10/12/2023 - OAA Abatement Academy “Specialty Dockets in Virginia”

Thursday, October 12 is titled "Specialty Dockets in Virginia" and is presented by Danny Livengood and Anna Powers, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) and the Virginia Institute of Government (VIG) present “Abatement Academy,” a speaker series with sessions based on five nationally recognized five principles:
Principle 1: Spend the Money to Save Lives
Principle 2: Use Evidence to Guide Spending
Principle 3: Invest in Youth Prevention
Principle 4: Focus on Racial Equity
Principle 5: Develop a Fair and Transparent Process for Deciding Where to Spend the Funding
Today’s session is based on Principle 4: Focus on Racial Equity

[@stevenwagner9912]

I am pleased to see addiction being treated as a mental health issue. I have said for a long time that addiction is a mental health issue not a law enforcement issue. Every addict I have known has an issue, depression being the most common.
We also need to get government out of healthcare. Because pain treatment is healthcare. It causes so many other health problems if left untreated or undertreated. High blood pressure, heart problems, weight gain or loss, depression, etc. Drs who have completed medical school and continuing education don't need cops, DEA looking over their shoulders. Patients deserve HIPPA protection like every other patient. We also know the reduction of pain medication products does not reduce addiction. It does cause many problems for those suffering pain.