The City of Manhattan Beach is proud to partner with South Bay Families Connected to provide an informational panel on a timely crisis in our region: opioid abuse.

The Families Connected Opioid Awareness project aims to implement prevention strategies, including reducing the stigma that surrounds this issue and to increase awareness that opioid abuse and addiction can happen even in the most supportive families, and to the most loved and inspiring youth. Their hope is to extend compassion and caring to the families who have lost a child due to opioid abuse and/or addiction and to let them know that they are not alone.

Mayor Amy Howorth will present and moderate the event, in addition to long-time City volunteer, Cyndi Strand, who will share her own story of losing her son to opioid addiction. The discussion will also include Moe Gelbart, PhD, who will share what is trending in the South Bay and provide prevention insight.

“We will have a fact-based, candid discussion about these drugs; what they are, how people get addicted; prevention steps you can take, and how we can help each other when the unspeakable happens. You can’t change what you can’t acknowledge. And the shame of drug addiction keeps us isolated and from getting help for our loved ones or ourselves.”

— Mayor Amy Howorth

 Please register to attend this event and visit the South Bay Families Connected website for additional information.