Rosecrance hosts community conversation on heroin epidemic; panelists will focus on solutions
Community leaders and individuals whose lives have been affected by heroin will gather May 14 to share information about the increasing toll this deadly drug is taking on the region and focus attention on how the community can work together to find solutions.
- Rockford, IL (1888PressRelease) May 06, 2015 - The event will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Heartland Community Church, 1280 S. Alpine Road, Rockford. Various local organizations will participate in a Community Resource Fair starting at 6 p.m. to provide useful information on the topic.
Program speakers and topics:
* Rockford Fire Department Chief Derek Bergsten: How the department is responding to a growing number of emergency calls because of overdoses
* Melanie C.: Personal testimony of a mother whose daughter died of a heroin overdose
* Winnebago County Corner Chief Deputy Bill Hintz: Overdose fatalities in the county
* Winnebago County 17th Judicial Court Judge Janet Holmgren: The role of specialty courts to address drug-related crime
* Chris Gleason, Director of Rosecrance McHenry County: What Rosecrance is seeing regarding heroin
* Your Choice - The Lybert Family: One family's journey from addiction to recovery
WTVO evening anchor Mimi Murphy will emcee the event.
Law enforcement agencies, first responders and treatment providers are increasingly concerned about presence of heroin in the region. The Rockford Fire Department responds to an emergency call for an overdose every 48 hours, on average. The Winnebago County Coroner's office reports 230 overdose deaths in the past three years.
The title of the community forum comes from research, which supports the progression of use. Most individuals who use heroin report earlier use of nicotine, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Registration for the free event is encouraged at http://stairwaytoheroinrockford.eventbrite.com.
CONTACT:
Judy Emerson
Director of Communications
Rosecrance Health Network
1021 N. Mulford Road
Rockford, IL 61107
815.387.5605 (office); 815.262.4685 (cell)
Email: jemerson ( @ ) rosecrance dot org
About Rosecrance
Rosecrance is a private not-for-profit organization offering behavioral health services for more than 16,000 children, adolescents, adults and families each year. Rosecrance provides addiction treatment through inpatient and outpatient programs in Rockford, IL, five satellite offices in Chicagoland and other locations in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. In addition, Rosecrance offers community mental health services in Winnebago, Boone and McHenry counties. The organization was founded in 1916. (More information at rosecrance.org.)
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Contact Information
- Judy Emerson
- Rosecrance
- Director of Communications
Rosecrance Health Network
1021 N. Mulford Road
Rockford, IL 61107
- 61107
- Voice: 8153875605
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