On March 6, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. there will be a forum focused on the opiate crisis. The forum is a collaboration between the Federated Church of East Arlington, The Arlington Renewal Project and The Collaborative with additional support from the Arlington Nursing Association. The forum will be held at the Federated Church of East Arlington on Ice Pond Road.

Vermont, as well as the rest of the country, has been gripped by an ongoing opiate crisis. There are few individuals who have not been affected in some manner by the ongoing crisis. In Vermont, 106 people died from overdoses in 2016. The prediction from the Vermont Department of Health indicates that the 2017 statistics are tracking close to the number of deaths in 2016. The crisis has impacted many of the communities’ institutions, such as criminal justice system, schools, medical providers, child care providers, etc.

The forum on March 6 will convene a panel of local experts who will provide an overview of the current impact on the Arlington, Sunderland and Sandgate communities. There will be significant time for attendees to ask questions and gain perspective on the opiate abuse issue. Following the discussion there will be a time to continue the discussion over refreshments in Bailey Hall. This event is a public event and all are invited to attend.

For more information please contact Rev. Kathy Clark at 802-375-2548.