Oxford Hosts First Statewide Opioid Summit

Overcoming the Opioid Epidemic in Mississippi

OXFORD, MS – April 7, 2024 – Oxford city had the honor of hosting the very first Opioid Summit in Mississippi. This landmark event brought together over 170 professionals, including law enforcement officers, social services personnel, and addiction medicine experts.

The summit, hosted by the Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine at Baptist Memorial Health Care and MississippiCare, was held at the Oxford Conference Center. Its main aim was facilitating best-practice sharing among recovery communities, thereby enabling better management of the escalating opioid crisis in the United States, particularly Mississippi.

High-Level Speakers Motivate Action

The event featured high-profile speakers, beginning with opening remarks from Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. In her compelling speech, Fitch highlighted the dire reality of the opioid crisis in the state and the urgent needs for action.

Fitch emphasized, “The opioid crisis is here in Mississippi and our country. We have to rally together. We have to fight this crisis, and we have to use everything we can.”

Other speakers represented the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and numerous specialists from the addiction medicine sector who provide frontline services in combating this addiction crisis.

Branding and Misconceptions in Modern Drug Culture

Steven Maxwell, the Director of MDPS, made a profound presentation about the evolution of drug culture. Using images as poignant demonstrations, Maxwell highlighted the branding techniques that drug dealers use to lure younger users. These often involve drugs disguised as candy or other innocuous items.

Maxwell stated, “This is the marketing and branding of today’s drug culture.” He added, “This is what causes you to cringe when your children leave home; when they go off to college, because inadvertent exposure to synthetic opioids leads to drug addiction, drug overdose. And death is much more likely today.”

Striving for Long-Term Solutions

Brian Welton, CEO and Administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, expressed his satisfaction regarding the successful collaboration between MississippiCare and the Baptist Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine.

As Welton posited, “This is an important issue for our community and the country, as opioid overdoses continue to increase year after year. Through our combined and concerted efforts, we can respond strategically and identify long-term solutions that can have positive results and help our communities heal.”

The first Mississippi Opioid Summit represents a significant step forward in combating the state’s opioid epidemic and underscores the importance of collaboration and best-practice sharing among different sectors.