A conference beginning today at IUP focuses attention on the opioid crisis and on suicide, which is often connected to opioids.
The Mid-Atlantic Research and Training Institute for Community and Behavioral Health Conference, “Preventing, Recovery and Wellness: For Individuals, Families, and Communities,” is scheduled to last through Friday at the new College of Humanities & Social Sciences building on campus. It will feature nationally renowned keynote speakers and breakout session on research and clinical training.
One of the organizers, sociology professor Christian Vaccaro, says the conference attendees will be exposed to all aspects of opioid interdiction. He says connecting opioids to suicide prevention is not far-fetched, as experts have identified factors in both opioids and suicide that are rooted in the same causes.
IUP Sociology chairperson Alex Heckert is also MARTI’s Director of Training. He says this week’s conference is intended to cover”the full range of topics.”
Among the many speakers this week will be comedian Gary Owen, who lost his brother to heroin. He will appear on Wednesday at 4:45 in a free event open to the public.
Visit iup.edu for a feature story and full conference schedule, with details on the speakers and topics.
