Opioid Crises; "Warning: This Drug May Kill You" Documentary

The Golden Way, an initiative of the St. Augustine Film Society, will present “Warning: This Drug May Kill You.”  The U.S. is currently experiencing the worst drug epidemic in our history. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdoses involving opioids killed more than 42,000 Americans in 2016 with 40% of those deaths attributed to prescription opioids. Deaths from prescription opioids have more than quadrupled since 1999.

What are opioids? How do these addictions start? What can we do to stop this epidemic from continuing? How are families impacted? This film explores all of these questions and more through the lives of four families whose lives have been tragically affected by opioid addiction.

The 60-minute documentary directed by Perri Peltz will be presented on  Tuesday March 27th  at First United Methodist Church, 118 King St. at 6:30 PM. The film will be followed by a panel discussion of local experts including: Lt. Ryan Smith of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Dr. G. Robert Baringer, Medical Director for EPIC Behavioral Healthcare,  and Dr. John Pirioleau, Founder and Medical Director of First City Hospitalist Group in St. Augustine.

Literature about local resources will be available. The event is free and open to the public. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend.