IPRC graduate research assistant, Anna Austin, has been appointed to Attorney General Josh Stein’s Council on Collegiate Opioid Misuse. Austin represented UNC-Chapel Hill on November 9 at the Council’s inaugural meeting for the 2018-2019 school year. Attorney General Josh Stein created the Council, comprised of students from colleges and universities across the state, to confront the opioid crisis on college campuses.
“The Council offers the opportunity to not only learn from knowledgeable professionals engaged in substance use treatment and recovery but also to learn from the unique perspectives and experiences of my peers from colleges and universities across the state,” Austin said. “I’ve found that my peers are incredibly creative and passionate when it comes to addressing the opioid epidemic, and I am excited to collaborate with them to implement prevention strategies on our campuses.”
Austin is obtaining a PhD in maternal and child health and epidemiology at UNC-Chapel Hill. She received a bachelor’s degree in statistics and psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia and earned a master’s degree in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University.
The Council, which includes students active in student government, campus athletics, Greek life, public health and social work studies, and college recovery programs, will meet several times this school year to discuss strategies for addressing substance misuse at their schools. The Council will work to implement recommendations developed by last year’s Council to combat the opioid crisis at the college level.
“The opioid epidemic is the biggest public health crisis we face today, and we need these talented, smart students to help us address substance misuse on campuses,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I look forward to seeing the results of the initiatives these students are working on, and I’m grateful to them for joining the fight.”
Combatting the opioid epidemic is a top priority for Attorney General Stein. Since taking office in January 2017, he has convened roundtable discussions in communities across the state to share local strategies and perspectives. He has also initiated an investigation into the role of manufacturers and distributors in creating the crisis, and has promoted legislative action to address it—including the STOP Act and the HOPE Act. The 2018-2019 Council marks the second year in a row Attorney General Stein has taken this work directly to students.