Local sheriffs, commonwealth attorneys, county supervisors and other community leaders will take part in a drug summit from 9 a.m. to noon today at Lebanon Baptist Church, Saluda.

The purpose of the summit is to discuss strategies for collectively combating the substance abuse epidemic in the Middle Peninsula.

The summit, being hosted by Del. Keith Hodges (R-Middlesex), will also include Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources William Hazel, and state Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran.

“As a member of the Substance Abuse Services Council, and the Governor’s Task Force for Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse, I see firsthand the seriousness of this growing problem that affects our quality of life on the Middle Peninsula,” Hodges said.

“It’s got to be a collective effort to combat this problem,” he added.

Lauren Cummings, executive director of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition, will be the ...