2005 Town Hall...
Drugs: Legal, Illegal … Otherwise
October 23-26, 2005
National Employee Development Center
Norman, OK
This is a Town Hall to yield public policy recommendations concerning all facets of drugs – both legal and illegal. While many issues related to legal and illegal drugs are both fascinating and depressing, few discussions yield to sound public policy. When all is said and done – more is likely to be said than done. This Town Hall hopes to reverse that trend and yield a handful of effective, realistic, affordable and effective public policy recommendations for the state of Oklahoma.
Purpose: It is recognized that “drugs” is both a positive and negative term. Governments, businesses, educational institutions are increasingly dealing with issues related to both. It is also recognized that these “drugs” are causing a myriad of debates concerning their use, abuse and social costs. Miracle drugs cure – at a price. Illegal drugs destroy – at a price. Government, business and our commonwealth must sort out the good, the bad and the in-between.
Theme: The topic originally considered was “substance abuse.” Board of Directors discussions revealed that there is more to “drugs” than just the illegal abuse. It is realized that legal drugs – pharmaceuticals – are an emerging force in the health care arsenal of therapies; that businesses cope with the cost of health care and prescription drug benefits ad much as they do with absenteeism caused by the use of illegal drugs. It is time to take a good look at both and determine the public policies that advance the positive outcomes of legal drugs and minimize the negative consequences of the abuse of illegal (and legal) drugs …. and alcohol.
Oklahoma is THE national leader in two important public policies – one concerning prescription medicine – and the other concerning illegal drugs.
Both public policies have been very effective. Neither policy is perfect. Both require adjustments. States from all over the country are contacting Oklahomans in order to replicate these policies where they live.
Both public policies are elegant in their simplicity. Neither policy requires public funds. Neither policy is intrusive or onerous. Neither policy requires new employees or new agencies. These are the types of effective “out-of-the-box” ideas we need.
October 23-26, 2005
National Employee Development Center
Norman, OK
