Cranston to Hold Forum on Opiate and Prescription Drug Abuse

CRANSTON, RI — The city will hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss the growing public health risk posed by heroin and opiate drug overdoses.

Parents are especially urged to attend the session, which will be held at the Cranston Public Library (140 Sockonosett Crossroads) on Monday, October 24th, at 7:00 p.m.

"The guiding purpose of this gathering seeks to reinforce the Department of Justice’s three-fold approach to the opioid and heroin epidemic - prevention and awareness; enforcement; and treatment," police Capt. Vincent McAteer said. The format will be similar to the public forums U.S. Atty. Peter Neronha held in several Rhode Island communities in conjunction with National Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week, he said.

Neronha has agreed to serve as panel moderator. The audience will also take in a screening of the documentary Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opioid Addict and hear from medical experts, law enforcement and educators about the problem.

The panel includes Dr. Melanie Lippman – Rhode Island Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine; Lt. Col. Kevin Barry – Acting Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; Assistant Attorney General Staci P. Veroni – Chief of the Criminal Division, Office of the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General; Dana Deverna – Coordinator, Cranston Substance Abuse Task Force; and Dr. James McDonald – Rhode Island Department of Health.

According to McAteer, the Cranston P.D. and the Cranston Substance Abuse Task Force teamed up with the public library to organize the program.

“The number of opioid overdose deaths nationally and locally is unprecedented," said Col. Michael J. Winquist, Cranston's police chief. He added drug abuse continues "to be a growing epidemic that can only be combated through a multi-disciplinary approach and creative solutions."