SALISBURY — The Rowan County Public Health Department will sponsor its third annual substance abuse forum Aug. 8.

There is no cost to attend the public forum, but registration is required. The forum will be from 3 to 7:45 p.m. at West End Plaza, 1935 W. Jake Alexander Blvd. Check-in will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Registration is due by Aug. 2.

The forum will look at the opioid crisis that continues to affect the nation, state and county.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Hendree Jones, is director of the UNC Horizons Program in Chapel Hill. The Horizons Program is a substance use disorder treatment program for pregnant women or mothers and their children.

Jones’ focus will be on substance use among pregnant women and their babies.

The last forum was held more than a year ago and featured renowned journalist and author Sam Quinones, whose book “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic” was featured. The book details the issues of the current opioid crisis.

The May 2018 forum included a panel discussion by experts on substance abuse and addiction as well as speakers who have been affected personally by the opioid epidemic.

The first forum was held in August 2017 with government leaders, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and emergency responders. The goal was to educate county leaders about the opioid crisis and its impact on Rowan County.

The forums were organized after a record number of people either died or were found unconscious under the influence of opioids.

To register for the forum, visit http://bit.ly/opioidforum19.