The Community Coalition of Forest County is partnering with the Human Service Center of Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties to offer Forest County residents numerous opportunities to view a free screening of the documentary “Written Off”.  The next Forest County screening date is Wednesday, October 3rd at the Crandon High School.

“Written Off” chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery.  His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you: One Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.

In addition to the film, parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to tour Forest County Health Department’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock teen bedroom, which will be set up at the school. The interactive room is a simultaneously amusing and horrifying scavenger hunt, which helps adults spot the signs of substance abuse or addiction that may be hiding in a teen bedroom. This will be set up to view at 5:30 pm and “Written Off” will begin at 6:00 pm. A discussion panel of local law enforcement, Matthew’s mother, Jane, and local recovery coaches will follow the documentary.  Admission is free and no registration is required.

For more information about the documentary film and/or the Mock Teen bedroom, please contact the Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371.