Opioid forum planned in Oak Brook

The Daily Herald Business Ledger and Daily Herald Media group are presenting an opioid forum at 11 a.m. on Feb. 22.

The event, at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel, will feature a panel of experts who will discuss the widespread abuse of opioid drugs in the community and its impact on the workforce and in the workplace.

Amita Health and Illinois Bone & Joint Institute are sponsoring the event. Mary Lynn Fayoumi, president & CEO at Management Association, is the moderator.

Opioid issues in the workplace can include: drug-free workplace policy, understanding the law for prescription drug use at work, signs of impairment and abuse, safe handling, operating machinery and driving while using opioids and the impact on workers' compensation.

In 2014, an estimated 1.9 million Americans suffered from substance abuse disorder related to prescription opioid pain releavers and 435,000 people were estimated to be addicted to heroin, organizers of the event said.

And in Illinois, more people died from an opioid drug overdose in 2014 than from homicide or motor vehicle accidents.

The cost for the lunch event is $45. To register, go to dailyherald.com/events. For more contact Andy Zielonka at azielonka@dailyherald.com.