Southwood Memorial Christian Church has announced it will host a workshop on the dangers of Fentanyl, opioids, and drug activity in the Kinston and Lenoir County area. The workshop is scheduled for August 28th at 7:00 pm and will feature presentations from local paramedics, the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department, and the Kinston Police Department.

The event, which is open to the public, comes as a response to growing concerns about the opioid epidemic's effect on the local community. The initiative was recently highlighted when three people were arrested in neighboring Beaufort County, possessing enough Fentanyl to kill the entire county's population.

"Our church wants to begin doing workshops on topics of community interest and we encourage public attendance," said David Hodges, Master's level Psychologist. "One area of concern is the opioid epidemic and how it is affecting our city and county."

In addition to addressing the critical issue of opioid abuse, Southwood Memorial Christian Church is planning further community-focused workshops. These include discussions on LGBTQ and family issues and concerns, reflecting a broader interest in engaging with contemporary social matters.

Hodges emphasized the importance of open dialogue in community workshops, saying that the goal is to hold open discussions and answer questions from participants. "We are assembling panels to hold open discussions and to answer questions from participants. We are also planning a workshop on LGBTQ and family issues and concerns in the near future."

The workshop on Fentanyl and opioids will be held at Southwood Memorial Christian Church, located at 1027 North Carolina Hwy 58, Kinston, NC 28504. Those with further inquiries can contact David Hodges at 252-560-9111. Additional information and updates on future workshops are available on the Southwood Memorial Christian Church Facebook page.