MADISON COUNTY – Partnership for a Drug-Free Community will host a virtual town hall to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, substance use and overdose deaths.

The session, “Talk Addiction,” on March 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. will be broadcast with Facebook Live. An individual can watch the session with or without a Facebook account. To view the session with Partnership’s Facebook page, visit facebook.com/thepdfc.

“This town hall will give members of the community an opportunity to interact with a highly qualified panel. Several experts in the field will participate,” Wendy Reeves said. Reeves is Executive Director of Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.

Panelists will contribute to the discussion:

* Lucy Douglas — Career professional in mental health with 14-plus years of experience. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor, National Certified Addiction Counselor II with NCCAP and  Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor.

Douglas holds certification as Alcohol and Drug Counselor with Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. She has worked as a mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor and with inpatient/outpatient and residential treatment services.

“Lucy believes in the power of community, second chances and meeting people where they are in their journey of recovery,” Reeves said.

* Carl Wilkerson — Addictions/Mental Health Professional for 20 years. He is certified as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. Wilkerson is licensed as an Associate Level Counselor with Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling.

During the past 16 years, Wilkerson has worked as counselor in Outpatient/Residential Addiction Treatment settings and Crisis Stabilizations settings for the severely mentally ill. He believes everyone has a right to self-determination and the opportunity to live a healthy life.

* Dea Calce — Paramedic and Chief Operations Officer for HEMSI and previously was an Urban Responder, a Field Instructor, Relief Supervisor and Honor Guard. Calce has worked as Firefighter/Paramedic with Madison Fire and Rescue Department and Captain/Paramedic with Redstone Arsenal Fire and Emergency Services. He serves as a Major in Alabama Army National Guard as a battalion’s Executive Officer.

* Laura Edwards — In recovery for eight years, Edwards now serves as Peer Support Specialist. She works with Partnership’s Recovery Resource Hub. Edwards will share her personal story of obstacles she faced in active addiction and how she turned her life around.

For more information, call 256-539-7339 or 256-783-8485, email wendy@thedrugfreepartnership.org or visit partnershipforadrug-freecommunity.org or Facebook/Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.