Many from our community are expressing grave concern over the steady and horrific flow of overdose related deaths here on the Island since the beginning of the year. It certainly did not begin in January but it is likely we have lost at least one person a week in 2016 to this epidemic alone. The word on the street is this problem is far from over and many, many more lives will be lost.

The Dukes County Commission is supporting efforts to conduct a series of community forums to “tell it like it is” and shift efforts into high gear to bring more immediacy to developing critical steps toward saving lives. Something I hear over and over from those who have lost someone is that we desperately need a treatment center here on the Island, a place for individuals to receive immediate and follow up treatment.

I am encouraged to feel a groundswell of activism from those so deeply affected by this scourge. Our community is coming together in pain, fear, sorrow, despair and frustration from what is happening. There is also a sense of hope, determination and conviction that is fueling the fire of many.

I encourage you to please step up and become a part of the solution. This is an extremely complicated public health issue that will eventually touch all of our lives.

There is a talk at the high school on May 13 in the library from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., open to the public as well. Billy Pfaff from Heroin Is Killing My Town is speaking at the Oak Bluffs School that evening (for people aged 18 and up) from 6:30 to 8 p.m., along with Spectrum Health Care Systems who specialize in substance abuse matters. The goal of these events is to shine the spotlight on this growing epidemic and to raise awareness to the reality of our troubling condition here on Martha’s Vineyard.

Through the coordinated efforts of our Island community we hope to follow up with further informational forums that will result in a strategic plan to help us save lives. Hope to see you there!

Christine Todd
Oak Bluffs

The writer is chairman of the Dukes County Commission.