For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 13, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Whitman Hanson WILL Coalition to Host Meeting on Opioid Abuse Prevention

WHITMAN — Police Chief Scott D. Benton announces that Whitman Hanson WILL is hosting an upcoming forum for community members on the ongoing opioid epidemic, and all are welcome.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Hanson Public Library, 132 Maquan St.

WHAT:

The meeting will include representatives from the Whitman and Hanson police and fire departments, Whitman–Hanson school system, local community outreach programs and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. It will be an opportunity for residents of the towns to have a conversation with officials and talk about what efforts are being done to treat and prevent opioid addiction.

“The goal is to get everybody together to get the word out there about the coalition and the resources that are available to residents,” Police Chief Scott D. Benton said. “The opioid epidemic has left no community untouched, and we encourage community members who have been affected by this disease to attend.”

Overdose deaths in Massachusetts have increased from 560 in 2010 to an estimated 2,107 in 2016, according to the state Department of Public Health. In recent months, officials have warned of increased usage of fentanyl and carfentenil in the region and the dangers posed by using the powerful opioids that are significantly stronger than heroin.

For more information about the meeting, contact Amanda Sandoval at asandoval@hptc.org. Sandoval is the Assistant Director of Preventative Services for the High Point Treatment Center.

About Whitman Hanson WILL:

Whitman Hanson WILL is part of a regional coalition, the Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative, which works to promote advocacy and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders. Their mission is to provide opioid abuse and overdose prevention resources to the community through education, awareness and support.

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