The Opioid Task Force is co-chaired by Commissioner Dr. Arthur C. Evans, CEO of the American Psychological Association (APA) and formerly Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), and Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
The Task Force is charged with developing a comprehensive and coordinated plan to reduce opioid abuse, dependence and overdose in Philadelphia and draft a report of findings and recommendations for action to the Mayor. The 23-member Task Force, co-chaired by Dr. Evans and Dr. Farley, met semi-monthly for two hour meetings between January 11 and March 22, with a final report produced by the end of April. The meetings were public, with written minutes. Additionally, the Task Force set aside 15 minutes at the end of every Task Force meeting for public comment.
Co-Chairs
Dr. Arthur C. Evans
Former Commissioner,
Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS )
Dr. Thomas Farley
Commissioner,
Department of Public Health
Project Manager: Pamela D. McClenton, LCSW, DBHIDS Planning & Innovation
Supports:
- Correspondence Coordinator: Yvette Brown
- Logistics Coordinator: Mika Dabney Walton and Rasmiyyah Gaines
- Recorder/Report Drafters: Sekaiya Willis, Emily Turturici, and Natalie Kotkin
- Leader Report Drafters: Andrea Brooks and Natalie Kotkin
Members
Rev. James P. Baker, Jr.
Chair Mayor’s Drug & Alcohol Executive Commission
Jean Mackey Bennett, PhD, (Ex Officio)
Regional Administrator Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Jose A Benitez MSW
Executive Director Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP)
John Thomas Cooper III
Program Director,
Dept. of Corrections & Self Help Movement Inc.
Director Inpatient Halfway House
Jeremiah (Jerry) Daley
Executive Director of the Philadelphia Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program
Michael A. DellaVecchia, MD PhD,
Philadelphia County Medical Society
Gene DiGirolamo
PA State Representative, 18th District
Bio
Carol Gifford
DDPA Press Secretary
Beverly J. Haberle, M.H.S., L.P.C., C.A.A.D.C., CIP
Executive Director
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc./Project Director, PRO-ACT
Priya E. Mammen, MD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor Director of Public Health Programs Department of Emergency Medicine Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Charles P. O’Brien, MD, PhD
Kenneth Appel Professor and Founding Director, University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Studies of Addiction
Bio
David Oh
City Councilman At Large
Devin A. Reaves, MSW
Clinical Outreach Coordinator Life of Purpose Treatment, Owner Brotherly Love House, Young People in Recovery
Philadelphia Chapter Member
Richard Ross
Police Commissioner
Josh Shapiro
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Surrogate: General Paul Reddel
Senior Deputy Attorney
Richard Snyder, M.D.
Sr. Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Independence Blue Cross (IBC)
Christopher R. Sweeney
Executive Director,
Wedge Recovery Centers
Bio
Adam Thiel
Fire Commissioner
Gary Tuggle
Special Agent in Charge,
DEA Philadelphia Field Office
Jingduan Yang, MD FAPA
Clinical Assistant Professor Attending Physician Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior/Director, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Program Jefferson Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine
