On Wednesday, April 19, P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade joined U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for a roundtable conversation on the nation’s current opioid epidemic. Leaders from across the state attended the meeting, including Taunton Mayor Tom Hoye, state Rep. Jim Cantwell, Steven Tolman, president of Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter, state Sen. John Keenan, Dave and Lori Gonsalves and Cory Palazzi, founders of Cory’s Cause, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, Taunton Fire Chief Tim Bradshaw, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Taunton Police Chief Ed Walsh.

Additionally, through Taunton’s P.A.A.R.I. program, police have conducted 211 outreach visits to the homes of individuals who experience an overdose.