March 24 forum in Bedford includes movie screening, panel discussion on opioids

"Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict," to be screened March 24 in Bedford.
“Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,” to be screened March 24 in Bedford.

BEDFORD, NH — Bedford Police Department will be hosting a community forum to discuss the growing opioid crisis, including the screening of a film and a panel discussion.

The event will be held Thursday, March 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC), 29 Commerce Drive, Bedford. Doors open at 6 p.m.

“Substance Abuse, From the Border to Our Corner” will begin with a special viewing of “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,” a video produced by the FBI and DEA to raise awareness about opioid addiction, which will serve as a basis for a panel discussion afterwards, about the nationwide opioid crisis, specifically about how it is affecting New Hampshire and the Bedford community.

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte will join a group of panelists who talk about what is being done to address the opioid crisis from a national, international, regional, state, and local level, with a specific focus on federal legislation and law enforcement efforts to reduce the supply of heroin and fentanyl.

Bedford Town Council Members, Bedford School Superintendent and School Board Members, Bedford State Congressional Members, Bedford Corporate Leaders, Regional Treatment and Recovery Leadership, Southern New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission Members, Bedford Acting Town Manager Rick Sawyer, Bedford Clergy and other community leaders will be in attendance.

Additionally, Bedford’s new Community Coalition Group, Bedford Building Our Lives Drug Free (BeBOLD), will have an informational table set up in the lobby at the event.

• U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte

• Jon DeLena, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge

• Scott O’Donnell, FBI Supervisory Special Agent

• Colonel Robert Quinn, N.H. State Police

• Moderator Chief John Bryfonski, Bedford Police

• Jim Scanlon, Former Bedford Town Council Chairman

• Treatment and Recovery Executives from the Region

For more information or questions about the event, contact Sgt. Kyle Thrasher at kthrasher@bedfordnh.org.


 

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