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State and Territorial Health Officials Join White House Opioid Conference

September 28, 2018

ARLINGTON, VA—Today, nearly two dozen state and territorial health officials participated in a meeting at the White House, “Best Practices in Combatting the Opioid Epidemic Conference with State and Local Leaders,” to discuss national strategies with top federal officials, including Kellyanne Conway, assistant to the president and senior counselor, Veterans Affairs secretary Robert Wilkie, and Jim Carroll, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is pleased to support the Administration’s leaders as they continue to use their platform to bring attention to the complex and multifactorial issue that is plaguing our nation. 

The meeting included conversations with all sectors of government, including state and territorial health officials, Medicaid directors, public safety directors, mayors, judges, sheriffs, and many others for sharing best practices in addressing the epidemic. Discussion topics included leveraging federal resources to support responses to the opioid epidemic, addressing the social costs of opioid misuse, and combatting drug trafficking. Additionally, the White House presented on its upcoming Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

“I’m very pleased that our state and territorial health officials had a seat at the White House’s table with key federal leaders,” says Michael Fraser, ASTHO CEO. “It is important that their voices be heard. Solving this epidemic requires dialogue among state, local, and federal leaders and we thank the Administration for providing the opportunity for us to be part of this conversation today.”

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.