PRESS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE
August 28, 2018

Contact: Karen Heal
Media Team
Cell: 703-402-4497
kheal@missiondc.org

Cheap Synthetic Drugs
Killing the Vulnerable 

Immediate Help Offered to People
Experiencing Homelessness   

Washington, DC—August 28, 2018–Central Union Mission is sponsoring a synthetic drug information session on Tuesday, August 28, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the men’s shelter at 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

Central Union Mission Executive Director Joe Mettimano commented, “We have been warning about synthetic drugs for three years now, but this year’s crop is even more dangerous. Our information session will help spread the word on the street that this cheap high can cost you your life.”   Douglas K. Klein, assistant United States attorney for the District of Columbia, will also be available to answer questions about on the deadly effects of K2, Spice and other synthetic drugs. These same drugs that caused 300 overdoses in DC during July are blamed for more than 100 recent overdoses in New Haven, CT, as the menace continues.

Additional resources and assessments available at this session will be provided by: Metropolitan Police Department of DC, DC Department of Behavioral Health (APRA), MBI Health Services and Dr. George Larry Wheeler of Circles of Hope Psychotherapy & Addictions Services.

Media and community guests are welcome to join the Mission’s overnight guests and Spiritual Transformation Program students as they learn to identify and avoid synthetic drugs and how to explain the risks to others. Interviews and photo opportunities with Mission program participants and Mission executive director Joe Mettimano are available. To attend, please contact Karen Heal, Mission media team, at 703-402-4497 or kheal@missiondc.org. 

About Central Union Mission:

Central Union Mission is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with its homeless shelter located at 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC  20001. In addition to its emergency shelter, the Mission operates Ready2Succeed rehabilitative and job training programs for men, a clothing and furniture distribution center, a retreat and recreation center with a camp for underprivileged children and a ministry to families and senior citizens. 

GuideStar awarded Central Union Mission a 2018 Gold Seal for our financial transparency and GreatNonProfits has given Central Union Mission a 2018 Top-Rated award.