Speaking this morning before business, health care, and community leaders of the state’s Tennessee Business Roundtable in Nashville, Republican candidate Randy Boyd officially unveiled his 10 point plan to fight the state’s alarming opioid epidemic - with specific initiatives focused on mobilization, prevention, and recovery.
With Tennessee facing staggering statistics, including an opioid prescription rate of nearly double the national average, Boyd’s plan is a multifaceted approach that better aligns and leverages the work of state, local, and federal partners, while significantly increasing the urgency of efforts already underway. The plan is a product of extensive discussions and collaborations Boyd has had with key law enforcement, medical professionals, community, and faith leaders throughout Tennessee.
“As Governor, I will mobilize all of the state’s resources to quickly and aggressively attack the opioid epidemic. No longer is this a time for pilot programs, task force discussions, or continuous hearings,” Boyd said. “This challenge is growing, and it is a big priority everywhere I go. We need big, bold and swift action - and we need it now.”
Specific initiatives Boyd announced today include officially declaring a State of Emergency in Tennessee in dealing with the opioid crisis, and appointing a Chief Epidemic Officer as an interim cabinet-level position answering directly to the governor and dedicated to coordinating efforts.
“To truly make Tennessee THE State of Opportunity for better education and greater job growth in every community, we must make a total commitment to ending this epidemic,” Boyd said. “Not only will our urgent focus help save countless lives, but estimates have shown we can save $18 for every $1 we spend on preventing opioid abuse. But we must get on with it.”
As more Tennesseans died from drug overdoses than from car wrecks, homicide, or suicide in 2015, Boyd’s 10 point plan is a clear call to action to help save Tennessee lives:
Randy Boyd’s 10-Point Opioid Crisis Plan
Mobilize
Declare a State of Emergency: As Governor, and if we remain at crisis level, I will issue an immediate Executive Order declaring the opioid epidemic a State of Emergency, unleashing the full power and increased resources of state government to begin beating back the spread of addiction from these drugs. My office will lead the coordination between every level of government, and better coordinate with non-government organizations, to support the men and women fighting this crisis everyday by ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Appoint a “Chief Epidemic Officer:" As Governor, I will appoint a temporary cabinet-level position to help me get the job done. This position will be held accountable and report directly to me as governor and he/she will be provided with the authority, flexibility and resources to attack this plague on every front. As this must be an all hands-on-deck approach, our CEO will have the direct mandate to coordinate with every needed agency, including, but not limited to: the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, TennCare, the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, TBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement, volunteer and faith based agencies, and many others.
Secure Needed Resources: As Governor, I will not only work with state and local government, but also the federal government and the White House to make sure Tennessee has every resource we need to combat this epidemic. That includes providing first responders and law enforcement with needed tools, like expanding access to Naloxone in not only high-risk areas but across the state to help save lives.
Prevent
Dramatically Reduce Over Prescription: As Governor, we will stop the over prescription of opioids. There is no reason why Tennessee should prescribe twice the national average. I will work with the medical community to ensure that we have the best protocols and rules in place as it relates to prescribing these medications, including working with the pharmacy community to increase check points with doctors and multi–factor verification points for opiate prescriptions. We want patients to get the care they need, but we must work to see that our state’s medical professionals follow the safest protocols and cut down on over-prescribing.
Create a Statewide Education Campaign: As Governor, I will lead the effort to create a new statewide education campaign that reaches every Tennessean – especially patients at the time of prescription, students in our schools, adults, and health care professionals — educating on the dangers and risks associated with these drugs and the ease of addiction. The scope, magnitude and impact of this campaign will be like the anti-tobacco campaign, MADD and the Meth Project, where we will partner with local governments, school districts, and local drug coalitions, like the Metro Drug Coalition in Knoxville that I have worked with, to reach all Tennesseans.
Ensure Patient Protection and Information: As Governor, I will work with health care professionals to spearhead the effort to develop a comprehensive patient information video for required viewing by all patients prior to receiving an opiate prescription. It will directly warn of the dangers, how easily it is to become addicted, and the deadly consequences of addiction, while also offering alternatives.
Expand Drug Disposal Sites: As Governor, I will work with community leaders to massively expand drug disposal sites, removing unnecessary barriers, so disposal sites become as accessible and convenient as any pharmacy, or community drug store.
Recover
Expand Drug Recovery Courts and Recovery Court Model: As Governor, I will expand and build on successful Recovery Court programs and work to make sure we have these in each judicial district across the state. Working together we can create the most robust and dedicated Recovery Court Program in the country, along with enabling our court systems to follow the best practices we identify to help those afflicted with addiction recover and become healthy and productive Tennesseans.
Create Best in the Country Treatment and Recovery Network: As Governor, I will rededicate resources to our mental health, treatment, and recovery network in Tennessee, and work to develop the best recovery centers in the country. In expanding the number of these centers, we will also ensure that they follow the best, evidence-based practices that will truly aid in the lifelong process of recovery. This will be a significant investment, but one that will provide a significant return on our investment, and, in the end, an ultimate return in saving more Tennessee lives – which are priceless.
Increase Drug Interdiction Efforts and Punishment for Traffickers: As Governor, I will work with law enforcement, our state legislature and local officials to increase drug interdiction efforts, as well as increase the punishment and accountability for those who are saturating our community with these drugs, both prescription opiates and heroin.
A successful entrepreneur, business and philanthropic leader, Boyd is the founder and chairman of Radio Systems Corporation, which is headquartered in Knoxville. First started out of the back of Boyd’s van, the company today produces over 4,600 pet products under brand names such as Invisible Fence, PetSafe, and SportDOG, with more than 700 employees and annual revenues of $400 million.
Boyd previously served in Governor Bill Haslam’s cabinet as the state Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, and earlier while serving as the Governor’s Special Advisor on Higher Education was the architect of the state’s Drive to 55 workforce development initiative, and the tnAchieves and Tennessee Promise scholarship programs to help more young people go to technical or community college tuition-free.
For more information about Randy Boyd and his campaign for Governor, please visit RandyBoyd.com -- like him on Facebook at RandyBoydTN, or follow him on Twitter @RandyBoyd.
