October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month (NSAPM), an annual observance focused on raising public awareness and encouraging communities to take action and get involved to prevent substance abuse. In response to this call to action, the Gaston College Health and Human Services Technology Substance Abuse Program is sponsoring a community event entitled National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Awareness: Opioid Epidemic in Our Community. The free event takes place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 29, in the Myers Center Multipurpose Auditorium on the Dallas campus of Gaston College.

At the Gaston Cllege event, Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Medical Officer for CaroMont Health, will address the history and pharmacology of opioids, addiction, and the opioid epidemic in our community. Dr. Davis currently serves on the Boards for the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas and Gaston Together, and is a member of the Controlled Substances Coalition to combat the opioid crisis in Gaston County.

“At the event, I will share information about opioids, their effects on the brain, and risks for addiction,” said Dr. Davis. “I will also discuss the permanent changes that occur to people with addiction, practical things that can be done to reduce the likelihood of addiction and I will talk about the challenges our community and society are facing with this issue and what the community is doing to proactively manage the problem. I will also be available for questions.”

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, from 1999 to 2016 more than 12,000 North Carolinians died from opioid-related overdoses, the majority of which were unintentional overdoses. A recent Duke University study found that the state experienced an 800 percent increase in opioid deaths in this period of time, with Gaston County’s increase measured at more than 1,300 percent.

“The Gaston College Human Services Technology Program and the Human Services Club are grateful for the opportunity to host this event,” said Ann Elliott, Department Chair for Human Services and Early Childhood Education at Gaston College.“The purpose is to celebrate National Recovery Month Awareness by providing information sessions regarding the opioid crisis and supports available in Gaston and Lincoln counties. We are grateful to Dr. Todd Davis for agreeing to share his powerful presentation during the seminar. We will also be fortunate to have Mr. Nazrul and Mrs. Tammy Chowdhury provide a brief presentation on Remembering Austin based on their experience as parents who experienced the loss of their son from an opioid overdose. Dr. Davis and the Chowdhurys are members of the Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition. Attendees will receive free information pamphlets provided by Partners Behavioral Health Management.”

The Gaston College Dallas Campus is located at 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, N.C. The event takes place in the Myers Center Multipurpose Auditorium from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Ann Elliott at 704 922-2382 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .