The Wenatchee World hosts expert panel on drug addiction and awareness

Each year Washington state continues to see drug overdose deaths rise across communities. The Wenatchee World hosts a panel with local treatment advocates and medical professionals to discuss rehabilitation and resources that are available in the community on Wednesday, June 12 at Pybus Public Market. 

Oscar Rodriguez, a World reporter who covers the topic, will interview Joseph Hunter, a recovery navigator; Dr. Joshua Frank, an emergency physician at Confluence Health; Loretta Stover, executive director at The Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment; and Sunshine Poliquin, a defender who works at a drug court. 

The forum will also touch on the intersections of addiction and housing.

“A lot of the folks who handle the rehabilitation side are rather hopeful about having the resources to start tackling some of these issues as well as the other issues including housing,” said Rodriguez. 

Each month The Wenatchee World hosts a monthly public forum at Pybus in the LocalTel Event Center inside Pybus Market. 

The purpose of the forum is to allow local residents to hear from community leaders on a variety of topics.

One reporter or editor from The Wenatchee World interviews the panelists on stage and after the panel, the journalists open the floor to questions from the audience. 

Participants can submit questions in advance at wenatcheeworld.com/forum/. 

Reneé Dìaz reports for NWPB in collaboration with The Wenatchee World and the Murrow College of Communication Local News Fellowship Program.