More than 200 Expected at Overdose Prevention Forum

More than 200 people have signed up for Wednesday's free public health community forum, Preventing Opioid Overdoses, a partnership project between MCC's program on Homeland Security, the Lowell Health Department, and the office of State Representative Thomas A. Golden Jr.

Seats are still available for the event, being held on Wednesday at the Tewksbury Hospital Auditorium, 365 East Street.  The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with doors opening at 8 a.m.

The forum, which is co-sponsored by Tewksbury Hospital and the Greater Lowell Pharmaceutical Association, will focus on breaking the cycle of opium-based drug overdoses.  The plague of many communities, such overdoses often impact people who become addicted to legally prescribed pain medications following accidents or work-related injuries.  Most addicts have long histories of working and providing for their families.  But, unable to kick the newly acquired habit, they sometimes turn to heroin and other street drugs, which can bring misery, family suffering, and premature death. 

Forum speakers will include medical and public health practitioners, recovering addicts, and relatives of addicts, emergency responoders, a representative of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse and Rep. Thomas Golden, who has focused legislative attention on the issue.

The forum will be of special interest to medical, nursing, pharmacy and allied health practitioners, community and support groups working against drug overdoses, organized labor, and employer groups.