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JAY/STRONG — Healthy Community Coalition, working with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Greater Franklin County, is hosting special community forums on Monday, Jan. 9, about heroin and opiate use and the addiction crisis in Greater Franklin County.
The first will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Spruce Mountain Middle School in Jay; the second will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mt. Abram Regional High School in Strong. Light refreshments will be served. There will also be door prizes and childcare available.
Over the past year, Healthy Community Coalition and the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition have heard from many community partners, schools, businesses and concerned citizens about the devastating effect that substance has on individuals and their families in greater Franklin County.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, deaths from drug overdoses in Maine are now averaging one per day in 2016. Locally, greater Franklin County has seen a dramatic increase in drug-related deaths, babies born addicted to drugs and a rise in drug-related crimes.
Adding to the addiction crisis is a lack of local treatment resources for individuals who suffer from substance use disorders and a lack of support for families who are dealing with substance abuse issues.
In response to these concerns, the Maine Opiate Collaborative Task Force will present its road map for federal, state and local actions that can be taken by local communities in the areas of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement. Community members will have an opportunity to share their reactions, suggestions, the opportunities and challenges to being successful.
For more information, contact Lorri Brown at 779-2409 or ljbrown@fchn.org or Nicole Ditata at 779-2932 or nditata@fchn.org.
