As the fight against opioids continues, more and more communities are taking the necessary steps to battle the problem. The White Rocks Community Center in Ewing, Virginia will host a public forum on the opioid crisis at 7 p.m. on July 26.

The forum will be moderated by K. David Jones and Elder Rick Jernigan. It will cover the history of opioid abuse and addiction, the traditional methods of dealing with the current opioid crisis and the treatments that are proven to work.

Admission is free.

Jones has 40 years of experience and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist — working in hospitals and clinics.

Jones has lived and worked in Lee, Wise and Scott counties since 1983. In addition to his clinical experience, he was an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University — where he taught abnormal psychology, psychological testing and criminal psychology.

Jernigan has lived for several years with chronic pain and an implanted morphine pump and speaks from personal experience.

The White Rocks Community Center is operated by ARTS, Inc., a nonprofit 501c3 organization. In addition to this program, the community center offers GED classes, Zumba classes, karate lessons, Tai Chi lessons and art classes. Future activities include programs on suicide prevention, cooking for a healthy life, arts for seniors, a gospel singing and an Old Fashion Fun Day with an apple butter stir off.

You can like the White Rocks Community Center on Facebook.