Ada County Judge Lyn Norton says opioid abuse has arrived in Idaho's most populous county, and that abuse can happen to anyone.
“It is not the indigent and the homeless that are dying from overdoses," says Norton. "It is the middle class. It is people who maybe had a car accident, had a prescription for medications, they became addicted.”
Norton is one of several Ada County officials presenting at the Ten Mile Christian Church in Meridian Thursday night. Coroner Dotti Owens will address the dangers of overdosing, and an overdose survivor will share their story.
The judge says this kind of open conversation is necessary to reduce the stigma around opioids, and counselors will be on hand.
“Someone feels – because of pride or guilt or they just don’t have the ability to communicate with someone else – they can’t deal with the issue on their own.”
The presentation is free and open to the public, and begins at 7 p.m. at the Ten Mile Christian Church, 3500 W. Franklin Rd, Meridian. The next event in this series is slated for April.
Find reporter Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
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