Media Advisory: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Town Hall - Opioid/Heroin Crisis

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office is joining with the Cedar Rapids Police Department to hold a second Town Hall to discuss the opioid and heroin epidemic that has impacted the city.  To help raise awareness and to educate young people on the dangers of addiction, the FBI and DEA have released the documentary Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict, a compilation of heart-wrenching first-person accounts by addicts and family members of addicts about their experiences.  This 49 minute film will be shown.

After the film, there will be a Q&A session followed by a discussion of drug treatment options available in Linn County.  The Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative will launch C.R.U.S.H. (Community Resources United to Stop Heroin), which is a community outreach initiative designed to involve schools, law enforcement, treatment providers, community leaders and health care organizations to address the growing epidemic.  This community response was recently initiated in Dubuque, Iowa.

U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau will be present. The event is open to the public. Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/268612736818992/.

Event Details

When: May 31, 2016

Where: Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library (Whipple Aud.), 450 5^th Ave SE

Time: Begins at 6:00 p.m., and ends at 8:00 p.m.

Press wishing to attend should contact AUSA Steve Young at 319-731-4037, or by emailing him at steve.young@usdoj.gov.