Presenter: DeDe Severino, MA
Description: Much of the past two and a half years have been spent in ramping up services to combat the opioid epidemic. North Carolina has seen an influx of dollars and increased availability of treatment services specifically geared towards opioid use disorder. So where are we now? What have we accomplished? This session will focus on the efforts directed towards expansion of clinical treatment and recovery services for opioid use disorder, but also discuss current trends, including increases in cocaine and methamphetamine use, strategies for more fully incorporating recovery supports and budgetary overviews.
Presenter: Starleen Scott Robbins, MSW, LCSW
Description: NC has been a leader in perinatal & maternal substance use disorder treatment for over 25 years. The NC Perinatal & Maternal Substance Use Initiative and CASAWORKS for Families Residential Initiative have been recognized as model programs both statewide and nationally. This session will provide a primer those not familiar with the Initiatives and the families they serve (including outcomes!). Additionally, we will discuss what’s new in the perinatal substance use disorder treatment in NC including the laws, policies, collaborations and statewide resources associated with this priority population.
Presenter: Rebecca Wheeler, MA
Description: This session filled with interactive discussion will explore a variety of factors that are influencing increased suicide rates among youth; the impact of how access to means is resulting in increased youth death by suicide; and population-specific stressors that place youth at higher risk than the general population for substance use disorders and suicide attempts.
Presenter: Adrienne Michelle, LMFT
Description: In this plenary, participants will learn and gain understanding of the struggles that marginalized female identities face even when discussing injustices made against all of us. If we aren’t talking about Womyn, if we aren’t discussing the intersections between Womxn, then who are we talking about? We are all different, that’s why it’s important that everyone has a seat at the table.
(Sponsored By: Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center)
Presenter: Captain Michael King, PhD, MSW
Description: This luncheon session will provide participants with useful information on the present initiatives of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Specifically, attendees will be able to examine epidemiological trends for the state of North Carolina, with the most recent data and information available presented. And, attendees will also be able to identify the data and the challenges of the opioid epidemic within the Southeast region of the country.
(Sponsored By: SAMHSA)
Presenter: Jim D. Martin, MS
Description: This session addresses the growing concern of vaping devices and the types of substances that are commonly found inside vape devices including nicotine and THC. As we discuss the latest research and the physical effects of these substances on the body, we will explore adolescent brain development and effects of e-cigarettes on the developing brain. We will also take a look at the risk factors for use and the protective factors that help prevent use. A discussion on resources and strategies to increase protective factors for our youth will leave attendees with tools for next steps.
Presenter: John Femino, MD
Description: This plenary will review the process of guideline development to highlight the challenges of translating controlled studies to actual clinical practice. Dr. Femino, a member of the Quality Improvement Council, will discuss how ASAM has approached developing and updating medication guidelines utilizing the RAND/RAM process. An overview of current recommendations will highlight commonalities and differences between controlled studies and real world clinical experiences. Focus will be on how clinicians can strategically apply these to their clinical practice and collect data from their own practice- based evidence to expand our understanding of patient treatment matching.
(Sponsored By: Dominion Diagnostics)
Presenter: Kiricka Yarbough Smith
Description: This presentation will cover the basics of human trafficking in North Carolina and its many intersections with public health issues, such as substance abuse. Taking a public health perspective, it will examine how we can view trafficking as a public health emergency and how we can provide services to survivors using a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach.
(Sponsored By: UNC-Chapel Hill’s Administration for Children and Families )
Presenter: Carlton Hall, MHS
Description: The presenter will reframe perceived “gaps in the national conversation” as opportunities to change the conversation and offer “strategies” as critical skills required to specifically impact population-level reductions in medicine, opioid misuse and abuse. Discussion will cover the tools and resources, including CHC’s trademarked training system, L.E.A.D. to address the Rx/heroin/synthetic opioid drug issue with scale and scope in diverse communities.
(Sponsored By: Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center)