Attorney General Chris Carr convened the third meeting of the Statewide Opioid Task Force in Augusta with special guest, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.

“It was an honor to have Senator Isakson join us for today's meeting in Augusta as we continue the work of the Statewide Opioid Task Force,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “The Augusta community is taking a proactive approach in addressing this issue with the ultimate goal of saving lives. We appreciate Augusta University for hosting and all of our presenters for taking the time to share updates on behalf of their respective organizations.”

Attorney General Chris Carr created the Statewide Opioid Task Force to provide an infrastructure of communication between the public, private and non-profit sectors, local, state and federal officials and other stakeholders. The Task Force is open to all Georgians. Currently, membership is 370 and growing. If you’re interested in getting involved or hosting a meeting in your community, you can contact the Department of Law’s Communications Director at [email protected].

“I appreciate Augusta University for hosting today’s meeting, and I applaud Attorney General Carr and everyone who is working so diligently to address the opioid crisis,” said U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. “It was helpful to able to hear again from officials from the state and share details about the comprehensive legislation we’re working on in Congress to fight the opioid epidemic. This legislative effort will require a multi-pronged approach, including addressing the often-overlooked problem of addiction itself. I’m proud to be a part of this ‘all hands on deck’ approach as we work together to help more Georgians and Americans.”

"We were beyond honored to host the third meeting of Georgia's Statewide Opioid Task Force here at Augusta University,” said Dr. Brooks Keel, President of Augusta University and CEO of the Augusta University Health System. “The current opioid epidemic is a tragic and deeply troubling concern, and as educators and medical professionals, we are committed to playing our part in combating this crisis."