What is the Task Force?
The Governor’s Overdose Task Force is a statewide coalition of professionals and community members with the goal of preventing overdoses and saving lives. In November 2022, the Governor signed an Executive Order that enhances the existing strategies of the Task Force’s Action Plan in the areas of prevention, treatment, rescue, and recovery. The Action Plan was expanded once more in 2026.
The Governor’s Task Force has a strategic plan to end the overdose crisis – changing lives by ensuring racial equity, uplifting community voices, using data to drive change, and building connections to care. The Task Force is committed to addressing the root causes of overdose, including the socioeconomic factors that influence health.
Who is in the Task Force?
The Task Force is the center of all drug overdose prevention and intervention activities in the state, often bringing together more than 150 people to its monthly meetings. The multi-disciplinary composition of the Task Force, with the perspectives of individual members and expert advisors, brings cross-learning to the sectors around the table.
Task Force work groups were initially formed in the four core areas of prevention, rescue, treatment, and recovery. Additional work groups have since been developed and include these focus areas: harm reduction, racial equity, first responders, perinatal substance use, family and the Overdose Data Council.
Get Connected
The Task Force meets monthly from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm on the second Wednesday of each month on Zoom.
Upcoming agendas and minutes are posted on the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website the Friday before each Governor’s Task Force meeting. We also store past presentations on this website:
You can also attend one of many Task Force Work Groups and subscribe to our newsletter:
Read the latest Task Force Reports
Read Governor Daniel J. McKee’s Overdose Task Force March 2026 Semi-Annual Report. This report includes goals and activities of the Task Force, as well as funding alignment.
Read the Interim Report: Governor’s Overdose Task Force 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. This report shares the approved 2026-2028 Overdose Task Force Strategic Plan, also referred to as the “Roadmap.” It aligns with Rhode Island’s 2030 Plan and the priority of creating a healthier Rhode Island by supporting behavioral health. Included in the report are examples of ongoing and recommended activities to support this work.
Read about the 2026 Strategic Plan Refresh Goals and Activities
These goals will be used in all our overdose prevention efforts across the state. The Action Plan helps to track progress and respond to changing policies and emerging issues. It follows Rhode Island’s 2030 Plan to create a healthier Rhode Island by supporting behavioral health.
Read the Summary Findings from the 2026 Annual Recommendations Process
Each year, the Governor’s Overdose Task Force collects input and recommendations from community members to inform its annual planning and prioritization process. The primary purpose of the annual recommendation process is to solicit feedback on core strategic plan priority areas, emerging issues, and overall input for annual planning.
Task Force Co-Chairs and Director
Alex Gautieri, MSW, LCSW; Task Force Community Co-Chair, Senior Recovery Policy Advocate, Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts
Jerome Larkin, MD; Task Force Co-Chair and Director, Rhode Island Department of Health
Richard Leclerc, MSW; Task Force Co-Chair and Director, Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals
Ana Novais, MS; Assistant Secretary and Task Force Co-Chair, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Cathy Schultz, MPH; Director of the Governor’s Overdose Task Force, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Task Force Expert Advisers
- Jef Bratberg, PharmD; University of Rhode Island School of Pharmacy
- Traci Green, PhD; Boston University School of Medicine and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
- Brandon Marshall, PhD; Brown University School of Public Health
- Josiah Rich, MD, MPH; The Miriam Hospital
Task Force Members
- Jacob Bissaillon, Senator, Rhode Island General Assembly
- Alexander Chirkov, MD; Office of State Medical Examiners, Rhode Island Department of Health
- Raymond Coia, New England Laborers Health and Safety Fund
- Lynne Corry, Rhode Island Department of Corrections
- Thomas Davis, CVS Health
- Ashley Deckert, MSW, MA; Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Heidi Driscoll, Rhode Island Regional Prevention Coalitions
- Mary Dwyer, MS, M.Ed., APRN-CNS; Rhode Island Nurses Association
- Sarah Fessler, MD; Rhode Island Medical Society
- Lindsay Garcia, Executive Director, Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts
- Julia Harvey, Health Care Advocate, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office
- Benjamin Haynie, Homelessness and Community Supports, Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing
- Michael Hogan, Rhode Island Public Safety Grant Administration Office
- Linda Hurley, President and CEO, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.
- Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner, Rhode Island Department of Education
- Susan Jacobsen, President and CEO, Child and Family Rhode Island
- Thomas Joyce, LCDP, CPRS, CCHW; CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.
- Cory King, Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Health Insurance Commissioner
- Robert King, Pretrial Services Unit, Rhode Island District Court
- Jeanne LaFazia, Chief Judge, Rhode Island District Court
- Dennis Leahey, Major, Rhode Island State Police
- Melissa Leahey, Pretrial Services Unit, Rhode Island District Court
- Melanie Lippman, MD; Emergency Medicine, Brown University Health
- Laurie MacDougall, Family Task Force
- Michelle McKenzie, Preventing Overdose and Naloxone Intervention
- Joshua Miller, Senator Emeritus, Rhode Island General Assembly
- Elena Nicolella, Rhode Island Health Center Association
- Patricia Ogera, MD; Office of State Medical Examiners, Rhode Island Department of Health
- Peter Ragosta, RPh; Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy, Rhode Island Department of Health
- Jason Rhodes, Emergency Medical Services, Rhode Island Department of Health
- Lia Stuhlsatz, Associate Justice, Rhode Island Family Court
- Brian Sullivan, Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association
- John Tassoni, Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island
- Lisa Tomasso, Hospital Association of Rhode Island
- Amanda Leigh Valentino, Rhode Island Recovery Court
- Sandra Victorino, Commission for Health Equity and Advocacy, Rhode Island Department of Health
- Matthew Weldon, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Kasim J. Yarn, Office of Veterans Services
Task Force Members
MORE RESOURCES
Strategic Plan
Action Plan
Read the Rhode Island Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force Action Plan (May 11, 2016)
Executive Order
Evidence Update
Read the Addiction and Overdose Evidence Update (December, 2020).