Medical Community Gathers Tuesday On Opiod Epidemic

The Dekalb and Smith County Anti-Drug Coalitions will gather the local medical community and concerned citizens to discuss the state’s opioid epidemic Tuesday.

Dekalb Coalition Coordinator Lisa Cripps said the meeting hopes to answer questions.

“Anyone that would be interested in learning more and helping be part of the solution,” Cripps said.

Cripps said those in the medical community, including Physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and pharmacists are invited to share ideas and solutions.

Dekalb County Recovery Court Coordinator Norene Puckett said the crisis affects every facet of the community.

“As of March 1st, we had 97 kids in foster care in Dekalb County,” Puckett said. “80 percent of those children were removed based on substance-related issues. That makes Dekalb County number two in the Upper Cumberland for children in custody.”

Dr, Mitchell Mutter, Medical Director of Special Projects for the Tennessee Department of Health, will keynote the meeting.

The event begins at 5:30pm with dinner at the Dekalb Community Complex on Congress Blvd. To register, call (615) 684-6378.