Attorney General Lynn Fitch, incollaboration with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) and the AndrewJackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America, hosted Scout Out Opioids, aprogram to raise awareness with Scouts and their families of the dangers ofopioids and offer techniques for reducing opioid abuse and misuse for themand their loved ones. Media kit available here.
“The opioid epidemic has harmed and stolen too many lives,” said GeneralFitch. “We are dedicated to ensuring that the next generation is trained on thedangers of opioid abuse and misuse and equipped with the tools andtechniques to ensure they and their loved ones stay safe. I am grateful for thecontinued partnership with the Boy Scouts of America and the MississippiBureau of Narcotics for their help in reaching these young leaders.”As part of Scout Out Opioids, Scouts attending Winter Camp at Hood ScoutReservation heard from experts from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics andthe Attorney General’s Office on opioid addiction and abuse.“Multi-agency and diverse discipline partnerships are critically important aswe face multifaceted challenges emanating from today’s drug culture,” saidColonial Steven Maxwell, Director of Mississippi Bureau o fNarcotics.
“Educating Mississippians about the dangers associated with theuse or illicit drugs and misuse of prescription drugs, along with the uninformeduse of legally purchased drugs is a key element in the growing partnershipbetween the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and MBN.”The Attorney General’s Office also distributed hundreds of Fentanyl HarmPrevention Kits for parents, which includes two fentanyl test strips, one drugdisposal bag used to deactivate unused or expired drugs, and a pillidentification card. For their participation, scouts received a Scout Out Opioidspatch.
“This week, the Andrew Jackson Council was able to present leadership fromthe Attorney General’s Office of Mississippi and inform more than 550 Scoutsand Scouters of the challenges that face our youth through opioid and over thecounter products like vaping,” saidKenneth P. Kercheval, ScoutExecutive and CEO of Boy Scouts of America-Andrew JacksonCouncil. “The presentation was captive and informative to all that werepresent. Thanks to Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her office, all Scouts leftwith a kit of ways to protect themselves and their friends, educate theirparents, a drug disposal bag, and of course, a patch. It is in our Scout Oath tobe physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. We were proud tobe able to partner in the delivery of this presentation. Colonel Steven Maxwell,Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was passionate andstraightforward to our Scouts. He certainly had their attention andappreciation. I can’t help but think that we saved lives this week.”In October, General Fitch’s office unveiled One Pill Can Kill, an effort toeducate, support and empower Mississippians on how to protect oneself andloved ones from fentanyl.
As part of the initiative, General Fitch’s office hasdistributed thousands of the Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits through schoolsand community organizations across the state.If you would like a Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kit or your group would likesome to distribute, please contact us at onepill@ago.ms.gov.
Original source can be found here.