Thomas College to Hold a Community Forum on the Opioid Epidemic Web Director | March 16, 2018

WATERVILLE, MAINE, March 2018 — On average, 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, according to the CDC. In 2017, drug overdoses killed an average of more than one person per day.

Locally, the Waterville Police Department has made steps towards fixing this problem in the area. Last year, they launched Operation HOPE to prevent this epidemic from growing worse.

Waterville Chief of Police Bill Bonney will be at Thomas College to talk about this local, state and national epidemic on March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Summit Room. This event is free and open to the public.

“Sadly, the opioid epidemic has impacted us in the US and the state of Maine in record numbers and continues to grow. College students in particular are at risk when you consider both the average age of teens using illegal substances as well as the use and misuse of these substances on college campuses,” said Dean of Student Hannah Gladstone. “At Thomas, many of our students are studying to begin careers in Education, Criminal Justice, Psychology and others. It is my hope that we are able to educate them now before they get into the workforce to have a better understanding of what is happening around them and how their chosen career field may be impacted.”

About Thomas College: Founded in 1894, Thomas College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in programs ranging from business, entrepreneurship, and technology, to education, criminal justice, and psychology. Its Guaranteed Job Program, the first of its kind in the nation, is built on student’s academic, career, and leadership preparation. Thomas is also home to the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation and the Center for Innovation in Education. Money Magazine recently ranked Thomas 23rd in the Country for adding the most value to their degrees, and data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 15 percent of all college and universities in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates. For more information, visit wwwold.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley at [email protected] or 207-859-1313.