Fulton County Names Opioid Coordinator

JOHNS CREEK, GA — Fulton County Manager Dick Anderson has established a new position within his ranks that would help tackle the opioid crisis that's transformed the lives of many families in the area.

The new opioid coordinator position will be filled by Lynnette Allen, a long-time behavioral health professional who will lead the county's efforts to address the opioid crisis. Allen will also serve as the point of contact between the county and community-based organizations, elected officials, Fulton County courts, local governments and state and federal officials.

The position will be within the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, and will be supervised by Director LaTrina Foster.

"I am pleased that we are able to make this appointment, to help us strategically align our resources to fight the opioid crisis head on," Anderson said. "Ms. Allen’s experience and commitment to behavioral health make her a natural fit for this position."

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Allen has more than 25 years of experience in the public and behavioral health fields. She has served with Fulton County since 2006, most recently as a program evaluation specialist with the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. She holds a bachelor's degree in Community Health Education from the University of South Carolina.

"The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on our society and within our county," said Fulton County Commission Vice Chairman Bob Ellis, who sponsored legislation that established the county's Opioid Abuse and Misuse Prevention Plan. "Establishing this critical role is another bold step we are taking to proactively combat this menace."

Fulton County has taken an aggressive stance in the fight against opioid addiction and overdoses. In 2017, Fulton County became the first Georgia county to join litigation against drug manufacturers for their role in the opioid crisis.

The county has made prevention an area of focus and adopted an opioid abuse and misuse prevention plan in 2017, which includes rolling out robust awareness campaigns, establishing a network of drug drop boxes throughout the county and launching a text crisis line for teens. Since 2016, County Commissioners have also funded the purchase of naloxone for first responders throughout Fulton County. The antidote temporarily reverses the effects from an opioid overdose.

Photo: Lynnette Allen. Credit: Fulton County