The Saving Lives Task Force is hosting a series of Town Hall meetings for the second year, the first of which is scheduled for February 7, 2018. The Town Hall offers a welcoming format and is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about the substance abuse issues in Dare County, become familiar with local resources available to help those in need, and get involved by learning how to become part of the solution.

Scheduled to take place at 5:30pm at First Flight High School’s Auditorium the first event in this year’s series is focused on The Syringe Exchange Program in Dare County. Refreshments will be provided by Towne Bank and the evening is open to everyone interested in the Syringe Exchange Program or is concerned about our children, families, loved ones and the community.

Zack Moore, State Epidemiologist & Epidemiology Section Chief will be presenting on Infections & The Opioid Epidemic. Donnie Varnell, Special Investigator with Dare County Sheriff’s Office will be presenting on Law Enforcement & the Good Samaritan Law. Rebekah Paulson, Coordinator of the Syringe Exchange Program, and Pastor Frank Lassen with the Source Church will be presenting on Dare County’s Syringe Exchange Program. Debbie Dutton, Clinical & Community Services Director and Wendy Hall, Clinical Supervisor & Communicable Disease Nurse will be presenting on The Public Health Role in the Syringe Exchange Program.

Wally Overman, Vice Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners and Co-Chairman of The Saving Lives Task Force, will provide a welcome address and encourages all residents to join our efforts, “It is critical that we have an ongoing relationship and dialogue with community partners and citizens to effectively deal with the issues.”

The event is presented by The Saving Lives Task Force, Towne Bank & Dare Coalition Against Substance Abuse. Information about substance abuse resources and services in Dare County will also be available during the event. For more information regarding this event or The Saving Lives Task Force, please contact Roxana Ballinger, Saving Lives Task Force Co-Chair with the  Dare County Department of Health & Human Services  at 252.475.5619 or roxana.ballinger@darenc.com.