Opioid summit trains clergy on how to handle substance abuse

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Community and faith-based leaders in Brunswick County met in Leland this weekend to discuss how to combat the growing opioid epidemic.

The objective of the summit was to train the clergy on the proper way to handle members of their congregations that are afflicted with substance use disorders and addiction.

Organizers say that members of the clergy have a unique role in fighting this problem.

“You would expect a clergyperson, if you say conduct a worship service, help the grieving, help the dying, visit people in the hospital. Well, this is an equally important, or perhaps in this time, a more important competency to acquire, so we’re doing the very beginning of that,” said Rev. William Eberle of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Southport.

The Brunswick County Opioid Task Force is organizing an Opioid Addiction Awareness Sunday this spring.

The goal is to give churches around the county a specific, unified day to talk about this problem.