Did you know that opioids are the number one cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. today ahead of car crashes and gunshot wounds combined? And it's not just in big cities; there's a 110 percent increase in drug use among young adult males in Connecticut's suburban areas.

On February 5, find out how you can raise awareness of substance abuse issues among children and other family members and help those in recovery flourish! Branford-based non-profit Smile Anyway and non-profit BHcare invite you to join your neighbors for a Recovery Friendly Community Informational Session, Tues. Feb. 5, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters (Community Room), 45 North Main St.

"We need all members of our community—residents, local government, educators, medical professionals, clergy and business professionals—to join together to understand the risks, how to prevent substance abuse in our communities, and how to address it together when it occurs," said Amy Johansson, President and Founder of Smile Anyway.

The Recovery Friendly Community goal is to reduce substance use, reduce overdoses, reduce crime, and improve community sense of compassion, humanity and citizenship and positive statewide visibility.

To attend the info session, register here

This meeting is sponsored by Smile Anyway (www.smileanyway.org) and BHcare (www.BHcare.org). To learn more, call Amy Johansson at (917) 359-5231 or email amyjohansson@smileanwaybranford.org ; or call Pam Mautte at (203) 736-8566 or email pmautte@bhcare.com