Drug Abuse Forum

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and the Youth Task Force will host a community forum on prescription drug abuse at 5 p.m. on March 21 at the regional high school library conference room.

Guest speaker Dr. Charles Reznikoff, a world-renowned expert on addiction medicine at the University of Michigan heads the agenda, along with a panel that will include a pharmacist and representatives from the police, hospitals, the task force and community services and the treatment community.

According to Community Services, the Cape and Islands have the second highest overdose rate in the commonwealth; among addictions, alcohol is still number one, but opiate addiction now a strong number two.

The forum will cover various approaches to dealing with this emerging crisis.