A Bluewater Health official says addictions and overdoses are a serious, ongoing issue in the community, and illegal street drugs have never been more toxic.
Manager of Addiction Services Livia Manica is encouraging concerned community members to attend an upcoming forum.
"Anybody who has any concerns or interest in the subject matter," said Manica. "Whether they're family members, friends, people who are using substances themselves, people who may have questions or concerns about what's going on in their backyard."
The forum on Thursday, May 30 will feature a panel discussion with speakers from the hospital's emergency department, addiction services, Lambton Emergency Medical Services, Lambton Public Health and Sarnia police.
Manica said with the recent spike in overdoses and arrests for illicit drugs including fentanyl and methamphetamines, the public is concerned and wants to hear from front line experts.
"There is a lot of misinformation around, and depending on where people are getting their information from, it's not necessarily the most accurate. And so it's a good opportunity for people to get it straight from the mouths of those of us who are working directly in this field with this population on a day-to-day basis," said Manica.
The forum from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Unifor Local 914 hall at 900 Devine St. will be interactive with those attending having a chance to ask questions.
There'll be information on how to recognize family or friends at risk, and free Naloxone kits will be available.
According to Lambton Public Health data, there were eight opioid-related deaths in Sarnia-Lambton between January and September of last year.
-With files from Melanie Irwin
