Reminder: Opioid and heroin community forum at Edmonds CC Oct. 13

Screenshot (756)Following increased attention on Snohomish County’s heroin and opioid issues, the Snohomish Health District and Snohomish County Human Services are sponsoring a forum on the topic this Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Woodway Hall at Edmonds Community College (20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood).

The forum will include a panel of subject matter experts and time for audience questions. Topics to be covered include a brief history of the epidemic, the physical response to opioids, addiction versus dependence, treatment options, and what is currently being done.

“Whether you want to call this an epidemic or not, what we do know is that there is not one community in Snohomish County that is not touched byheroin and opioid addiction,” Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer and director of the Snohomish Health District, said. “All income levels and ages, those highly educated and those with limited educations, urban and rural communities alike–all are affected by heroin and opioid addiction.”

In addition to the forum and resource tables, attendees can stay after to receive a brief training on how to use naloxone–the life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“The heroin epidemic is causing significant damage across our region, and we have an obligation to help our neighbors,” Mary Jane Brell-Vujovic, Snohomish County’s Director of Human Services, said. “Our friends and family members are suffering, and some of the best medicine for our entire community is more knowledge, since more knowledge will guide our efforts to make meaningful change.”

You can learn more at www.snohd.org/heroin.

Learn more about the local heroin epidemic in last year’s MLTnews feature coverage here.

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