With addiction gripping the nation at an alarming rate, the Carbon County Opiate Task Force is hoping to shed light on the devastation it causes on a family.

To help in the fight against drugs and alcohol addiction, the group will hold a gathering at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, 428 S. Seventh St., Lehighton."We have many families in our community that have personally lost a family member or are currently impacted by the disease of addiction and have a lot they would be able to offer to the Carbon County Opiate Task Force," Renee L. Solomon, secretary to the group, wrote in an invitation to the community. "It was decided to hold an evening gathering to bring these families together in order to show support to each other and gain a sense of what we, as a community, can do to help these families, as well as the many, many others who continue to face addiction in their family every day."The purpose of the gathering is to allow family members who have been affected by addiction to tell their stories about the devastation it has caused them as they watched their loved one battle and sometimes lose their life to this epidemic."We feel these family members are a vital part of making a change and taking strides in combating the opiate epidemic that our county faces," Solomon said.Refreshments will be served at the event.All families who have been affected by drug and alcohol addiction are invited to this gathering.