To the Editor:

Every day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids — including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl — is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of health care, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.

This issue has become a public-health crisis with devastating consequences, including increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses, as well as the rising incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome due to opioid use and misuse during pregnancy.

The increase in injection drug use has also contributed to the spread of infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis C. As seen throughout the history of medicine, science can be an important part of the solution in resolving such a public health crisis.

Please join us on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, at 5148 Western Turnpike, Guilderland to learn and discuss about this important issue.

A presentation will be made by Thomas Green, community retail pharmacist. Light refreshments will follow the presentation.

Reservations are suggested. Please call the church at 518-355-0134, and leave a message with your name, contact information, and number of attendees, or register through our website at www.stbonifaceepiscopal.com.

Anne Napoli, publicist

St. Boniface Church

Guilderland