On Monday April 17, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry returns to Bucks County to take part in a community discussion on violence and addiction. It will be her first major speaking event in Bucks County since taking on the role of the state’s top law enforcer earlier this year.
The evening event, titled “The Violent Toll of Addiction, Why the Community Should Care & How We Can Be Part of the Solution," is free and open to the public. It will be held in the Life Sciences Building Auditorium, Delaware Valley University.
With the continued rise in methamphetamine and fentanyl use, leaders across the state report significant public safety concerns. In emergency rooms, nurses and health care workers are experiencing increasing stressors including patients who may be aggressive or acting out. Victims’ advocates report an uptick in the epidemic's role in human trafficking and domestic violence. In the last few years, suicides, sexual assaults, home invasions, shootings and other violent acts have been tied to drug use, particularly with the rise in methamphetamine.
Those who suffer from substance use disorder are not violent, yet certain drugs can trigger violent reactions, further stigmatizing those who are in need of help, compassion and treatment. In recent years, collaborative efforts among law enforcement, first responders, health care workers, and others in the field have worked to reduce stigma, improve care, and strengthen resources, but there is still more to be done.
At the event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 17, DelVal will unite leaders from across several disciplines, including experts in emergency medicine, law enforcement, victims' advocacy and drug prevention. Panelists will share their expertise and experiences in confronting the continued drug epidemic.
The aim is to shed light on addiction and emerging drug trends and discuss community solutions in enforcement, prevention and education.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join this esteemed panel to discuss collaborative solutions to the drug epidemic plaguing our communities,” Henry said. “No one agency can do this work alone, and I’m confident that by joining together we can build stronger, healthier communities across Pennsylvania.”
The panel will feature:
• Michelle Henry, Pennsylvania's Attorney General
• Brenda Foley, Medical Director of Doylestown Hospital Emergency Department
• Kevin Keller, Licensed Professional Counselor with Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA)
• Matt Weintraub, Bucks County District Attorney
• David Fialko, Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist, The Council of Southeast PA, Inc.
Discussing the potential dangers of addiction will bring attention to what communities can do to support those living with a substance use disorder and their families and to understand how the use of substances can impact human behavior, especially in those with a history of trauma.
Foley said violence in the Emergency Department at Doylestown Hospital has “rapidly increased” in the past five years.
“In a recent poll, two thirds (66%) of Emergency Medicine physicians report being assaulted in the past year alone,” she said. “These assaults are most often from patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and/or with psychiatric illness. This violence has a negative impact on patient care, healthcare worker burnout, and the overall safety of patients and staff."
Area prosecutors continue to tackle crimes tied to the ongoing drug epidemic.
“While the ongoing drug scourge remains a dire problem, we continue to fight it with all the resources at our disposal,” said Weintraub. “Every life we save belongs to someone who deserves to live drug free. Every drug dealer we lock up is thwarted from perpetuating this crisis.”
Marion Callahan, panel moderator and Assistant Professor of Media and Communication at DelVal, said uniting leaders in a community forum to discuss solutions is a big step forward. Public and media attention on addiction has waned, though it has only been five years since it was declared a “public health emergency” in the state of Pennsylvania.
“This panel is a unique opportunity to bring top state and local leaders together to talk candidly with the community about drug-related violence and fatalities plaguing our neighborhoods, while also talking openly about possible solutions,” Callahan said. “Those who are suffering from addiction are our neighbors, friends and family members; those who suffer when addiction is not addressed as a community are our neighbors, friends and family members. To confront this, we need prevention strategies, multidisciplinary support and a community with open arms willing to take steps to tackle addiction and its complex nature.”
The presentation is part of a larger colloquium, hosted by DelVal’s School of Business and Humanities, titled “Question It! Change It! ‘Violence in America’ Colloquium Spring 2023.”
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