ALLEN PARK — State Representative Frank Liberati (D-Allen Park) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss prescription drug and opioid abuse on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Allen Park High School Center for Performing Arts, 18401 Champaign Road in Allen Park. Liberati will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss the growing opioid abuse problem in Downriver communities, as well as findings from the governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse.
“Drug and opioid addiction is taking a toll on communities across Michigan, but Downriver especially,” Liberati said. “It’s not enough to simply know that a problem exists — we need to understand it and begin taking steps to fight it.”
Joining Liberati at the town hall will be Keri Marsh, community organizer at Stop Underage Drinking/Drugs (SUDDS) Coalition; Darlene D. Owens, director of substance use disorders initiatives at Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority; Dr. Tom McKeown, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; and Lt. Mary Knapp, Downriver Area Narcotics Organization (DRANO) section commander, Michigan State Police.
“These experts will discuss a range of issues relating to drug abuse, from identifying the signs of abuse and finding treatment, to tracing the steps drugs take to our community and what we can do to keep them off our streets,” Liberati said. “I encourage everyone who is concerned about this crisis to attend our town hall.”