FYIFamily and Youth Initiatives will host a drug symposium Thursday, October 22 at Sacred Heart Church, offering local resources and outlets for individuals affected by heroin addiction.

Pat Banaszak, Executive Director of Family and Youth Initiatives, said that heroin “affects everyone,” be it directly or indirectly, she said, stressing that the drug does not discriminate based on gender or economic standing.

The featured speaker at Thursday’s symposium is Dr. Brad Lander, Clinical Director of Addiction Psychiatry at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. Banaszak said that Lander has worked extensively with heroin’s effect on the human brain and the changes that take place through extensive use of the drug.

Banaszak urged anyone struggling with the ramifications of heroin use to attend the symposium, especially parents who are concerned that their child may be experimenting with heroin. She also encouraged churches and other non-profit organizations who want to be a part of the solution to attend.

Lori Erion, founder of Families of Addicts, will also speak during the symposium, as will Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly.

A panel discussion will be held at the end of the lecture, with two individuals who are recovering from addiction sitting in.

Banaszak said that those who attend the symposium will leave with the knowledge to identify, deter, and recover from heroin addiction through the assistance of local resources. She said that local and nationwide statistics have shown that heroin use is skyrocketing, with countless families destroyed in its wake. She said that treatment centers and organizations seem to be expanding, but that they cannot keep up with the amount of new heroin addicts that are created each day.

The symposium is set for Thursday, October 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 209 W. Lake Avenue. There is no cost to attend.

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