Executive
Committee
Debra
Gilmour, Executive Director
Tim Hartnett,
President; CODA
Barbara Seatter, Vice President; Cascadia
Tanya Pritt, Secretary; Milestones
Don
Ziegler, Treasurer; Serenity
Lane Rick
Treleavan, Immediate Past President; Bestcare
Treatment Services
Eric Martin, Member at Large; ACCBO
Sheila North, Member at Large; Depaul
Treatment Centers
Michael Bean, Member at Large; Emergence
Rick Jones, Member at Large, Choices
Rita Sullivan, Member at Large, On Track
Subcommittee Chairs
Richard Drandoff, Professional Development; ChangePoint,
Inc.
Judy Cushing, Prevention; Oregon
Partnership
Bart Murray, Rural Representative;
New Directions
Phyllis Stewart, Cultural Diversity; NARA
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| From
Executive Director's Desk |
Spring 2007
While legislators wrangle with budget preferences and legislative
bills to restore alcohol and drug prevention and treatment funding,
it is vital our elected officials continue to hear from prevention
and treatment professionals, and those whose lives have been
changed for the better, about the importance of funding alcohol
and drug addiction prevention and treatment services.
Prevention and treatment funding losses sustained as the result
of previous legislative actions persist in yielding net increases
for costs to the child welfare, healthcare, mental health, and
law enforcement systems. The exponential costs to those systems
has had a crippling effect on the ability for those agencies
to meet the needs of their growing case loads.
Yet, we know with appropriate, evidence-based treatment services,
many whom were devastated by the chronic disease of addiction
will recover and go on to be productive, happy, healthy individuals.
Included among those in recovery are physicians, lawyers, teachers,
and yes, seated legislators.
As compelling is the knowledge that with appropriately funded
evidence-based prevention practices, we can PREVENT addiction
altogether!
In a recent Ways and Means Human Services Sub-Committee hearing
for the Department of Human Services, Addictions and Mental
Health Division budget, numerous OPERA members provided testimony
in support of the Governor's Recommended Budget for the agency,
HB 5031. An enormous thank you to all of the OPERA members taking
time out of their very busy days to make the trip to the Capitol,
present testimony, and make their voices heard! It was obvious
from the reactions of the committee members, those messages
were heard and understood.
On behalf of OPERA members unable to attend, I presented testimony,
concluding, “we look forward to advancing support for a
universal alcohol and drug prevention, treatment, and recovery
system focused toward reuniting families, protecting our communities,
and preparing our children-our future leaders, for a lifetime
free from alcohol and drug abuse and addiction.”
The goal remains the same.
In a recent poll conducted by the Association of Oregon Counties,
results demonstrated Oregon residents overwhelmingly agreed
alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services are important.
The poll also concluded Oregonians would support an increase
in Oregon's beer tax to provide those services.
OPERA will continue to carry this message to our elected officials,
and encourages everyone with an interest in preventing and treating
alcohol and drug addiction and its devastating effects, do the
same. |
Read More Executive Director Messages:
Spring 2008 | Spring 2007 | Winter 2007 | Fall 2007 |
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OPERA
is
a statewide, nonprofit association of private sector and tribal
entities who provide treatment, prevention and training services.
We are dedicated to ending addiction by ensuring the development
and maintenance of the highest quality statewide service systems. |
Mission
OPERA’s mission is to eliminate alcohol and drug problems
and their social, health and behavioral consequences through
use of evidence-based practices; partnerships with public and
private, social and healthcare providers; and advocacy for effective
budget and public policy. |
Vision
We envision a society in which alcohol and drug problems are
recognized as a public health issue that is both preventable
and treatable. We envision a society in which high quality services
for prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug problems are
widely available, and where prevention and treatment are recognized
as specialized fields of expertise. |
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