Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, Mercy Health and Mahoning County Juvenile Court Hosting Sam Quinones, Nationally Recognized Author of Dreamlands, at Reducing Opioid Dependence Training
Youngstown, Ohio June 21, 2018 Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, Mercy Health and Mahoning County Juvenile Court will host a Reducing Opioid Dependency on June 28th. Due to the overwhelming response from the medical, legal, and behavioral health professions, registration is now closed for the daylong event which will feature Sam Quinones, nationally recognized author of Dreamlands, who will share insights from his book highlighting the impact of painkiller prescribing practices in the late 1990’s and the role the introduction of inexpensive black tar heroin played in the opioid crisis in the United States. Mr. Quinones is a journalist, author and storyteller who’s two acclaimed books, True Tales From Another Mexico: The Lynch Mob, the Popsicle Kings, Chalino and the Bronx and Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream: True Tales of Mexican Migration are narrative nonfiction about Mexico and Mexican immigration as conveyed by everyone from gang members to Governors. The San Francisco Chronical Book Review has recognized him as, “the most original writer on Mexico and the border”.
Dr. Brad Lander, Ph.D., LICDC, a Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Independent Chemical Counselor will present the impact of drug use on the brain and behavior, examine the physiology of how drug and alcohol use becomes addiction, explain the role of genetics in addiction and mental illness and examine effective interventions for substance dependency. Dr. Lander serves as Clinical Director of the Addiction Medicine Department at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He has served as an adjunct professor at Columbus State Community College, and serves as a board member and faculty with The Ohio State Institute of Addiction Studies.
Tracy Plouck, Executive Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Recovery Services, will present the state’s latest statistics on the drug epidemic and measure that are being undertaken by the government and legislature as well as best practices for treatment and recovery. She is the past president of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and also serves as Vice Chair of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center.
Mercy Health has been focused on increasing access to mental health treatment across the continuum. Larry Graham, M.D., President of the Behavioral Health Institute of Mercy Health has been leading Mercy's response to the opiate epidemic and will present the development and implementation of Mercy’s Behavioral Health Institute Continuum of Care Dr. Graham has extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Breakout sessions will encompass Human Trafficking, New Marijuana Laws, the Role of Recovery Coaches, the Impact of Ohio’s Prescribing Law and the Drug Epidemic, on Families and Children. Susan D. Laird, LPCC-S, CDCA, has been an adjunct professor at Youngstown State University for over twenty-six years and is teaching the first course on Human Trafficking at the university. She will present on human trafficking and the connection to the drug epidemic and recent measures to reduce human trafficking.
M. Frank Beck, D.D.S., FAAHD, MAGD, FICOI, DSCDA, Program Director, Department of Dentistry at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital – Mercy Health and Medford Mashburn, M.D., HMDC, the Administrative and Clinical Medical Director of Hospice of the Valley, are actively involved in reducing opioid dependency. They will outline the impact new prescribing laws have on the drug epidemic and how OARRS works and who has access to information.
Carolyn Givens Executive Director of the Neil Kennedy Recovery Centers will discuss the roles and responsibilities of recovery coaches and their importance as supportive treatment for persons with various addictions. Angela DiVito, MSOL, OCPC, ICPS, Director of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Mahoning County will educate participants on Ohio’s new medical marijuana law. Completing the list of speakers are Judge Theresa Dellick, Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge and Randall Muth, Esq., Executive Director of the Mahoning County Children Services Board. They will explore the impact opioid use has on children and families and methods to prevent control and change outcomes. ###