LANCASTER — While it’s apparent there’s a drug addiction and drug abuse problem in Southeastern Ohio, U.S. Congressman Steve Stivers is trying to help remedy the problem and will host the third annual Opiate Roundtable in Lancaster on Thursday, Sept. 3, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Public officials, law enforcement, and other state, county and city officials from throughout Southeastern Ohio will gather to discuss the issues and concerns of the rampant epidemic plaguing communities on a day-to-day basis.

This is the third year that such a roundtable has been convened by Stivers to consider the opiate problem in the region.

Law enforcement officials, health care experts, state and community organizations from Hocking, Athens, Fairfield, Franklin, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway, Ross and Vinton counties will be on hand to discuss the rampant addiction problems of Southeastern Ohio.

During last year’s roundtable, having a safe place, such as a safe house or facility, was one of the many ideas generated by the participants.

It was determined that many recovering addicts are placed back into the communities where they picked up their habits, which could eventually provide an opportunity for them to get back into their old ways and cause a relapse.

Having a safe place or safe house could help prevent this issue. Such a facility could offer life skills type help or allow recovering addicts to obtain their GED or job training skills.

However, often, women who have multiple children don’t participate in typical drug treatment programs due to long-term separation from most of their children.

The goal of the roundtable is to bring all agencies together to work on a mass plan to combat the everlasting opiate epidemic in Southeastern Ohio.

Officials from the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Logan Police Department, and Hocking County Municipal Court Judge Fred Moses are among those from Hocking County that will be participating in this year’s event.

The roundtable will be held at Fairfield Medical Center, 401 N. Ewing St., Assembly Room 3 in Lancaster, and will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m.