Newport Hospital To Host Opiate/Heroin Overdose Forum on May 19

Newport Hospital To Host Opiate/Heroin Overdose Forum on May 19

Newport Hospital will be hosting a forum on Rhode Island's opiate/heroin overdose epidemic on Monday, May 19 at 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

91 deaths in 2014

91 people in Rhode Island have died from overdose since the start of 2014. This forum will cover the steps individuals, families, friends, community groups and all Aquidneck Islanders can take to help those struggling with addiction and how they can help to prevent overdose deaths from prescription pain killers and heroin.

The panel includes state and local experts on the ongoing opiate and heroin overdose epidemic.

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Senate President Paiva Weed and Department of Health Director Michael Fine are among the panelists. The forum is free and open to the public.

Other participants

• Fred Trapassi, Jr., Vice President, Phoenix House
• Frank Spicola, Director, SSTAR of North Kingstown
• Craig Stenning, Director, Department of Behavioral Healthcare,
  Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH)
• James Gillen, Director, Anchor Recovery Community Center
• Michael Rizzi, CEO, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare
• Elise Reynolds, mother of an overdose victim
• Tom Coderre, moderator