United Way of Hastings (UWH) is offering two free educational sessions to build awareness of opioids and illicit fentanyl poisonings on Thursday, November 10 and Thursday, December 1, 2022. Both events will run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (400 W. 9th Street, Hastings, MN). Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the public is invited.

Speakers will explain the scope of the issue; show what illicit fentanyl and its variants look like; explain how young people are getting illicit fentanyl; describe the signs of an opioid (fentanyl) overdose; give suggestions on how to talk with children, teens, and young adults; and offer treatment and recovery options. Resource tables will be at both events and there will be time for Q& A.

The sessions are the result of collaborative efforts amongst parents, city and county governments/ law enforcement, the faith community, healthcare community, school district, and others. They follow the very successful 3part educational series on illicit fentanyl and opioids presented by UWH in April and May of this year.

November 10 – Fentanyl Poisoning & Why I Should Care: Local Updates The first session features agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Dakota County Drug Task Force (DCDTF).

December 1 – Protect Your Family from Illicit Fentanyl: Resources & Options The second session builds on the first with speakers including Chief Dave Wilske of the Hastings Police Department, DCDTF agents, Justin Thomas from Allina Health, Tiffany Neuharth of RiseUp Recovery, and Jane Neumiller-Bustad with United Way of Hastings.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in December of 2021, overdoses and drug poisonings are now the leading cause of deaths of individuals ages 18-45. Fentanyl is the cause of most of those deaths,” said UWH Executive Director, Mari Mellick, CAE. “This should be alarming to people. The educational sessions will give community members an opportunity to learn what we are facing as a community, county, and state.”

Further details are at: https://unitedwayofhastings. org/site/onepillcankill/. The educational sessions are sponsored by Allina Health.

The UWH is an independent United Way that has worked for nearly 60 years serving Hastings and the surrounding rural communities within Independent School District #200. Its mission is to build collaborative partnerships to improve the lives of people in our community.

For more information and to donate, visit www.unitedwayofhastings.org.