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Latta, State Officials to Host Forum on Opioid Epidemic

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05) will be hosting a forum addressing the opioid epidemic in Ohio on Monday, June 27th at the University of Findlay. Congressman Latta will be joined by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health Director Richard Hodges, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Tracy Plouck.

The forum will consist of opening remarks by Congressman Latta, Attorney General DeWine, Director Hodges, and Director Plouck; followed by a panel discussion to raise awareness of increased heroin and opioid abuse across Northwest and West Central Ohio and to find solutions to the epidemic. Additionally, resource tables will be available to offer educational materials. The panel, comprising of local law enforcement, medical experts, and community advocates, will address why and how opioid dependence is so prevalent, what resources are available to help those addicted, and how to stop opioid abuse.

“Opioid abuse and addiction is a public health crisis that we need to combat with a coordinated effort involving health professionals, law enforcement, public officials, and our communities,” said Congressman Latta. “Heroin and opioid abuse has no boundaries and does not discriminate. The devastation we’ve seen across Ohio as a result of this crisis is heartbreaking.  In 2014 in our state, 2,531 lives were lost due to unintentional drug overdoses.  More must be done to save people’s lives and build communities back up. My hope for this forum is to better understand the impact of opioid addiction across our district and to take ideas back to Washington, D.C. to address this rapidly growing problem.”

“Forums like this are critically important because communities need to confront the problem of opiate addiction and abuse head-on,” said Attorney General DeWine. “The opiate crisis is affecting every corner of this state, and where I’ve seen real change is in communities where residents have joined together to learn about the problem and fight it.  This forum is a step in that direction.”

“Ohio is in an all-out fight against opiate abuse,” said Director Hodges. “We will continue to try to stop this epidemic by tackling the supply of drugs, preventing drug abuse before it starts, treating those who fall prey to drug addiction, and reversing drug overdoses with an antidote called naloxone.”

“Since taking office, Governor John R. Kasich has put in place one of the nation’s most robust and comprehensive approaches to fight opiate addiction and drug overdoses, including a strong focus on preventing prescription drug abuse, increasing treatment capacity and expanding access to the lifesaving overdose-reversal drug naloxone,” said Director Plouck. “We are making progress in our fight to stem the tide of opiate addiction in our state, but there’s still more work ahead.”

 

WHEN:         Monday, June 27, 2016

                       Resource Tables will be available from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.   

                       The panel will begin at 6:30 p.m.

 

WHERE:       Winebrenner Theological Seminary

                        950 N. Main Street

                        Findlay, OH 45840

                        Room: TLB Auditorium

 

WHO:             Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5)

                        Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine

                        Ohio Department of Health Director Richard Hodges

                        Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Tracy Plouck

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