3rd Annual Pasco Opioid Town Hall Meeting To Feature Documentary

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention’s Opioid/Prescription Drug Committee will host its third annual Opioid Town Hall on June 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive, Odessa.

There will be a screening of "Tipping the Pain Scale," a feature documentary film following people grappling with the current systemic failures of addiction in communities and their journey to develop new, innovative and often controversial solutions to the problem.

After the film, community leaders will come together for a panel discussion.

The opioid overdose and addiction crisis costs the nation more than $600 billion annually.

Pasco County has experienced a 378 percent increase in overdoses since 2017. In 2020, during the COVID-19-mandated “Stay at Home Order," Pasco County saw the highest overdose rates in the county's history.

According to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office data, of the 1,510 overdoses that occurred in 2022, 289 of those overdoses were fatal. Opioid-related overdoses for adults (many of whom are parents) rose 71 percent from 2019 to 2020.

The task force is seeking ways to reduce the stigma around substance abuse, increase access to care and prevention efforts. Less than 10 percent of the 20 million Americans with substance use disorder get the help they need.

“It’s important to break down the stigma of addiction in our community,” said Parnia Roghani, of ASAP’s Opioid/Prescription Committee. “Even something as simple as talking about the issue and providing education can be instrumental in reducing the stigma and providing hope for those who are struggling with active addiction.”

“Every addicted soul is someone’s mother, father, sister, brother or friend," said Kellie Rodriguez, ASAP's coordinator. "We all know someone who has struggled with addiction. It doesn’t discriminate. Where there is breath, there is hope, and we encourage anyone struggling with addiction to know that they are not alone and help is available.”

To register for this event, click here.

For more information and for resources to get help for addiction, visit
www.empoweredcommunities.org.