To include or update items in the weekly Health News list, email information to

tmunnell@tribtoday.com or afox@tribtoday.com. The deadline is noon Sunday for inclusion in that week’s list.

OVERDOSE AWARENESS: August is Overdose Awareness Month and in recognition Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with Youngstown City Health District, is conducting several Project DAWN events to distribute naloxone and fentanyl test strips to the community.

• From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Mahoning County Public Health, 50 Westchester Drive, Austintown. This is a drive-thru event, enter off Westchester Drive.

• From noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 12, Michael Kusalaba Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown.

• From 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14, Needles Eye Christian Life Center, 74 Kenmore Ave., Youngstown. This event includes a Narcan training beginning at 5 p.m.

Free naloxone kits are available at the distribution events by participating in a short training. Naloxone or fentanyl test strips also can be obtained online by going to www.mahon

inghealth.org/project-dawn/. For a complete list of services, visit mahoninghealth.org.

OSTOMY SUPPORT: The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group will meet 6 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Woodland room at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, 8401 Market St., Boardman.

The group offers education, encouragement and support to anyone whose life is affected by an ostomy. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Anna Fitzgerald at Anna_Fitzgerald@mercy.com or call 330-480-3440.

HOSPICE WORKSHOPS: Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice-Greater Youngstown will host two hospice workshops, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Sept. 25, at the Eastwood Event Centre in Niles. The free workshops, which count also toward continuing education credits, are designed for medical professionals and individual caregivers and will feature focused presentations and panel sessions about a variety of end-of-life care topics. Lunch will be provided for both sessions.

This project was funded by a gift from Hospice Trust of Trumbull County, a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. To view both workshop agendas and register, visit info.ohioliving.org/trumbullcon2024.

MERCY HEALTH’S HOSPICE: Mercy Health’s Hospice of the Valley is seeking new volunteers to join its team. The upcoming volunteer training classes will equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to support patients, families and staff during challenging times. There are multiple training opportunities available in the coming months. Attendance on all scheduled dates is required for each session.

Training classes will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Aug. 15 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 251 S Broadway Ave., Salem. Training also will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 and 26, at the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland.

For those interested in joining as a volunteer or learning more about the opportunities available, contact Jennifer Burgoyne at 330-549-5902, or text 330-719-9994.

OA MEETS: Overeaters Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. Mondays. OA is for anyone with addictive problems with food, including compulsive overeating, bulimia, anorexia and other food-related problems. For further location information, contact Mary Beth at 330-301-0891 or check OA.org for more meetings.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY: Celebrate Recovery, a support group to help those recovering from addiction or any kind of mental health issue, meets 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at 6779 Belmont Ave., Girard.

NAR-ANON GROUP TO MEET: NAR-ANON family group meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesdays in Girard. NAR-ANON was established to give support and hope to those who have a friend or loved one suffering from addiction. For more information, call 330-770-4576.

ADDICTION HELP MEETINGS: SMART Recovery’s four-point program is the organization’s flagship secular program serving those with addictive behavior, including both substance and activity / process addictions. Trained volunteer facilitators lead effective mutual support group discussions from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday on topics such as building and maintaining motivation; coping with urges and cravings; managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and living a balanced life.

Read the program description at https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/7343.

All meetings are free and no registration is needed.

NAMI OFFERS SUPPORT: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mahoning Valley offers support and education for individuals and families dealing with mental illness.

• Family To Family, for families dealing with a member who has mental illness, and Peer-to-Peer, for individuals dealing with mental illness, meet periodically.

• Connection support groups, 2:15 p.m. Thursdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, and 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

• Free yoga, noon to 1 p.m. second Friday of the month, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown.

• Support through Expressive Arts, 6 p.m. third Monday of the month, Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown.

• Daytime Family Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month, Girard Free Library, 105 Prospect St., Girard.

• Evening Family Support Group, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

Email info@namimahoningvalley.org, call 330-727-9268 or visit the website at www.namimahoningvalley.org for more information.

MOBILE OFFICE: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Mobile Office is onsite 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Carl Nunziato VA Outpatient Clinic, 1815 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. Anyone with questions regarding VA or Mahoning County benefits or who needs to file a VA claim can stop in.

For more information, contact Susan Krawchyk, executive director, at 330-740-2450.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARIES: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at various library locations. A limited supply will be available at each library location and one bag will be permitted per family. Safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home. Unneeded medications can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations in the lobbies of various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

ALZHEIMER NETWORK: The Alzheimer Network has scheduled the following volunteer support groups for Alzheimer’s caregivers. Call 330-788-9755.

• Austintown — 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield-Niles Road.

• Boardman — 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, St. Charles Catholic Church, just west of the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Market Street, Boardman.

• Canfield — 10 a.m. fourth Friday of the month, Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St.

• Girard — 6 p.m. third Tuesday of the month, Guiding Light Presbyterian Church, 890 Churchill Road.

• Howland — 10 a.m. first Wednesday of the month, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, 855 Howland Wilson Road.

• Poland — noon, first Saturday of the month, Wickshire Senior Living, 355 W. McKinley Way, or call for time, third Thursday of the month, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road.

• Salem — 6:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Emmanuel Education Building, 251 S. Broadway Ave.

ADDICTION SCREENINGS: Anyone struggling with methamphetamine addiction may call Narconon to find treatment to end the web that traps people in those in addiction. Visit https://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/understanding-meth-addiction.html or call 800-431-1754 for free screenings or referrals.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups available for free to all caregivers, family members and friends with a loved one affected by the disease or another form of dementia.

The support groups meet at:

* North Jackson — 2 p.m. third Monday of the month, Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 N. Lipkey Road.

* Canfield — 1:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St.

Contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24 / 7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for more information.

FREE FITNESS PROGRAM: The Stepping Out Program offers free fitness classes and activities online and in person throughout the Mahoning Valley. Contact Doris Bullock at 330-720-3293 or dibullock@mercy.com for information. For a schedule of virtual and in-person classes, visit www.mercy.com.

SENIOR SUPPORT: The Senior Support Action Group is a volunteer-based program that provides services to homebound seniors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. It provides monthly food boxes, transportation to medical appointments and a phone pals companionship program. For more information or to sign up for services, call 330-424-7877, ext. 2.