Attorney General announces Commission on Opioid Abuse

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter was joined by State Sen. AJ Griffin and State Rep. Tim Downing Tuesday morning at a press conference to announce legislation to form the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse.

The commission will be created by Senate Concurrent Resolution 12, authored by Sen. Griffin and Rep. Downing.

According to the resolution, the nine-member committee is chaired by Attorney General Hunter and members will study, evaluate and make recommendations for changes to state policy, rules or statutes to better combat opioid abuse in Oklahoma.

Members will present proposed recommendations for legislation to Gov. Mary Fallin, Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz and Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall by Dec. 1.

Hunter said Oklahomans are dying and the state must present a unified front and bring multiple stakeholders in to find ways to reverse the nightmarish trend.

“Oklahoma is currently in the midst of an opioid abuse epidemic that is reaching a crisis level,” Hunter said. “Over the last three years there have been 2,684 reported opioid-related deaths in the state.

“This commission will chart a path forward by looking at every avenue to save lives.”

The nine-member commission will represent the health community, local law enforcement, the Oklahoma Legislature, the commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the chair of the District Attorney’s Council and the director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control.

Griffin said the members will go beyond legislation and look at all areas in order to improve.

“In addition to policy changes, the commission members and I will also be looking at prevention, interdiction and access to treatment,” said Griffin, R-Guthrie. “One death because of substance abuse is too many. I appreciate Attorney General Hunter’s commitment to changing the lives of many Oklahomans.”

Downing said with the state facing a rise in the number of overdose deaths due to opioids, the commission will also look to raise awareness and educate the public.

“I am honored to be working closely with Attorney General Hunter on this initiative,” said Rep. Downing. “The commission plans to look at everything from how many prescriptions are being handed out by doctors, how many are sold on the streets, establish ways to better educate the public and come up with a viable disposal solution,”

The appointees to the commission will be named as followed:

• Gov. Fallin will appoint two members.
  • A licensed practicing medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy.
  • A pharmacist licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy.
• Speaker McCall will appoint two members.
  • A member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
  • A dentist licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
• Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz will appoint two members.
  • A member of the Oklahoma State Senate.
  • A registered nurse licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, Sen. AJ Griffin and Rep. Tim Downing announce the formation of the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse.