The Community Summit of the Mayor’s Coalition Against Heroin drew about 85 participants.
The agenda included comments from Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and the coalition, police, a doctor, a recovering heroin addict, a family member and representatives of the Human Service Center.
Peoria Police Captain Loren Marion III says debunking the myths around heroin and opioid addiction is essential in furthering the effort to squash the epidemic:
“Heroin touches all walks of life. It doesn’t specify a race, a certain age, or a specific geographic location,” Marion said.
Marion says law enforcement, the justice and medical systems all have a necessary role in the heroin epidemic. But he says no one person or profession can remedy problem. Rather, Marion says it will take a special combination of things that includes a community understanding.