AG Balderas Responds to Trump’s Empty Opioid Talk; Announces Project OPEN Coming to San Miguel County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2017

Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216

Balderas: “President Trump continues to turn his back on the thousands of New Mexicans struggling with opioid addiction”

Project OPEN’s goal is to confront the crisis to make New Mexico families safer

Las Vegas, NM – This morning, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that his initiative to combat the opioid abuse and addiction crisis in New Mexico will be coming to San Miguel County in April. Project OPEN: Opioid Prevention & Education Network will host an Opioid Abuse Training in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 7, 2018. The training is free and will expose government officials, counselors, attorneys, policy advisors, investigators, healthcare professionals, consumer advocates, law enforcement and others to the impact and results of opioid abuse on New Mexico communities. It is intended to enhance the participants’ knowledge and understanding of opioid addiction and the countless issues involved, and to afford participants the opportunity to explore program materials and solutions to addressing the opioid epidemic. The Office of the Attorney General will also update the public regarding Attorney General Balderas’ lawsuit against the opioid manufacturers and distributors.

“President Trump continues to turn his back on the thousands of New Mexicans struggling with opioid addiction, but I will continue to aggressively sue the opioid manufacturers and distributors to bring real resources to New Mexico to combat this addiction crisis fueled by the drug industry,” Attorney General Balderas said in response to President Trump’s empty announcement on opioids yesterday. “Our Project OPEN: Opioid Prevention & Education Network will convene again on April 7th in San Miguel County as we continue to address this epidemic on the frontlines in New Mexico.”

To register for the free training being held on Saturday, April 7th please contact Tamarra Howard with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General at (505) 717-3506, [email protected] or fill out the following form – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6sMNd6Tx8wbEikpM9DRZw9U5Rbjb1f3NKp8h92FI3W3ukw/viewform.

WHO: Attorney General Hector Balderas, Fourth Judicial District Attorney Richard Flores, Las Vegas Police Chief Chris Lopez, New Mexico Highlands University, San Miguel County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, DEA, New Mexico Department of Health, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, government officials, consumer advocates, therapists, and the public
WHAT: Attorney General’s Project OPEN: Opioid Prevention & Education Network will host a free Opioid Abuse Training in Las Vegas
WHERE: New Mexico Highlands University, Student Union Building Ballroom, 800 National Ave., Las Vegas, NM 87701
WHEN: Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Please see attached for a detailed agenda.

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