In response to New Hampshire’s deadly opioid epidemic, Catholic Charities New Hampshire and the Currier Museum of Art will co-host a special program to help families with loved ones who struggle with addiction.

The Currier Museum of Art will open its building at 150 Ash St. for Catholic Charities’ skilled addiction counselors to present “Families Coping with the Opioid Crisis” from 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Prior to the event, the Museum will also open its galleries at 5:30 p.m. to provide visitors an opportunity to view its collections.

The public is welcome to attend this free event.

“Catholic Charities New Hampshire is deeply grateful to the Currier Museum of Art for hosting this program,” Catholic Charities NH President and CEO Thomas Blonski stated. “Catholic Charities is committed to addressing the opioid crisis. By strengthening families, we hope to heal those wounded by this epidemic and move lives forward.”

“We are honored to be able to provide a comforting environment for the participants of this special program,” stated Alan Chong, Director of the Currier Museum. “We believe beautiful works of art can offer inspiration and healing. We hope this experience will help these families along their journey.”

Recognizing addiction impacts the entire family – yet few seek help because of the stigma and shame often associated with it – Catholic Charities’ addiction counselors took their “Families Coping with the Opioid Crisis” program directly into communities where many families suffer in silence.

“Opioid addiction is a public health issue. We couldn’t turn our backs on these families,” said Rev. John J. Mahoney Jr., director of Catholic Charities Counseling Services. Catholic Charities’ counselors treat people from every faith tradition.

The “Families Coping with the Opioid Crisis” program focuses on addiction as a disease that impacts the entire family. It includes personal accounts from New Hampshire mothers whose children struggled with addiction and now are in recovery.

The effort demonstrates Catholic Charities’ and the Currier’s commitment to serve as community resources to help address the state’s drug crisis.

For more information about Catholic Charities Counseling Services, please visit cc-nh.org/counseling or call 603-669-3030. For more information about the Currier, please visit currier.org.