Informational forum on opioid crisis set June 22

EAST HADDAM » State Rep. Melissa Ziobron and The Roadway of Hope Middlesex Chapter invites residents to an informational forum on the heroin and opioid crisis in Connecticut, as well as a valuable NARCAN training demonstration, on Thursday, June 22, at the Hadlyme Congregational Church, Town Street, East Haddam, 6-9 p.m. The NARCAN training demonstration will take place from 6-7 p.m., immediately followed by the awareness forum which will run until 9 p.m.

To partcipate in the NARCAN Training you must RSVP to cthouse34@housegop.ct.gov by June 15, and bring a photo ID, insurance card and co-pay if needed.

The training demonstration will be conducted by Mark Jenkins, Trainer and Founder/ CEO of the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition, Inc. Jack Herman, RPH of Nathan Hale Pharmacy of Moodus, will also be on site to dispense NARCAN as requested.

Panelists for the event include Kim Richards of The Roadway of Hope – Middlesex County Chapter, Ana Gopoian of TriCircle Inc., Lisa Marie Bovee of The Addict’s Mom Organization, Tad Varas of Roots to Addition, Captain Gary Wallace of the Middletown Police Department, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon. Representative Ziobron will moderate the educational forum.

“The Roadway of Hope, Middlesex County Chapter, is fighting hard to break down stigma, educate on addiction, and leading people to help and hope for a better life,” said Richards. “Families of those struggling with the disease of addiction are up against massive barriers in society with getting their loved one help. We have a deadly opioid epidemic and 144 people are dying every day. This is an emergency situation and we need to implement triage now.”

For updates or more information, contact Representative Ziobron at 860-240-8700 or Melissa.Ziobron@housegop.ct.gov.