WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) on Tuesday hosted an educational forum on substance abuse and the dangers of self-medication.

The forum brought together a panel of leaders in the effort to better understand and more effectively treat substance abuse at the federal, state and local level as well as by community organizations.

Panelists provided an overview of the current trends and research of substance abuse and identified resources where community members and their families can go for help.

Panelists included Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane; Melissa Jones, regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Don Braegar, chief of the Substance Use Disorder Program with the Policy and Fiscal Division of the California Department of Health Care Services; Dr. Marina Tolou-Shams of the University of California, San Francisco; Cathy Boe, clinical supervisor with Aldea Behavioral Health Services’ Wolfe Center; and Garen Staglin, founder of One Mind Institute and IMHRO.

“Substance abuse burdens our country’s health care system and impacts the lives of our family members, friends and neighbors,” said Thompson. “We need to do all that we can to better understand, treat and prevent substance abuse. Today’s forum allowed for the collaboration that is needed between all levels of government and community organizations so that we can make meaningful progress to address this issue.”

Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane said, “Long term use or misuse of opioids hijack the brain’s reward system causing permanent alterations in how the brain works. We need to approach and treat addiction like all other chronic diseases. Today’s forum was an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders about how we can more effectively address addiction.”

Melissa Jones, regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said, “The administration is working to reduce the prevalence of substance use disorders through prevention, increasing access to treatment, and helping individuals recover from the disease of addiction. And we do this best when we all work together to develop and deliver innovative programs. I was fortunate to get to hear about the collaborative efforts by state and local government officials as well as other stakeholders doing exactly that.”

In regard to his presentation, Don Braeger, chief of the DHCS Substance Use Disorder Program, Policy and Fiscal Division said, “Under this waiver, Medi-Cal members with substance use disorders will get the treatment they need at the right time and in the right place. This organized delivery system will improve treatment and recovery success for these patients.”

Cathy Boe, clinical supervisor with Aldea Behavioral Health Services’ Wolfe Center said, “It's important to remember that people with substance use problems are doing the best they can, and we need to help them do better. By bringing together leaders in that effort for a collaborative discussion, today’s forum was an important step.”

Dr. Marina Tolou-Shams said, “In nationwide surveys, California continues to rank among states reporting the highest rates of illicit drug use; critical forums such as these provide a unique opportunity for us to collectively and collaboratively address a local mounting adolescent and adult public health crisis.”

Garen Staglin said, “Brain Health is the nation’s most important unmet medical need. Substance Abuse and addiction are the result of lack of proper care, treatments, and accessibility. Panels such as this will help us raise awareness to get the actions necessary to fill these needs.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates the impact of substance abuse on our health care system to be around $700 billion annually.

Recent reports indicate that in Sonoma County drugs led to over 900 emergency room visits, over 200 hospitalizations and 23 deaths. Opioids were responsible for almost 200 visits to the emergency room and over 80 hospitalizations.

In Napa County, drugs were responsible for almost 200 emergency room visits, 45 hospitalizations and 12 deaths. Opioids led to 40 visits to the emergency room and 20 hospitalizations.

In Lake County, drugs led to over 200 emergency room visits, almost 100 hospitalizations and 23 deaths. Opioids led to 50 visits to the emergency room and 52 hospitalizations.

In Solano County, drugs were responsible for almost 800 visits to the emergency room, over 140 hospitalizations and 21 deaths. Opioids led to 150 emergency room visits and almost 50 hospitalizations.

In Contra Costa County, drugs led to over 2,000 emergency room visits, over 550 hospitalizations and 93 deaths. Opioids led to 348 visits to the emergency room and almost 200 hospitalizations.

Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.