The growing crises of substance abuse is reaching unprecedented levels across the nation, and Centre County, as rural as it is, is beginning to be ravaged by what Mount Nittany Health is calling ‘one of the most pressing health issues affecting our community.’
Since 2013, Centre County has lost 40 of its citizens to drug overdoses. In 2015, there were 15 noted overdose deaths in the county. To date this year, that number is already at a dozen.
“We have a real problem on our hands, and everyone knows it,” said Tom McDermott, Centre County’s drug and alcohol administrator. “We’ve assembled a good group of people to get together to discuss the problems with heroin and opioid addiction, and talk about some of the things we can do to prevent overdose deaths in Centre County.”
McDermott was addressing the Centre County board of commissioners at the July 5 meeting. His purpose there was to discuss and promote an upcoming town hall meeting designed to answer the public’s questions, as well as provide some education, on the epidemic now reaching rural neighborhoods.
The event is under the direction of the Centre County HOPE (Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education) Initiative, which is a coalition of local representatives from county government, the courts, law enforcement, the medical profession, the treatment field and a variety of community organizations that are concerned about the heroin and opioid/prescription drug epidemic.
It is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, in the Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis Auditorium at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
“The goal of the meeting is to help identify the problems our community is experiencing because of heroin and opioid addiction, as well as provide some education about the growing problem,” said Jeannine Lozier, community outreach coordinator with Mount Nittany Medical Center. “This is the first meeting of its sort, and we’re hoping to have two, maybe three more in a series. This is a very important topic that can’t possibly be covered thoroughly in just a couple hours.”
Opening remarks are expected by state Sen. Jake Corman, Commissioner Steve Dershem and Judge Pamela Ruest, of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas.
The panelist discussion will be moderated by Dr. Stephanie Bradley, managing director of the Penn State EPIS Center. Panelists include: state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff; Gary Tennis, secretary of the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs; Dr. Kasandra Botti, medical director of emergency medical services at Mount Nittany Medical Center; Sgt. Kelly Aston, of the State College Police Department; Katie Hugo, certified recovery specialist at Crossroads Counseling; and Cathy Arbogast, assistant administrator of Centre County Drug and Alcohol.
“The panelists will all bring their own expertise in their particular field, so we’re going to have a good variety of professionals here, promising for some good discussion,” said Lozier.
A question and answer session will immediately follow the panel discussion.
To attend, call (814) 234-6727 to RSVP.
