Public Health and Wellness and Library Offer Class on Heroin Use Prevention

Photo: Louisville Free Public Library

The Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the Louisville Free Public Library will offer the class, Heroin Hurts Louisville on Tuesday, Sept., 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the South Central Regional Library at 7300 Jefferson Blvd. and again on Tuesday, Oct., 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Matthews Library at 3940 Grandview Ave. The 90-minute class is free. Registration is required. Phone 574 -1623 or contact the Library @LFPL on Twitter or @LouisvilleFreePublicLibrary on Facebook to register.

Heroin Hurts Louisville is taught by a certified drug and alcohol counselor.  It includes educational information, video testimonies from young people and facilitated discussion. Participants will receive a toolkit with information and available resources.  The class is intended to provide parents and other caring adults with valuable insights on why children and teens use drugs and how to start a dialogue about the dangers of substance abuse.  It is also intended to empower parents with steps to take if they suspect or know someone at risk of using drugs.

“This class is a tool for parents to open up a dialogue with their children around the issues associated with drug use,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness. “Many of our initiatives to battle the opioid epidemic in Louisville have, by necessity, been reacting to the needs of people caught up in drug use and protecting our community from infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,” she said. “But it’s also important that we take proactive steps to prevent substance abuse in the first place.”

“We are happy to be teaming up with Public Health and Wellness to be bringing these classes to our community,” said James Blanton, Director of Louisville Free Public Library.