Third Your Voice MOV forum held in Marietta

Attendees share stories of addiction’s impact

Like the mythical Hydra battled in Greek legend that grew two new heads when one was cut off, new heroin and fentanyl deals are transacted by different users at every turn.

Gasps filled the room as one attendee shared the tale of a child affected by the opioid epidemic Tuesday.

“My brother’s cute; he’ll get adopted,” she recalled. “That’s the hopelessness we’re hearing; others are being torn from their home and being sold for sex trafficking and I’m heartbroken; this is my community?”

That impact on family life was echoed over and over again during the final of three Your Voice Mid-Ohio Valley forums.

Your Voice Mid-Ohio Valley is a media collaborative born out of Your Voice Ohio and What’s Next MOV, which encourages journalists of different local organizations to meet in roundtable form and hear from citizens about what solutions and stories they want to read, hear and see.

Sunday through Tuesday night three forums were hosted in Parkersburg, Belpre and Marietta inviting diverse groups to the table to discuss addiction, its causes, impact and potential solutions.

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