Community urged to attend Opioid Awareness Symposium

A local organization has plans to bring awareness to the dangers of opioid medications to the community in Stephens County.

According to the Department of Public Health, Stephens County is ranked one of the highest for the number of residents who are prescribed opioid painkillers; however, in hopes of changing this, Hope for a Drug Free Stephens County will be holding its first Opioid Symposium today, May 16.

Kathy Whitmire, co-chair of Hope for a Drug Free Stephens County, says the statistics are alarming.

“I don’t think people really know that 2 our of every 3 drug overdose in the U.S., last year, is related to opioids. Specifically, Stephens County is 9th in the state of Georgia for prescription writing; so, that means that 159 prescriptions are written for every 100 residents,” Whitmire said.

In bringing awareness to the community of the dangers associated with opioid prescriptions, Whitmire has organized an Opioid Awareness Symposium to be held on today, May 16 in the Mitchell-Allen Room of the Historic Train Depot.

Whitmire says that the event will provide a unique perspective into the dangers of taking opioid painkillers.

While opioids are effective at treating pain, they are highly addictive.

Whitmire says that prior to the symposium, there will be an anonymous session held to learn how to stop an overdose.

The anonymous session will begin at 4 p.m. and you must register beforehand.

Again, the Opioid Symposium will be held at 5p.m. on Thursday, May 16, in the Mitchell-Allen Room of the Historic Train Depot.

For questions regarding the symposium or to register for the private session contact Whitmire by calling 706-491-3493.