Anti-heroin forum set in Batavia

The Kane County sheriff and coroner are hosting a forum Tuesday to educate people about the use of heroin by suburban residents and what can be done about it.

"We need to start thinking about doing more things and different things," Coroner Rob Russell said Friday. He said 27 people died of heroin overdoses in 2012, 22 did in 2013 and 22 did in 2014.

The forum is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Overseas Post 1197, Batavia Veterans of Foreign Wars, 645 S. River St. (Route 25). It is free.

The main speaker will be Tim Ryan of Naperville, the leader of A Man in Recovery. The organization aims to help people treat addictions and remain sober. Ryan is a heroin addict, and his son, Nick, died of an overdose last year. Ryan will speak about some of the intervention options available for people who have a loved one addicted to heroin.

There will be demonstrations by a drug detection dog business and a business that helps parents detect drug use in their teenagers.

"There are some great things going on out there on heroin awareness and education. We support those efforts and hope that continues. Our focus is to support those efforts, work with the advocacy groups with an emphasis in arming people with possible solutions," Russell said in a statement. "Sheriff (Don) Kramer has been a staunch ally in trying to help families deal with the issue. I appreciate his concern and leadership in this fight."

Representatives of other heroin-fighting groups have been invited to attend, as well as Congressmen Randy Hultgren and Bill Foster.

For more information, visit amaninrecovery.org.