Local officials are continuing to spread the message about opioid addiction and ramp up efforts to get addicts the help they need to get clean.

A task force organized by the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission met for the third time Tuesday morning at the Pyramid Sports Performance Center in Lehighton."Going forward, I think we want to hear more ideas," Chris Sorrentino, case management supervisor for the drug and alcohol commission, said. "What do our agencies need, does it exist and if so is there some way we can improve on it?"Jamie Drake, acting director of the drug and alcohol commission, detailed several initiatives her agency continues to work on including a "warm hand off" policy with area emergency rooms.The goal is to get overdose patients treatment right away, before they leave the hospital."We have a new mobile case manager who will be going to hospitals and can do an assessment and place a person in rehabilitation that way as well," Drake said. "We really don't want overdose patients just going home."Officials said the key with heroin addicts is helping them when they say they're ready after hitting rock bottom.That means having staff available to accommodate that need."It could mean supervisors seeing someone themselves," Drake said. "It could mean rescheduling a noncritical appointment. We'll do everything we can to get that person the help at the appropriate time."An after-hours emergency detox number, 1-866-824-3578, is available through the drug and alcohol commission for uninsured individuals.According to Sorrentino, that number will put a patient in touch with someone who can coordinate evening and weekend admissions."Someone can call that from home," he said, "they don't have to be at a hospital. It is really for detox so someone doesn't have to wait."Part of a social marketing campaign, the drug and alcohol commission now has billboards on routes 248 and 903.Drake said the goal is to let everyone in Carbon County know this problem exists.Several upcoming training sessions, on July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 14, are scheduled for people to learn how to administer Naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.Held at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. each of those days, the sessions are at Pyramid Healthcare in Bartonsville.Registration is required and can be done by contacting 570-421-1960, ext. 2703, or vharnik@cmpda.cog.pa.us.The drug and alcohol commission purchased $20,000 worth of Naloxone so each training attendee will get a free kit that includes two doses of Naloxone.Prevention staff continues to go into schools to speak to students about addiction.Mindy Graver of the Penn State Cooperative Extension office spoke of the PROSPER program she leads at the Jim Thorpe Area School District elementary schools."It's a seven-week program geared at giving youth the tools to say no when faced with peer pressure or bullying," Graver said. "We'd love to expand into all of the elementary schools but it costs money and that's what we're facing right now."The next task force meeting in Carbon County is scheduled for Aug. 30 at the Pyramid Sports Performance Center.