By Wendy Holdren
The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) “Heroin(e)” is a new documentary on Netflix which follows three amazing women as they battle West Virginia’s devastating opioid epidemic.
The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.
A free screening of the Netflix documentary “Heroin(e)” will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at Historic Fayette Theatre. A panel discussion about the opioid epidemic will follow.
According to Netflix, the documentary, rated TV-14, follows three women — a fire chief, a judge and a street missionary — as they battle West Virginia’s devastating opioid epidemic.
“This is a great opportunity for people to talk with some of us who are right here on the front lines,” said Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Harrah. “It’s also a good opportunity for people to learn more about the drug problem, and to voice their feelings through discussion about the drug problem.”
Panel members will include Harrah, Fayette County Health Department Administrator Teri Harlan, Health Department Clinical Director Dr. Anita Stewart, Sheriff Mike Fridley and several drug court participants.
“We encourage questions from the audience,” Harrah said. “The film itself is only 39 minutes; then we want to have a dialogue as long as it goes.”
He especially wants to address any concerns about the newly opened harm reduction program at the Fayette County Health Department.
“Teri Harlan will talk about why we need that kind of program,” Harrah shared. “People have to come to the realization the problem is here. It’s not something that’s going to happen in the future. It’s here and we have to address it now.”
He said stigma still surrounds addiction, but southern West Virginia has to overcome the stigma to overcome addiction.
“Narcan (naloxone), that in itself is really controversial,” Harrah said of the overdose reversal medication. “Some people don’t think we should bring them back.”
But he said first responders are in the business of saving lives — “They’ll save a life every time.”
He said one drug court participant, who has been revived with naloxone multiple times, is showing great promise in the drug court program.
Harrah is hopeful the Fayetteville screening of “Heroin(e)” will be the first in a series around the county.
