Held at The Byzantium at Ss Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, the event aims to address drug addiction issues with faith-based leaders, health officials and the community
Paterson, New Jersey – Sept. 6, 2017 –Kontos Foods is partnering with the City of Annapolis, Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, religious and faith-based leaders and the community to address the issue of the Opioid and Heroin Epidemic. Scheduled for Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, “Breaking the Silence: an Opioid Addiction Workshop,” will take place at The Byzantium, a banquet and meeting venue at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church located at 2747 Riva Rd., Annapolis, MD. The public is invited to attend the free event, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. Kontos Foods, Inc. (www.kontos.com), a U.S.- based manufacturer and distributor of traditional artisan breads and Mediterranean specialty foods, is providing beverage and food refreshments. For more information, please contact Eva Benvenga with the City of Annapolis at enbenvenga@annapolis.gov.
This workshop will address the topics of:
• Providing a general understanding of the opioid epidemic within the state and county
• How to start and what to address in the conversations regarding opioid and heroin use and abuse
• Resources available within Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis
Lisa Hillman, author of “Secret No More” and former senior vice president, legislative affairs, president, for the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, will give the keynote address. Rhonda Wardlaw, City of Annapolis Public Information Officer, will then moderate a discussion with the following panelists: Wes Adams, State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County; Dr. Pamela M. Brown, Executive Director for the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families; Dr. Brendan Saloner, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Pastor Sheryl Menendez, Restoration Community Development Corporation; Larry Griffin, We Care and Friends, Executive Director; and Angel Traynor, Advocate, Community for Recovery.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 26.4 million to 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted to heroin. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that only 11% of U.S. drug addicts seek treatment every year. Year-to-date in Anne Arundel County alone, heroin has resulted in 510 overdoses and 57 deaths.
“Opioid and heroin addiction is affecting our Anne Arundel County the and city of Annapolis, as well as our entire nation. In keeping with the Community Outreach Ministries, here at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis, we felt it would be important to host this ‘all important event’ and provide support with our resources.” said Fr. Kosmas Karavellas.
“Kontos Foods is a proud sponsor of Breaking the Silence,” added Steve Kontos, vice president of Kontos Foods. “For over 70 years, Ss Constantine & Helen has been the center of Hellenic heritage and community life in Annapolis. When we found out it was opening its doors to host this event, we wanted to do our part to support this noble cause.”
About Kontos Foods
Founded in 1987, Kontos Foods, Inc. is a Paterson, New Jersey-based provider of artisan breads and traditional Mediterranean foods for restaurants, hotels, food service, retail specialty stores and supermarkets worldwide. The family-owned company specializes in hand-stretched flatbreads, including the Kontos Pocket-Less Pita®, Fillo dough, pastries, olives, gyro meats, and Greek yogurts, as well as nearly 50 varieties of multi-ethnic flatbreads. Kontos, which has over 225 employees and was founded by Evripides (Evris) Kontos with his son Steven, together bring over 100 years’ experience in the premium food industry. The company’s bread and Fillo products are made in the USA. Visit www.kontos.com or call (973) 278-2800.
Media Contact
Patty Yeager
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Kontos Contact
Warren Stoll
Kontos Foods Inc.
(973) 278-2800, ext. 326
WarrenS@kontos.com