The CJCC cordially invites you to attend our Annual Spring Public Meeting on the evening of Thursday April 6, 2017 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Shiloh Baptist Church (1510 9^th Street NW).  The focus of our public meeting will be the growing threat to District communities posed by synthetic opiates.

Synthetic opiate-related overdoses and deaths are on the rise, reaching epidemic proportions across the United States.  These highly addictive and tightly-regulated substances are increasingly being manufactured illicitly, and are relatively easy to obtain on the street or on the web.  Synthetic opiates, such as fentanyl – which can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin – represent a growing public health and public safety risk; minute amounts, equivalent to a few grains of salt, can be lethal.  There has been an increase in the numbers of synthetic opiate-related overdoses and deaths in the District.

The Spring Public Meeting will serve as an opportunity to hear first-hand from community members along with national and local leaders on the extent of the synthetic opiate threat, and to have a frank community discussion on District prevention, treatment, and law enforcement responses.

To RSVP, or to request accommodations, please contact Luis Diaz, Policy Analyst, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (luis.diaz2@dc.gov).  Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues, friends, family, neighbors, community listservs, and networks/social media.  We hope you can join us to share information and spread awareness on this important issue.