Albany commissioner organizes town hall meeting to address illegal drugs

ALBANY — Ward I Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard has organized a town hall meeting for Saturday during which the topic of illegal drugs in the city’s neighborhoods will be discussed.

“The town hall meeting will focus on the use of prescription drugs, crack cocaine, methamphetamines, opiates, sythetic marijuana, heroin, fentanyl and other illegal drugs among our teenagers and neighbors as well,” Howard said. “Our speakers will be Major Prurince Dice of the Albany-Doughery Dug Unit and Sam Allen, director of Emergency Medical Services. I strongly encourage you to attend this meeting to ask questions, make comments or express your concerns about illegal drugs in our neighborhood.”

Howard noted that, according to Health and Human Services, 91 Americans die each day from opioid overdose.

“These are some alarming facts in our city, state and nation,” Howard said. “If you are concerned, as I am, please invite your ministers, business/community leaders, friends, neighbors and our youth to the meeting.”

Saturday’s town hall meeting will be held at the East Albany Community Center, located at 1721 East Oglethorpe Blvd. It will begin at 10 a.m.