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AMHERST, N.Y. – As the heroin epidemic worsens in the Buffalo Niagara region, a panel of local experts, including a former addict, will talk about the severity and fight against this issue at a discussion scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 19 in ˿����Ƶ College’s Schenck Hall Room 202.

The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, is being co-sponsored by the ˿����Ƶ Master of Social Work Program and the Social Work Alliance student organization.

“Western New York’s heroin epidemic is a widespread public health crisis that is devastating lives and has led to a dramatic increase in opioid deaths,” said Dr. Isiah Marshall, MSW program director and associate professor of social work. “Our panelists will provide a range of perspectives on the area’s growing heroin addiction and open up a conversation on the ways we can come together as a community to combat this problem.”

Panelists will include:

• Martha Colburn, assistant district attorney in Monroe County.
• Barbara Howard, clinical scientist at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.
• Jessica Hutchings, Face 2 Face program director at Kids Escaping Drugs.
• Avi Israel, president and founder of Save the Michaels of the World.
• T.J. Marfolgia, caseworker at Erie County Child Protective Services.
• Elliott Repka, peer support advisor and former heroin addict.
• Helen Young, primary therapist at Westfall Associates.