Southampton Town's Opioid Addiction Task Force, Drew Scott Host Public Forum

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — As the opioid crisis escalates on Long Island, leaving a trail of devastating loss and grief in its wake, Southampton Town's newly formed opioid addiction task force is set to host a public forum with an eye toward seeking answers.

The public forum, "It Hits Home," will be held on Wednesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. in the Hampton Bays High School auditorium. The task force is developing an action plan for the Southampton town board and members are inviting members of the community to participate.

Medical, mental health, education and law enforcement professionals will join forces at the event to help search for solutions to the opioid crisis; individuals in recovery will also be present to discuss best practices and responses to help combat the scourge.

“This is a national crisis that has hit home,” Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, co-chairman of the opioid addiction task force, said. “Our community is coming together in an effort to prevent further tragedies.”

Longtime journalist and news anchor Drew Scott co-chairs the task force. “I lost my beautiful granddaughter to opioid addiction,” Scott said. “We have lost so many in the community to these deadly drugs. We need to bring the experts together to help us find concrete solutions to this crisis."

Scott retired recently and shared the news that he will dedicate his time to raising awareness about the deadly opioid epidemic that claimed the life of his beautiful granddaughter Hallie Ulrich, 22, who was found dead on an East Hampton road in September after a battle with heroin addiction.

He's begun his crusade to shed a light on the stigma of addiction: The Long Island Community Foundation asked Scott to speak in Melville last week with a panel of experts at the Long Island Association's health, education and not for profit committee's discussion on "The Impact of the Opioid Crisis."

Scott has pledged to tell Hallie's story and spotlight how important it is not to allow the stigma surrounding heroin and opioid addiction cloud the dire need for funding.

"I'll be carrying Hallie's picture and trying to put a personal 'face' on this growing epidemic," Scott said.

"There is a stigma to opiate deaths," he added. "Many families are embarrassed and hide the fact that their kid is addicted or, God forbid, died. I want to change that. This is a disease, and when youngsters are afflicted with cancer or other physical problems, people want to help, but seem to shy away many times when the problem turns out to be addiction."

Scott opened his heart and shared his memories of Hallie with Patch, remembering the beautiful young woman who touched countless lives with her bright smile and caring spirit.

Schneiderman said he is happy that Scott will be joining the task force.

"Drew Scott's whole life has been rocked by this recent event," Schneiderman said. "And yet, he's willing to step up and co-chair this task force. Drew has an important role to play within the community. He's a trusted voice and well known, and he's been personally affected — and really wants to make a difference."

Of his granddaughter, Scott added, "We are sick over how she was left on the side of a road. Hallie was not a 'junkie,' but a beautiful, talented soul who let a bad relationship lead her astray."

The goal of the opioid addiction task force is to create a concrete action plan to present to the Southampton Town board by June 1, 2018.

Photo courtesy of Drew Scott.