Opioid Abatement Council outlines plan for community advocacy panel to add lived-experience voices

The Opioid Abatement Council heard a staff proposal to form a 16-member Community Advocacy Panel aimed at bringing people with lived experience and statewide advocates into the council’s advisory work. The council’s executive director, Mary Shelton, and staff member Elizabeth described a selection process that would pick two members from each of the department’s seven regions plus two representatives from statewide advocacy organizations such as NAMI or Tennessee Voices.

The panel would meet at least quarterly in a virtual format and is intended to provide input on services, stigma reduction, prevention and workforce development. Elizabeth told the council that the office will draft recruitment materials, a designated web page, and an application form; affiliate organizations and the department’s networks will be asked to publicize the opportunity. The office’s proposed timeline anticipates recruitment through August 2025 and an initial panel report back to the council after implementation.

Council members stressed the need for intentional outreach to ensure geographic and demographic diversity, with specific attention to underrepresented groups. Chair Dr. Steven Lloyd emphasized the value of involving people who recently experienced substance use disorder, saying such voices “are invaluable” when shaping programs. Staff said panel members would be volunteers, recommended (but not required) to attend council meetings at least once while staff (Elizabeth) would routinely report to the council on panel activity.

Council members raised operational questions, including whether the panel should meet in-person or virtually (staff recommended virtual at minimum) and how members would be trained and oriented (orientation and training were included in the proposal). The office indicated there would be no fees for panel members and that staff would provide administrative support. The council did not take a formal vote to create the panel at this meeting; staff sought alignment on the structure before returning with recruitment materials and a slate for consideration.

The presentation cited the statutory charge for stakeholder input (TCA, as read by staff) and framed the panel as an implementation of the council’s long-standing commitment to include lived-experience perspectives in the recovery ecosystem.

The council asked staff to prioritize outreach to communities with rising overdose rates and to prepare a clean recruitment and governance package for a future meeting.