The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Conference addressing opioid epidemic opens at Lorain County Community College
Lorain County Community College’s College Center Commons hosted the opening evening of a two day conference addressing Ohio’s opioid crisis on Oct. 20.
Marking the Holy Day of Atonement held on the 22nd anniversary of the Million Man March, this year’s theme was entitled “The Opioid Crisis: Breaking the Chains of Addiction. Know Thyself, Heal Thyself.”
Organizer Imam Paul S. Hasan, who serves as president of Official Lorain Organizing Committee for the Day of Atonement, said community leaders need to find new ways to reach young people to prevent them from falling into the cycle of opioid addiction.
“We as pastors have to come out of the mosques, we have to come out of the synagogues, and we have to go back to the community and get our young people,” Hasan said. “They don’t see a relevant message in the institutions that we call institutions because they don’t see the relevance anymore. So we have to speak their language and have to quit talking at them but we must sit down with them and give direction. This is why we have this scourge of opiate that is destroying our community.”
In a written statement, Hasan outlined the need to address Ohio’s opioid crisis following President Trump’s recent state of emergency declaration and lawsuits filed by the state of Ohio and Ohio communities against drug manufacturers along with its effects on people across demographic lines.
Drug and alcohol counselor Ricky Smith spoke of how the crisis has touched his family following the murder of a family member at a gas station.
“One of my nephews right now is addicted to opiates because of that. His brother died in his arms at that gas station and he was going through a lot of psychological problems because of having to deal with that. The doctor prescribed him opiates and every time he started thinking about his brother he started popping,” Smith added. “I don’t think
16 weeks and four weeks of aftercare can cure our men and women. I think we owe it as a city, state and nation we have to do a little bit better,” Smith said.
Cleveland-based Lynn Hampton, who serves as president of the Black Shield Police Association, provided a law enforcement perspective in aiming to do better for communities in having an honest conversation about incidents of police brutality and the alienation felt by the African American community.
“The majority population
has to understand that the African American population has a relationship with the police like no other. It goes way back,” Hampton said. “How are we going to fix the problem if we can’t be truthful about it.”
An advocate of community policing, Hampton implored efforts to encourage more diversity in police departments
and working to develop departments who reflect the communities to which they serve.
“We have to have officers who are sensitive and come on the job for the right reasons,” he said.
The first day of the event featured a presentation from Pamela Weiland who serves as community health nursing supervisor for the Lorain County General Health District. Weiland handed out free Narcan kits, a drug used to reverse the effects of an overdose, and showed a video on recognizing the signs and how to properly intervene.
The evening concluded with a candlelight vigil and reflections in remembrance of those who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction.
“Breaking the Chains of Addiction” continues on Oct. 21 from 2-5 p.m. with a panel discussion at LCCC’s Spitzer Conference Center featuring U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, U.S. Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Marcia Fudge, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and other community leaders.