MONROE - Green County adults are invited to a seminar discussing the relationship between prescription drug abuse and heroin addiction on Wednesday.
The free event, titled "Painkillers and Heroin," is hosted by F.A.I.T.H. Addiction Awareness of Green County, and will feature presentations by a Madison Police detective and a drug diversion investigator from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
"It's not a topic a lot of people want to talk about," said F.A.I.T.H. founder Jackie Kundert. "A lot of people know it's happening but don't think it affects them."
According to data from the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, the rate of heroin overdoses in Green County increased from less than one per 100,000 people to as many as 26 per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012.
Kundert said in many cases, abusers of prescription drugs can easily transition to abuse of harder drugs such as heroin.
The goal of F.A.I.T.H., which stands for "Fighting Addiction: It Takes Help," is to educate people about the risks, symptoms and countermeasures of addiction, Kundert said. After "Painkillers and Heroin," Kundert said she hopes to offer other presentations at schools in neighboring counties.
"Painkillers and Heroin" will be held in Monroe High School's Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The free event, titled "Painkillers and Heroin," is hosted by F.A.I.T.H. Addiction Awareness of Green County, and will feature presentations by a Madison Police detective and a drug diversion investigator from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
"It's not a topic a lot of people want to talk about," said F.A.I.T.H. founder Jackie Kundert. "A lot of people know it's happening but don't think it affects them."
According to data from the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, the rate of heroin overdoses in Green County increased from less than one per 100,000 people to as many as 26 per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012.
Kundert said in many cases, abusers of prescription drugs can easily transition to abuse of harder drugs such as heroin.
The goal of F.A.I.T.H., which stands for "Fighting Addiction: It Takes Help," is to educate people about the risks, symptoms and countermeasures of addiction, Kundert said. After "Painkillers and Heroin," Kundert said she hopes to offer other presentations at schools in neighboring counties.
"Painkillers and Heroin" will be held in Monroe High School's Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.