Ben Carson to visit Cedar Rapids Thursday to discuss substance abuse

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is scheduled to visit Cedar Rapids on Thursday to discuss substance abuse with Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart and others.

Carson, who was among the large GOP field running for president in 2016, has visited Iowa numerous times. The visit on Thursday will include a roundtable discussion with the Area Substance Abuse Council at 11:15 a.m. at 3601 16th Ave SW, followed at 2:15 by a tour of the Area Substance Abuse Council Heart of Iowa, 4050 Bowling St. SW.

The Heart of Iowa center offers services for mothers in substance abuse treatment. Carson serves on President Donald Trump's Interagency Task Force dedicated to addressing the opioid crisis across the country, according to a news release announcing the visit.

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