Ruth Simera, a program administrator for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence at NEOMED, will serve on a panel at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s “Opiate Epidemic Symposium: Strategies and Solutions" May 2, 2016 in Columbus. The panel, which also includes Sheriff John Tharp of Lucas County and Jaime Lutson, Clermont County Municipal Court Probation Officer, will discuss efforts associated with the opiate epidemic. The objectives of the May symposium are to bring county commissioners, county executives and county council members together to share best practices, develop an educational baseline for common understanding and create a call to action. The symposium is being held in conjunction with a statewide event titled “Ohio's Opiate Conference: Advancing Prevention, Intervention, Treatment and Recovery" hosted by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities.