Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
In today’s world, too many youth, unfortunately, reach a place where they feel they have nowhere to turn but to drugs. In the counties of Roanoke, Salem, Botetourt and Craig, just to name a few, those statistics continue to rise.
On Thursday, March 28, The Faith Connections event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside Roanoke’s Williamson Road Library.
Hosted by RAYSAC (Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition), there will be a free boxed lunch for all faith and youth leaders.
Several local collaborators will be present: Botetourt Prevention Coalition, Salem Prevention Planning Team, Roanoke’s Prevention Resource, Craig Prevention Planning Team and the Prevention Council of Roanoke County.
“It will serve as a discussion forum to educate and inform faith and youth leader on the opioid epidemic,” Cassie Raymond, Prevention and Wellness Specialist for Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, said.
The event will cover the following topics:
- Opioids in the community with some local data.
- The addiction and the brain chemistry behind it.
- A stigma and recovery story.
The event will conclude with a session on prevention resources and how the prevention coalitions and the faith community can collaborate to reduce substance abuse.
The joint message that each of these teams is that, if everyone works together, it will bring community to the counties and a system that will help them to build on, one step at a time, to free the today’s youth from drug additions.
Faith and youth leaders can RSVP by emailing info@raysac.org or calling 982-1427. Seating is limited, and registration is required by Thursday, March 21.
