EHHD Hosts 'The Opioid Epidemic: Our Communities, Our Concern'

From The Eastern Highlands Health District: Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show continued sharp increases in heroin-involved deaths and an increase number of deaths due to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl from 2014 to 2015. More Americans now die every year from drug overdoses than they do in motor vehicle crashes. Connecticut has not been immune to this issue, a CDC study has shown that Connecticut has the second highest death rate, of the 28 states surveyed, due to synthetic opioid overdose. On Wednesday, February 8th at Tolland High School, the Eastern Highlands Health District with support from its member towns, will host

The Opioid Epidemic: Our Communities, Our Concern forum, a free community event, to inform and invite the public to join the conversation. The forum brings together a panel of community leaders in the effort to better understand the opioid crisis affecting our towns. Beginning with award winning director Greg Williams, national recovery leader, director of the award-winning film The Anonymous People, and the recently released film Generation Found. This will be immediately followed by a panel discussion moderated by Len Besthoff, chief investigative reporter with NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters. The panelists include a mix of experts such as Carrie Pichie, Ph.D, Director of Ambulatory Program for Hartford Healthcare, Patricia Schneider, LCSW, Mansfield Director of Human Services, and Coventry Police Chief Mark Palmer, as well as local residents that will highlight personal experiences with this issue such as Jennifer Kelly, founder of the grassroots organization Justice’s Fight and Rod Wilson, President of RAD computers and person in recover. This will be immediately followed by questions and answers from the audience that will provide an opportunity for the community to engage in meaningful dialog about opiate and substance abuse issues. 4 South Eagleville Road Mansfield CT 06268 Tel: (860) 429-3325 Fax: (860) 429-3321

The Resource Fair will provide information on where community members and their families can go for help, as well as providing a drug-take back station and NARCAN demonstration.

Organizations taking part in the resource fair include:

• Perception Programs Inc.(sponsoring NARCAN demonstration and training)
• Drug Take-Back Station supported by Connecticut State Police, Troop C
• Drug and paraphernalia display sponsored by the DEA
• Barnes and Noble book resource sale
• Tolland Public Library book display
• UConn Recovery Community
• Justice’s Fight
• Today I Matter
• Sharing Without Shame
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Natchaug Hospital
• East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination (ERASE)
• Northeast Communities Against Substance Abuse (NECASA)
• Community Health Resources (CHR)
• Willington Local Prevention Council
• Cultivating Change Counseling Services
• Eastern Highlands Health District

Doors will open at 5:30p.m. for the resource fair, with the featured speaker beginning at 6:30p.m. The event will be at Tolland High School, One Eagle Hill. There is limited child care available, please contact the Eastern Highlands Health District at 860.429.3325, to reserve a spot. Snow date for the event is set for Tuesday, February 28th, 2017.

For more information please call 860.429-3325, or go to www.ehhd.org.

Image Courtesy Of EHHD