CLARION PA by Cecelia Harmon (RVO) – On Saturday, March 23rd, Clarion University will be hosting an Opioid Symposium. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Still Hall 112. The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided.

Clarion University Opioid Symposium – Clarion PA

This event will be dually hosted by the university’s Translational Research Medicine Club and the Health Careers Club.

The opioid epidemic is considered a public health crisis in the state of Pennsylvania. In Clarion County, in 2017, there were six reported opioid overdose deaths according to the University of Pittsburgh. This symposium is meant to help educate the public and raise awareness. Those who attend will learn about the epidemic from experts in the field and find out what they can do to help.

Guest speakers will include:
Dr. Mark Lepore, Ed.D, LPC, LCSW
Dr. Mark Kilwein, Ph.D.
Mike Helsing, Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS), Addiction Recovery Mobile Outreach Team (ARMOT), Recovery Coach Trainer
Donna Oberlander, State Representative
Amanda Cope, CEO Positive Recovery Solutions
Jill Northey, The Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission

In the afternoon, the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission will be hosting a free Naloxone training session. Participants will be given Naloxone to take home. Naloxone is a nasal spray that can quickly reverse the effects of opioid overdose; administering this drug can give a person who overdosed the ability to survive until emergency medical services can arrive. Pennsylvania residents are allowed to give Naloxone under Act 139 as long as they have received certified training.  

While the event is free, the University kindly asks that participants RVSP with this eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opioid-academic-symposium-tickets-55519173342

To get an exact schedule of the Opioid Symposium, please check out the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/290930198250433/