As the coalition engaged in reducing local drug abuse and overdose deaths prepares to mark its two-year anniversary, two community events are being planned, representatives of the group learned at Wednesday’s quarterly meeting.
The Community Coalition for Opiate Relief will have its official two-year banquet with a keynote address by an expert on addiction on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 29, while a subcommittee of the group will host a festival in a city park Saturday, Aug. 6, to help make the recovery lifestyle a more inviting one to former addicts and those trying to stay clean.
The formal dinner — which will be much like the one that officially launched CORE’s presence in the community two years ago — will take place at the Bellefontaine First Church of God with a meal catered by their Happy Saints, CORE co-chair Tammy Nicholl of the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties said.
Unlike the inaugural event, however, the group plans to limit comments by local and state elected officials and focus on a single keynote speaker to address the broader perspective of addiction, Ms. Nicholl said.
Dr. Brad Lander, clinical director of the Ohio State University’s School of Addiction and the recovery service program Talbot Hall, was selected because of his extensive knowledge of the subject of addiction and its impact on central Ohio.
The group is planning for more than 350 people to attend but are encouraging members to distribute tickets individually.
“An individual invitation is so much more personal,” Ms. Nicholl said. “While we do want this to be educational, we also want it to be a celebration of what we’re doing in our community.”
Read complete story in Thursday’s Examiner.
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