WEST PARIS — The First Universalist Church will host a community forum on substance abuse from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Several guest speakers will talk about their experiences with substance abuse.

Greenwood resident Suzanne Dunham said the forum, “Substance Abuse in Our Community – Time for Action, Together We Can Make a Difference,” is free and open to the public.

Speakers will include Sgt. Matt Baker of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Jessica Dufour, a recovery advocate for the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery and a Project Save ME recovery coach, and Heather Jacoby, a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor at Common Ground Counseling in Norway.

Dr. Peter Leighton of Bridgton Internal Medicine, who received a waiver in 2013 by the Drug Enforcement Agency to dispense Suboxone, will also speak. Suboxone is a prescription drug used to help people fight opiate addiction and withdrawal.

Davy Sturtevant, a local composer, singer and storyteller, will perform and convey his “message of addiction recovery through spoken word and music,” Dunham said.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, will produce a video message for the forum.

Residents will have the opportunity to ask the panel questions following their talks, and will receive resource materials. After the panel discussion, residents can enjoy pizza and visit a resource table.

Earlier in the day, a substance abuse rally will go from the Norway Unitarian Universalist Church on Main Street to Moore Park on Route 26 in Paris from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call Dunham at 207-665-2967 or email her at dunhamfarm@msn.com.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net