Left to Right State Rep David Linsksy, Jon Fetherston Charles River Rotary, Sgt. Ed Berman Ashland Police Department, Chief Ed Davis Ashland Police Department, Deputy Chief Steve Trask Framingham Police Department, Chief Hicks Natick Police Department, Christine Guthery, President of Charles River Rotary
The Charles River Rotary Club (serving Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley) hosted a public discussion with MetroWest Public Safety officials on Thursday morning, September 27th at the Hampton Inn in Natick.
More than 60 people attended this discussion including Rotarians from Charles River, Natick, Newton and Marlborough. The discussion centered on potential community action to address the opiate epidemic. Elected officials, public health officials and Police Chiefs talked about how the problem is growing and that the stigma needs to change. It is the largest public health crisis in the country and in our backyard. “The issue cannot be regulated or laws passed to combat the issue, but a grass root effort on the community level is needed,” according to the featured speaker was Natick Police Chief James Hicks, who updated attendees on the current crisis. Local community leaders and Rotary Clubs that are taking action were also featured.
Charles River Rotary and Rotary clubs throughout Massachusetts are committed to focusing resources and support to curb this crisis.