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Coming together as a community and providing education is the key to overcoming the growing opioid issue, publishes intercoast.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Anaheim, California) — Orange County’s Opioid Crisis continues on a significant upward trend according to reports from the OC Health Care Agency. This write-up points to a 141 percent surge in opioid-related emergencies over the last decade with more than 240 resulting deaths per year. In response to this swelling issue, Judy Redman of Covina-based community wellness program, Social Model Recovery Systems has partnered with InterCoast Colleges and announced the latest Drug-Free Anaheim event.
“We’re very excited about this event,” said Redman, “because it’s raising awareness of the magnitude of the Opioid Crisis and what we, as a community, can do about it. Our focus is ‘Not One More Death’, highlighting the desperation of the situation here in Orange County with three or four children being lost to drugs and a number of others going missing each week. We’ll have a number of special speakers and educational opportunities going on, so we invite everyone to come to be inspired by this free event.”
OVERTAKEN is being hosted by InterCoast Colleges’ Anaheim Campus and will take place on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Substance Use Disorder Prevention Advocate, Jodi Barber is among the speakers at this year’s event. Barber carries out a wide range of volunteer work with the community while fostering efforts to educate young people on addiction avoidance. Her self-produced documentary, Overtaken, will be shown at the event.
The event will open with InterCoast College Campus President, Christine Sanchez. Sanchez has spent the last ten years committed to the education of Alcohol and Drug Counselors in Orange County and oversees the education programs at the Anaheim campus. Sanchez supports the cause and is committed to bringing the community together to learn about what can be done to combat the crisis.
Colin Womer, HSW, CATC, and Project Coordinator for Drug-Free Anaheim will also make an appearance at the upcoming event. In conjunction with Social Model Recovery Systems, the City of Anaheim, and the Anaheim Police Department, Colin is campaigning for protection and assistance for members of the community seeking help with addiction. Further details are available via InterCoast.edu.
Concluded Redman, “Few people truly realize the current magnitude of the Opioid Crisis. Our homeless population is growing. Parents are actively taking to the streets to find their missing children, bring them home, and get them into treatment programs. Too many families can’t afford the addiction treatment their children need. We encourage members of the community to come to join us to learn more about what we all can do to help combat the Opioid Crisis and its effects.”
About InterCoast Colleges:
The central mission of InterCoast Colleges is to provide associate degrees and certificate programs for careers in allied health, business, and skilled trade industries and prepare students to meet employer expectations for entry-level employment. InterCoast strives to support a culturally diverse learning environment for its students.
Media contact
Lori Smith
loris@socialmodel.com
https://intercoast.edu/event/overtaken/
Anaheim, CA 92805
(626) 332-3145