ATLANTA - Today, Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-Newington) announced the members of the House Study Committee on Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Management. This committee was created by legislation adopted during the 2024 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

House Study Committee on Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Management

• Rep. Katie Dempsey - Chair (R-Rome)
• Rep. Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro)
• Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville)
• Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta)
• Rep. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek)
• Rep. Lynn Gladney (D-Augusta)
• Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta)

Non-Legislative Members:

• Mr. Jeff Breedlove, a citizen representative from the Georgia Council for Recovery
• Mr. Michael Persley, a citizen representative who serves in an executive role in the field of criminal justice, Chief of Police, Albany, Georgia
• Dr. Armin Oskouei, a citizen representative who practices medicine as an independent physician whose specialty includes the treatment of acute pain, interventional spine physician
• Mr. Jesse Weathington, a citizen representative who has expertise in healthcare costs and works in the insurance industry, President and CEO of Georgia Association of Health Plans
• Mr. Adam Kaye, a citizen representative who has lost a family member to an overdose

Created by House Resolution 1360, the House Study Committee on Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Management will explore methods to increase awareness of non-opioid alternatives, including non-opioid pharmacologic treatments, through educational programs for healthcare providers. The committee aims to foster collaboration and integrated care among all healthcare providers involved in pain management. Additionally, the committee may propose legislative recommendations before the 2025 legislative session.

Further information about this House study committees can be found at https://www.legis.ga.gov/.

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