City of Alexandria to Host Community Conversation on Local Impact of National Opioid Crisis

ALEXANDRIA, VA–On February 28, the City of Alexandria will host “A Community Conversation: Heroin and Other Opioids,” a town hall meeting focusing on the local impact of the national opioid crisis and how City programs and services are responding. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of the Minnie Howard Campus of T.C. Williams (3801 W. Braddock Rd.).

Incidences of opioid addiction, overdoses and deaths have risen dramatically across the nation to levels on par with the peak of the AIDS epidemic. The crisis affects all ages, ethnicities, income levels and communities—including Alexandria—where the consequences of opioid misuse and addiction are affecting not only those who are addicted, but also their families, local schools and neighborhoods.

The Community Conversation is being coordinated by the Opioid Work Group, comprising representatives from a range of City programs and partners including social services, law enforcement, schools, health providers and a local coalition. The Work Group takes a multidimensional approach to confronting the crisis by focusing on opioid addiction prevention and treatment, overdose response and recovery, diversion of addicted persons into treatment, and supply reduction and law enforcement strategies.

This event will feature a panel of representatives from City programs and partners describing the crisis and the approaches offered to address it locally. The town hall will also be streamed live at alexandriava.gov, and panelists will answer questions from in-person attendees and online viewers following the presentation.

For more information about the event and the City’s response to the opioid crisis, visit the Community Conversation: Heroin and Other Opioids webpage.