A community takes action “Heroin: the hardest hit” More than 300 healthcare workers, treatment providers, educators, law enforcement officers, individuals in recovery, family members and concerned citizens crowded into the First Colony Conference Center at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital in May to watch the documentary and hear the personal stories of two people in recovery and a courageous mom who lost her son to an overdose. Screening events have been held in
more than a dozen locations across the Commonwealth since the film premiered last year in Richmond. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Lynchburg event drew the largest audience to date. The 40 minute film, which can be seen at www.HardestHitVA.com, has been viewed more than 60,000 times online. After the screening, Attorney General Mark Herring outlined his five-point plan to combat heroin and prescription opiate abuse. A key point in the plan is to develop and implement partnerships to find creative solutions
to the growing problem. Other parts of the plan include educating the public, developing legislative solutions, ensuring accountability for professionals who make prescriptions illegally available, and emphasizing prevention by addressing the issue with young people so they will not use in the first place. Herring became a champion in the fight against heroin and opiate addiction after learning of the growing public health and safety issue from the commonwealth attorneys across Virginia. The film is an example of the preventative and educational measures Herring is taking to make all Virginians more aware of the growing crisis involving heroin and prescription drugs. “I am impressed with the initiative that is coming from law enforcement,” said Brent McCraw, director of Centra Addiction & Recovery Services. “Attorney General Herring said he realized early on that we will not arrest ourselves out of this problem. He recognizes the importance of increased awareness, prevention and treatment.”
“Our objective from this event is to create a community coalition to address this epidemic,” McCraw said. “It is not enough to just watch the film. We need to take action.”
