County's CJCC to Hold Forum Addressing Opiate Epidemic

The Adams County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) presents a forum featuring Sam Quinones, award-winning author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic, on Monday, Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m., at the Pete Mirelez Human Services Center, 11860 Pecos St., Westminster.

The event will begin with a presentation by Quinones, followed by a multimedia presentation and community discussion highlighting the six pillars of a comprehensive response to addiction: prevention, treatment, recovery, overdose reversal, and law enforcement and criminal justice reform. To close the evening, Quinones will sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase for $20, cash only, at the event.

“The opioid crisis is impacting all of us whether directly or indirectly,” said Debbie Allen, Chief Justice Planning Officer. “This public forum hosted by the Adams County CJCC is for the community to engage in a frank discussion regarding the county’s prevention, treatment, and law enforcement responses moving forward.”

The event is free, open to the public, and sponsored by the Adams County Sheriff's Office and SCL Health Platte Valley.

Quinones is a journalist, storyteller, and author of three acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction. His career as a journalist has spanned almost 30 years. He lived for 10 years as a freelance writer in Mexico, where he wrote his first two books. In 2004, he returned to the United States to work for the Los Angeles Times, covering immigration, drug trafficking, neighborhood stories, and gangs.

The CJCC serves as the designated independent advisory body within the jurisdiction to address systemic criminal justice, juvenile justice, and victim services issues informed by evidence-based practices and guided by evidence-based decision-making. The chair of the CJCC is Adams County Sheriff Michael McIntosh. For more information, visit adcocjcc.org.