Public Deliberation: What should we do about the opioid epidemic?
The Westmont Initiative for Public Dialogue and Deliberation invites you to join us on Thursday, October 24th, 7-9pm to discuss "What should we do about the opioid epidemic?" We will convene at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara (21 E Constance Ave., SB, 93105). The opioid epidemic makes national headlines, but is an issue that directly impacts members of our own community. According to County Public Health data, in 2018 alone there were 139 opioid-related ER visits here in Santa Barbara County. Both overdose deaths and non-fatal ER visits attributed to opioids have increased dramatically since 2010. At deliberations, there are no formal speakers or presentations. Instead, community members gather at small tables and use an issues guide to discuss potential solutions to a problem. This approach directly engages members of the public and encourages them to both learn about an issue and to actively pursue solutions. Even though we don't have an expert panel, we more than encourage experts to attend as participants. We invite all residents of Santa Barbara County to attend. If you are interested, please RSVP to wipdd@westmont.edu, so that we can make sure to have enough supplies for everyone. The event is free and we will provide coffee and light snacks. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about our initiative, contact Program Coordinator Jordan Baldridge at jbaldridge@westmont.edu
