PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today announced members of the Arizona Substance Abuse Task Force – a coalition of leading substance abuse experts, providers and community members focused on addressing and reversing the growing epidemic of drug abuse and addiction in Arizona communities by finding the best treatments and reducing barriers to care. The establishment of this coalition was a key component of the governor’s 2016 State of the State address.
“Whether it’s unemployment, homelessness, crime, child neglect or the prison population, many of society’s most urgent problems can be traced back to a common theme: drug abuse and addiction,” said Governor Ducey. “If we’re going to successfully address these issues, we must do everything we can to tackle the culprit – and that means a stronger focus on prevention, early intervention and treatment for those affected. Substance abuse and addiction isn’t someone else’s problem – it’s Arizona’s problem, and it’s a growing national crisis. We must work together to raise awareness, to educate our communities, and to reverse this silent but severe epidemic.”
The Substance Abuse Task Force will provide recommendations on a variety of substance abuse-related issues, including access to treatment, evidence-based practices, neonatal abstinence syndrome and medically assisted treatment best practices. The Task Force will meet for the first time on March 23, 2016.
Governor Ducey has appointed the following members:
Co-Chairs
- Debbie Moak, Director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family
- Dr. Sara Salek, Chief Medical Officer AHCCCSMembers
- Cindy Beckett, Director of Evidence-Based Practice/Research and Patient Family Centered Care at Flagstaff Medical Center
- Eddy Broadway, Chief Executive Officer at Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care
- Kate Brophy McGee, Arizona State Legislator
- Sherry Candelaria, Community Member
- Michael Carr, Statewide Behavioral Health and Appeals Coordinator for the Department of Child Safety
- Jennifer Carusetta, Executive Director of the Health System Alliance of Arizona
- Peggy Chase, President and Chief Executive Officer for Terros
- Haley Coles, Community Member
- Denise Dain, Director of Case Management St. Luke Behavioral Health Center
- Doray Elkins, Community Member
- Elaine Ellis (MD), Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Deb Gullett, Director of the Arizona Association of Health Plans
- Reuben Howard, Pascua Yaqui Health Director
- Mary Hunt, Manager of Care Management, Maricopa Integrated Health System
- Robert Johnson (MD), Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Arizona Perinatal Care Center
- Susan Junck, Community Member
- Jonathan Maitem (DO), Pre-hospital Medical Director for Honor Health Deer Valley
- Vince Moser, Executive Director at Mingus Mountain Academy
- Lee Pioske, Executive Director at The Cross Roads
- Dennis Regnier, President and Chief Executive Officer of CODAC Behavioral Health Services
- Thelma Ross, Chief Executive Officer for the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency
- Dawn Scanlon, Community Member
- Frank Scarpati, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bridges
- Claire Scheuren, Executive Director Pima Prevention Partnership
- Gagandeep Singh (MD), Clinical Department Chair for Behavioral Health at Banner Medical Group
- Jeff Taylor, Salvation Army City of Phoenix Advisory Board Member
- Glenn Waterkotte (MD), Retired Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Banner Desert Medical Center
- Michael White, Community Programs Manager at Community Medical Services
