Plaistow Group Hosts Substance Abuse, Opiates Forum Tonight

Laurie Warnock of the Northern New England Poison Center, moderates the forum.

Plaistow, N.H. community leaders and others may be taking a cue from Haverhill in dealing with the area’s substance abuse and opiate addiction epidemic.

A community forum on substance abuse, with “a panel of representatives from police, fire/EMS, prevention, treatment and family support agencies,” will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, at Plaistow Public Library. Laurie Warnock of the Northern New England Poison Center, moderates the forum.

“…Agencies will discuss drug activity in Plaistow and the surrounding communities, prevalent substances, prevention and treatment resources,” a statement said. “The conversation is geared toward parents of adolescents and young adults and anyone interested in this growing health concern.”

Topics will range from electronic cigarettes and synthetic marijuana to club drugs such as “Molly” and the current heroin epidemic. The forum is free and registration is not required.

Between last December and January, the Haverhill Overdose Prevention and Education (HOPE) was formed by Mayor James J. Fiorentini “to give families and others, who may be struggling with addiction, resource options for help and a discussion on what to look for in someone who may be suffering from an addiction problem.”

According to Plaistow police logs, three people, including a 20-year old Haverhill man, were arrested on drug-related charges in the town last week.