Addressing Opioid Epidemic One Focus of Holy Family Hospital Conference

Holy Family Hospital, Haverhill campus. (WHAV News file photograph.)

Holy Family Hospital Haverhill campus. (File photograph.)

“Law Enforcement’s Roles in the Opioid Epidemic” is one of five subject areas that will be addressed when Holy Family Hospitals’ Eighth Annual Adult Behavioral Medicine Conference takes place next month.

Lt. John Barbiere, Haverhill Police Department discusses police response to the opioid epidemic and its association with healthcare providers. The conference takes place Friday, Sept. 14, at Northern Essex Community College, Hartleb Technology Building, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill.

Other topics covered are “Addressing Child Trauma through a Rapid Response Intervention:  An Overview of Project CARE,” with Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan; “Innocence Lost: Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking,” with Sgt. Kevin Dwyer, High Risk Victim Unit, Massachusetts State Police; and “Being Here Now. My Journey from Victim, to Survivor, to Champion,” with Nikki Bell, executive director of Living in Freedom Together. The group is a survivor-led, non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals to exit and recover from commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

Holy Family staff will also tackle “Behavioral Health in the Emergency Department.”  Holy Family Hospital EMS Director Cindy Spier leads the discussion with paramedic Steve Miller; and Behavioral Health Navigators Ashley Serpa, and Cristen Sweet.

The day will begin at 7a.m. with registration and continental breakfast followed by the program at 8 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $45 and includes breakfast, lunch and continuing education credits.

Mail checks, made payable to Holy Family Hospital, to Katherine Vozeolas, director of Mission and Community Partnerships, C/O Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St., Methuen, MA, 01844.  Place telephone numbers on the check for a call when it is received. Indicate the type of credits you require.

Registrations are not accepted without payment and the deadline is Friday, Aug. 31. For more information, email [email protected] or call Katie at 978-687-0151, ext. 2007.