In case you missed it, last Friday Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, DEA District Agent in Charge for the State of Utah Brian Besser, the DEA 360 Program, and others to host the 5th Annual Solutions Summit: Instead – Connecting for a Cure.

Senator Lee has hosted the Solutions Summit annually since 2013, focusing on a different topic each year. This year, Sen. Lee chose to work with his fellow co-chairs on the Utah Opioid Task Force to put together an all-day event focusing on the opioid crisis. The decision was made to focus on the crisis as it touches all states, all classes, and affects all of us. 

You can read local coverage of the event below. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like more information on the summit or the Senator’s efforts to combat the crisis.

The Deseret News – “At the Utah Solutions Summit, the message to Utah youths was clear: Don’t die for a high.”

“That opioid addiction is real was quickly clear when Jim Wahlberg asked those who have lost a family member or friend to addiction to stand. Like that, roughly half of those in the arena were on their feet.”

The Deseret News – “Making drug addicts feel needed would help solve opioid crisis, noted author says.”

“Faith in God and serving others, [Bob Woodson] said, is missing in many discussions about drug addiction and suicide. Feelings of emptiness and lack of meaning in life causes people to destroy themselves and others, he said.

Woodson also said looking to those who have overcome addiction or survived crime-infested neighbors would provide mentors for young people”

ABC 4 Good4Utah – “Annual Summit hosted by Senator Lee to focus on opioid crisis.”

“Last year, our state reversed the trend and saw fewer opioid-related deaths. It's a positive step, but there is still a tough road ahead. Senator Lee's summit is about traveling that road together because the opioid epidemic knows no boundaries.”

Deseret News – In our opinion: Answers to opioid abuse must be local in nature.

“But the answers to this nationwide scourge must be local in nature, in order to be effective. That’s why the Utah Opioid Task Force, including government, medical and law-enforcement professionals, has seen success. The same holds for groups such as the Utah Coalition for Opioid Overdose Prevention and the Other Side Academy.”