Opioid Forum set for April 9 at Bob Jones
MADISON – Health professionals, law enforcers and local parents will participate in an Opioid Forum on April 9.
The forum will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. in Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones High School, 650 Hughes Road. Officials will announce up-to-date standings for the opioid situation in Madison County.
Madison City Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski originated the forum, and Partnership for a Drug-Free Community is the sponsor. The forum will be held to discuss issues surrounding the deadly epidemic and what potential solutions are on the horizon to help the community, spokesperson Wendy Reeves said.
“On average, nearly two people died each week from a drug overdose in Madison County during 2018 in large part due to opioids, according to local statistics,” Reeves said.
To-date, several panelists and resource professionals have confirmed to serve on the panel:
* Treatment and pharmacy workers — Yushima Cherry, prevention specialist, Wellstone Behavioral Service; Blake Cruttenden, community representative for substance abuse treatment, Bradford Health Services; Josh Crews, overdose prevention specialist and Madison resident, Tennessee Save A Life Project; and Tina Tarsitano, pharmacist.
* Local parents — Jean Matthews, Denise Spiller and Dina Lerman.
* Support organizations — Patty Sykstus, parent and president of Not One More Alabama; and Sally Barton, parent and volunteer for Not One More Alabama, Discovery Room Trailer.
* Personal testimony — Mike Woods, recovering addict.
* Law enforcement — Mike Salomonsky, Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Teresa Taylor-Duncan, Madison Police Department; and Ralph Dawe, Madison School Resource Officer.
Auxiliary contacts in health care — Jon Howell, HEMSI; Tyler Berryhill, Madison County Coroner; and Candice Dunaway, Executive Director, Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.
For more information, email info@partnershipforadrugfreecommunity.org. Call Reeves at 256-783-8485 or email wendy@wynsum.net; call Candice Dunaway at 256-539-7339 or email info@partnershipforadrugfreecommunity.org; or call Maura Wroblewski, Madison City Council, at 256-337-2408.
