The City of Sanford and Lee County Government invite the community to participate in the 2018 Opioid Community Forum on Thursday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the McSwain Center, located at 2420 Tramway Road in Sanford.
Addressing and eradicating opioid abuse is a priority for City officials. In January, members of the Sanford City Council began meeting with key stakeholders to strategize how local entities can work together to mitigate the opioid crisis. They invited N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein and District Attorney Vernon Stewart to sit down with elected officials, municipal and county staff, law enforcement, and school officials to discuss the creation and goals of an Opioid Task Force.
Thursday’s forum is an opportunity for the general public to voice their concerns and share their ideas for combatting the opioid epidemic. The Lee County Health Department will act as the lead agency and Amy Bason, Deputy Director and General Counsel with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, will facilitate the forum.
Fittingly, the forum will take place during National Public Health Week. Declared a public health emergency in 2017 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, opioid addiction and abuse have ravaged local communities – and Sanford/Lee County is no exception.
“Lee County has not escaped the opioid epidemic that is devastating communities across our state and country,” says Lee County Manager John Crumpton. “We recognize that there are no easy answers but the broader community must be involved to help educate, develop solutions and provide assistance if we are to be successful in combating opioid abuse and addiction.”
“We have seen too many families and lives destroyed by the devastating effects of opioid abuse,” says Councilman Chas Post. “We must all do our part as a united front to restore our way of life and the health of our community.”
For more information about the 2018 Opioid Community Forum, contact Ashley Graham with the Lee County Health Department at 919-718-4640 or Kelly Miller with the City of Sanford at 919-777-1133.