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KAREN ELIAS
Lock Haven
As a member of SPARK (Supporting Public Action and Reliable Knowledge), I want to thank Tim Havener for his letter to the editor of Aug. 15, "Missing the target," in which he follows up on the People's Town Hall that took place at Ross Library on Aug. 8 on the subject of opioids.
The focus of the discussion was broad, including "what we do well," "what are our weaknesses?" and "opportunities for change."
Participants came to share and learn. Several told heart-rending stories about the extent and effects of the epidemic in our area. But because the Town Hall was scheduled for only two hours and participation was lively and productive, the discussion of policy changes had to be cut short.
Nevertheless, as Tim points out in his letter, there was group consensus that, to heal our communities, we need to "shut off the spigot" by implementing policy changes at both the state and federal level.
Along with advocating for universal health care and taking money out of politics, additional solutions offered by the group included eliminating "pain" as a fifth vital sign, legalizing marijuana and prescribing Marinol, providing limited OxyContin prescriptions, improving follow-up after incarceration, stopping direct advertising of medications, and prosecuting providers for over-subscribing.
Obviously, this list is not inclusive, and it's entirely possible that the subject demands additional meetings. But as an initial effort, members of SPARK are pleased that the event not only produced a tentative list of policy suggestions but also brought people from different parts of Lock Haven together to share ideas about an issue of vital importance to us all.
We are also pleased that Kerith Strano-Taylor could join us to facilitate our first event. We look forward to working with other leaders in our community to continue these conversations.
If you have suggestions for future Town Hall events, SPARK would love to hear them. Please contact me, Karen Elias, at eliaskaren100@gmail.com.