
you
know
what
even
if
I
look
around
this
number
of
parents
that
are
here,
it's
a
drop
in
the
bucket
as
to
how
many
parents
there
are
in
our
school
systems.
So
they're
not
gonna,
know
necessarily.
You
know
all
of
these
statistics
and
things
like
that.
They're,
the
schools
not
certainly
not,
sharing
it
very
much
or
if
they
do
it's.
R
What
the
PTA
meeting
that's
hitting.
You
know
15
people,
you
know
that
is
not
transparency
and
it
need
those
information
needs
to
be
out
on
the
web
sites
regularly.
I
would
I
would
love
for
the
police
officers
to
provide
those
reports
regularly
to
the
parents.
I
hope
that
this
the
school
will
come
forward
and
let
us
know
what
they
are
doing
to
protect
our
kids
in
the
schools,
so
that
we
know
not
just
the
education.
R
A
S
A
two-part
one,
there
was
parents
too
asking
about
Education
Red
Ribbon
Week
is
every
October
from
October
23rd
to
the
31st,
and
it
actually
has
a
school
program.
They
don't
even
have
to
work
at
it.
They
pick
up
the
guide
and
they
read
it.
And
if
you
turn
around
and
you
look
at
Operation
Prevention,
they
will
give
you
the
science
behind
addiction.
You've
got
questions
and
you
want
references
go
to
their
website
and
the
second
part
is
nobody's
brought
up
narcan,
and
what
dr.
S
A
F
So
it
definitely
has
become
much
more
available.
We
are,
as
a
state,
also
working
on
training
to
provide
training
training
on
the
administration
of
narcan.
It's
not
particularly
difficult
to
administer,
but
providing
training
to
parents,
loved
ones,
community
stakeholders
on
the
administration
of
narcan,
and
that
will
be
happening
in
Arlington.
Actually
within
the
next
couple
of
months,
where
we're
going
to
be
starting
a
series
of
providing
trainings
for
the
lay
public.
The
same.
D
I
just
wanted
to
I
wanted
to
make
the
point
that
ApS
was
a
part
of
the
group
that
caused
tonight
to
happen.
So
you
know
the
transparency
issue
is
it's
important
and
our
superintendent
is
here
and
I
think
the
fact
that
there
are
members
of
the
school
board
here
I
think
we
have
a
number
of
elected
school
board.
Members
I
see
we
goldstein
I.
Think
Barbara
cannon
is
here
a
candidate.
One
of
our
candidates
is
back
in
the
room,
Oneko
Grady
I.
D
Think
today's
participation
of
ApS
is
an
acknowledgment
that
we
have
a
problem
and
they
know
that
and
I'm
not
trying
to
take
up
for
APS,
but
ApS
was
involved
in
the
planning
of
this
event.
They
realized,
what's
going
on
they're
a
partner
in
trying
to
get
to
the
answer,
so
I
think
you're
going
to
see
some
changes.
We.
T
Kids
can
go
get
three
days
of
drug
education,
and
hopefully
some
prevention.
Kids
can
get
that
with
an
excused
absence
from
school.
It
can
be
referred
from
the
courts
if
they're
already
in
trouble,
it
can
be
referred
from
the
school
to
avoid
disciplinary
issues
at
school
and
it
can
be
a
parental
referral.
That
is,
if
you
think,
your
child
in
the
schools
is
starting
to
get
into
drugs
or
has
starting
to
get
an
issue.
T
A
Want
to
I
know
everybody's
got
a
lot
of
questions
and
I
think.
As
we
said
in
the
beginning,
this
is
just
the
beginning
of
an
ongoing
dialogue.
There
will
be
more
of
these
forms
going
forward.
We
want
to
remind
you
at
the
fair
Lincoln
Community
Center
on
November
15th
from
68
they're,
going
to
be
discussing
the
survey
results.
There's
still
some
presenters
here
that
have
tables
that'll,
be
here
for
a
while
I
want
to
thank
all
the
panelists
eggs
and
I
think
everybody's
going
to
stay
here
too.