A session planned at the Mandell JCC in West Hartford on Oct. 7 will include a discussion, with Q&A, as well as a training session on the use of Narcan.

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Communities throughout our nation are managing an opioid-addiction crisisthat requires urgent attention and rapid response.

Join state legislators, local leaders, and community stakeholders on Monday, Oct. 7 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Mandell JCC for a roundtable discussion about the opioid crisis and the critical role we play in creating solutions. Discussion will include Q & A and a Narcan training. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend.

“This free event is part of a series being held in communities throughout our state to help keep issues related to the opioid crisis at the forefront of our minds,” says Amanda Aronson, co-organizer. “It is designed to educate and convene our community, so we are better organized to seek solutions, and it also serves as an important support for our legislators. To work effectively on our behalf, legislators need to understand the nuances of how this crisis is affecting our community. This is shared community work that requires broad collaboration and sustained effort, so we need the community to see themselves as active participants in this fight.”

Roundtable participants include: Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, DMHAS Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, State Sen. Derek Slap, State Rep. Joe Verrengia, State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, State Rep. Tammy Exum, Mayor Shari Cantor, Police Chief Vernon Riddick, EMS Support Specialist Kristin Fillian, Shatterproof Ambassador Dita Bhargava, Connecticut Women’s Consortium’s Kathleen Callahan, and a representative from the West Hartford Substance Abuse Prevention Commission.

The event will be moderated by Amanda Aronson and is co-organized by Amanda Aronson from Aronson Consulting, Dita Bhargava, Ambassador for Shatterproof, and Kathleen Callahan from the Connecticut Women’s Consortium.

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