About 120 people joined our community discussion in Newark on April 24, 2018, to discuss causes of the addiction crisis and possible solutions. Many mental health and medical professions, elected officials, and people in recovery talked about how addiction is impacting Licking County. Attendees agreed that addiction affects every demographic in society, and nobody is exempt. People also touched on an idea we’ve heard in a few other discussions: people in their community need better coping skills to prevent them from turning to substances. To address this, attendees suggested providing better coping skills and mental health education in schools, starting in kindergarten.
To view more community thoughts on the causes and possible solutions to the addiction crisis, download the full report.