Bristow citizens urged to attend public forum on current Oklahoma drug threats

State Sen. James Leewright, Rep. Kyle Hilbert and Mayor Rick Pinson of Bristow are joining together to urge members of the public to attend a public forum on current Oklahoma drug threats, hosted by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) to be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24th at the City of Bristow Courthouse, 110 West 7th.

Interim Director Bob Cook and other experts with OBN will take part in the forum which is aimed at keeping citizens better informed about current and emerging drug issues that directly impact families, schools, businesses and communities.

“Our agency has developed a comprehensive drug threat assessment that highlights the currently climate of narcotic trafficking, manufacturing and abuse in Oklahoma,” Cook said. “This includes specific trends involving the opioid crisis and heroin abuse, methamphetamine importation and rise in meth overdoses, and emerging patterns with cocaine and marijuana.”

Leewright, R-Bristow, said in terms of public policy, it’s vital for citizens and lawmakers to understand the many ways drug abuse and related activities impact local communities.

“When it comes to legislative responses to illegal drug use, sales and manufacturing, we can’t just enact a new law and assume the problem is fixed. We’ve made strides in fighting prescription opioid abuse, but the criminals who profit from this kind of devastation and pain are always working to find other ways to feed these deadly addictions,” Leewright said. “Even as we’ve tackled prescription opioid abuse, we’ve seen a resurgence in the use of street drugs like heroin. Knowing what the trends are can help all of us as we work together to find new solutions to emerging drug threats.”

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to hear this update on the work being done by our narcotics experts in the field as they labor to reduce the threat of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Hilbert, R-Bristow. “I encourage all concerned area citizens to attend and learn how they can partner in this endeavor.”

“Illegal drugs don’t just impact individuals or families—they take a heavy toll on the community as well,” Pinson said. “Having the most up-to-date information is critical and I hope everyone who can will make plans to attend this event.”