The Hampton Community Opioid Partnership will host a roundtable event at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at the Hampton Community Center.
The partnership consists of representatives from the Hampton Township School District, Hampton Township, the FBI's HOPE Initiative, local ministerium, and medical professionals with both UPMC Health Network and Allegheny Health Network. The partnership is committed to offering several events throughout the year, with the purpose of spreading awareness about the growing opioid epidemic.
Event moderator and emcee will be the Rev. Dr. Ted Martin of Hampton Presbyterian Church. Clint Hurdle, General Manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a Hampton resident, will open the event with a pre-recorded message for guests about his dedication to fighting the opioid epidemic.
Special guest speakers for the Jan. 18 event include:
- Mrs. Tina Flowers, the mother of a Hampton alumnus who struggled with opioid addiction;
- Dr. Gary Swanson, Chair of Psychiatry Residency at Allegheny General Hospital; and
- Kelly Wesolosky, FBI Pittsburgh Community Outreach Specialist/HOPE Initiative.
Following the presentation by the special guest speakers, event participants will have the opportunity to choose from one of four breakout sessions focusing on either prevention or support. Breakout sessions are as follows:
7 to 8 p.m. – Main Meeting Room
- Mrs. Tina Flowers will share the tragic story of her son, Spenser’s, opioid addiction and eventual overdose death and how it has affected her entire family.
- Kelly Wesolosky FBI Hope Initiative will share regional statistics and trends concerning the opioid epidemic.
- Dr. Gary Swanson will present on the effects of opioid use on the brain and how to prevent misuse of opioid prescriptions.
8 to 9 p.m. – Workshop Rooms
- Preventive Track:
- Dr. Thomas Brophy - Main Room A - Brain physiology
- Dr. Michele Mlakar - Youth Lounge - Basics of prevention in today's culture
- Supportive Track:
- Dr. Gary Swanson/ Dr. Gina Goszinski - Main Room B - How to help a loved one caught in the cycle of addiction
- Federal Law Enforcement Representatives - Adult Lounge - "Now what?"
- Signs of addiction
- How to help prosecute drug dealers
- What to look for (and what to avoid) in a recovery program
A 15-minute Question and Answer session will follow the breakout sessions.