I would like to address an article recently published in The Inter-Mountain regarding a guest speaker who was invited to speak to the Elkins Opioid Task Force, Professor Alfgeir Kristjansson.

I do not know Professor Kristjansson, nor am I familiar with his work or research. I do not know who sits on the Task Force.

My comments and observations are not intended as a personal attack on the professor or the Task Force members. I must also acknowledge I did not attend the meeting.

I will say that from what I read in the article, the professor and I would agree in many areas of treatment. The gist of what I understand regarding the professor’s approach is early intervention and community involvement to address the youth drug abuse epidemic. I am sure in his speech he went into great detail on how to implement both. I trust that the Task Force will take to heart the professor’s recommendations.

With this said, I do have a couple of issues I would like to address with the Task Force. I am not aware of what power you have or resources you have available to implement recommendations.

What I would like to suggest first of all is that rather than bringing a WVU professor to Elkins to make recommendations, you should tap the resources you have in our community.

There are many professionals in the area of drug abuse treatment available in our community that would be able to suggest and help implement programs for treatment. I am not certain if you have tried to reach out to those in the community that could help, but I know that as a local LPC therapist, I have not been contacted.

Another issue that was pointed out in the article was the fact that the community did not attend the meeting. This is going to be a bit harsh but nonetheless a probable reality. The Task Force has been in existence for quite some time, I am not sure exactly. We as a community have not seen a single accomplishment the Task Force can show for whatever work they have done.

The community’s expectations from the Task Force is nonexistent, so why attend the meeting, nothing will happen anyway.

I know and believe there are many things the Task Force, the ciyt and the community can be doing to address the drug abuse in our town.

The professor had some great suggestions; has the Task Force acted on these ideas? We have many resources available. It takes real leadership to bring these resources together.

Mike House, MA, LPC

Elkins