Learn More About The Opioid Crisis In The Quad Cities

The opioid crisis hasn't just hit big cities; it's right here in the Quad Cities. A town hall meeting has been set for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, 729 21st St., Bettendorf.

The event is free and open to the public. The meeting will include a panel of experts from law enforcement, medicine and substance abuse prevention and counseling and will address local abuse of prescription drugs and opioids.

Over the past 10 years, 125,000 Americans have died from overdose of prescription drugs and opioids. Painkillers such as morphine, codeine, Fentanyl, Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Darvon are readily available on the black market

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the U.S. had 38,000 overdose-related deaths in 2010. That number represents a 500 percent increase since 1980.

The panel will consist of local speakers from Robert Young Center director of substance abuse services; Genesis Emergency Department; a first-responder with MEDIC EMS; Bettendorf and Davenport Police departments.

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