More than a dozen agencies representing the spectrum of public safety and health and human services met Thursday in Danville to begin developing a strategy for addressing opioid addiction in the Danville area.
The Danville Police Department recognized the need to initiate a comprehensive opioid response plan in response to the spike in heroin and fentanyl-related overdoses the city experienced in late October. This first meeting intended to bring stakeholders together to begin the development of a crisis response plan, exchange data, analyze trends, and identify community-based resources.
“Until now, Danville had not experienced the opioid epidemic that has been evident in other parts of the state, but it is here now, and we need to be proactive in addressing this issue,” Police Chief Scott Booth.
The community can expect more information to follow entering 2020. The Danville Police Department would like to thank the following partners who were represented at the meeting:
- Centra Health
- Danville City’s Attorney Office
- Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Danville Lifesaving Crew
- Danville Fire Department
- Danville Emergency Communications Center
- Danville Health Department
- Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services
- Danville Sheriff’s Office
- District 14 Probation and Parole
- PATHS
- U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
- Virginia Attorney General’s Office
- Virginia Fusion Center
- Virginia State Police