Statewide listening posts hope to reduce drug abuse

Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Director Steve Lukan and Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa President Peter Komendowski, along with the Iowa National Guard Counter-Drug Program and the U.S. Department of Justice Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, announce the start of the “Iowa Caring Communities Tour” series of community listening posts across the state. They are starting with noon and evening (6:30-7:30 p.m.) listening posts in Anamosa on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Lawrence Community Center, 600 E. Main St. Lukan; Kevin Techau, U.S. attorney; Komendowski; and a representative from the Iowa National Guard will be on the listening panel. For the noon event, attendees can RSVP to 319-462-4327 ex. 202 for a Subway lunch to be provided for $5.
Listening posts will be open to the public and will be held in Des Moines, Knoxville, Clinton, Davenport, Sioux City, Maquoketa, Mason City, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Ames, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City/Coralville, Ottumwa, Marshalltown and Fort Dodge.
The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition is partnering with this group to give Jones County citizens the opportunity to share the top community concerns, needs, and solutions related to illegal drug activity impacting Iowa youth. This can include alcohol, marijuana, meth and other drugs besides opioids. Representatives will conduct community outreach to build community capacity to effectively meet the threat of substance abuse, with an emphasis on the evolving opioid epidemic beginning within and surrounding Jones County.
“We invite Jones County citizens to participate in this listening post because we want to hear directly about emerging substance abuse concerns in the county and its communities, share that information to help others, and plan accordingly to address those concerns,” said Lukan.
Information gathered at the listening posts will assist in defining Iowa priorities and shaping drug control strategies for public education, safety and health initiatives, as well as strengthen local community coalition efforts to prevent substance abuse.
“Listening post input will help the Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa provide more targeted drug education programs and prevention tools that better meet local needs,” said Komendowski. “It’s important for us to know about new and emerging challenges in our communities, and to share this information important to understanding the dangers and risks associated with the recent surge in drug overdose deaths involving prescription, illicit and non-medical synthetic opioids.”