Butler County Public Health & Safety is sponsoring another free community event to discuss opioid addiction and recovery in the county.

The free public forum will take place on Thursday, June 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grace Community Church, located at 9160 Marshall Road in Cranberry Township.

The event will feature leaders in law enforcement, medical professionals, parents and others for a discussion on addition and recovery. Attendees will also learn more about the county's response to this emergency.

Featured speakers include Sgt. Chuck Mascellino of the Cranberry Township Police Department and Ted Fessides, deputy chief of administration for Cranberry EMS. Samantha Goldberg, LSW, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs will discuss the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program and Becky Denmead and Sheri Reddick of Six Steps to Sanity will speak. Dr. Bryan P. Negrini, MD, MPH, who is the medical director for Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Addiction Center, will also be in attendance.

Local families will also share their stories.

There have been 33 overdose deaths so far this year. More than one person dies every week in Butler County from an opioid-related overdose. Sixty-five percent are male and 100 percent are caucasian. The majority are between the ages of 25 and 54.