Eastlake looks to shed light on heroin epidemic, addiction

Eastlake Police and Fire departments are reaching out to anyone who is dealing with a drug addiction or who has a lost a family member to drugs.

Hometown Heroes Fight Against Heroin is a community meeting being held at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at the Eastlake Fire Department, 35150 Lake Shore Blvd.

Nancy Rodway from the Lake County Health Department will be speaking along with Eastlake Police Sgt. Michael Werner and Eastlake Fire Chief Ted Whittington, who plans to speak on the use of Narcan, and red flags for families to look for. He also hopes to encourage people with family members who are addicted to reach out and get emotion support.

“I think this is an opportunity for us to collectively get in the room those with addictions or families that have addiction (to) have some conversations, open up some dialogue,” Whittington said.

The chief said the goals are to get people talking and to give families ideas on where they can get help. He also hopes they can talk with those who are addicted and maybe give them ideas on where they can get into a program.

Whittington also plans on discussing the limitations of Narcan.

“I think in some ways Narcan has been painted with this brush that its a miracle drug ... but I think people need to know there are limitations to it,” he said.

Additional speakers will include individuals directly impacted by the heroin epidemic.

Attendees will receive, in addition to drug overdose education, a free naloxone (Narcan) kit, provided by Project Dawn, a grant-run program through the Lake County Health Department.

“Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone) is a community-based overdose education and naloxone distribution program,” according to www.odh.ohio.gov. Project DAWN participants receive training on:

• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdose

• Distinguishing between different types of overdose

• Performing rescue breathing

• Calling emergency medical services

• Administering intranasal naloxone.

Space for this event is limited and registration is required. To register or obtain more information, contact Eastlake Police Victim Advocates Ruth Marshall or Katie Granchi at 440-975-4252.