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Perry and Harvey High School Students to Host Candlelight Vigil in Remembrance of Heroin Epidemic Victims

Students also aim to provide resources to inform community on heroin epidemic

Health Professions Affinity Community (HPAC) groups from Thomas W. Harvey High School and Perry High School will be hosting a candlelight vigil in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to the heroin epidemic that is plaguing Northeast Ohio. The event will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Painesville Town Square near the gazebo.

The event will feature speakers who have been victims of heroin addiction or have been impacted by the epidemic close to home. Rae Grady, a member of the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board will be speaking. There will be booths at the event for the community to speak with health professionals and collect resources. The evening will conclude with the candlelight vigil.

The Perry and Harvey High School HPAC groups aim to bring awareness to the epidemic and reach out to those who have been affected or want to learn more about heroin and its deadly effects.

The HPAC program at Northeast Ohio Medical University engages local youth by empowering them to identify local health concerns and formulate grassroots efforts to address relevant issues in their communities. Students identify and create community programs to address a wide-range of issues such as mental health, obesity and substance abuse.