State, county and local officials will hold a roundtable discussion Thursday featuring leaders and experts on the forefront of the heroin/opioid epidemic. The discussion will focus on efforts to raise awareness and strengthen educational efforts with youth throughout the county.

The event will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at Lori's Angel's Conference Center, 25 West Main Street, Suite 4 in Schuylkill Haven.

The roundtable includes Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman, Stephanie A. Bradley, Ph.D., Managing Director, Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center, The Penn State University, Barry L. Denk, Director, Center for Rural Pennsylvania

Jon Gamble, MA, CADC, Program Director Gaudenzia, Chambers Hill Adolescent Program, and Michael Pennington, Director, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency.

Schuylkill County Area School Districts, local police departments, social service agencies, and other local youth groups have all been invited.

For more information, please contact Jon Hopcraft at 717-787-2637 or

jhopcraft@pasen.gov.