Over 200 attend substance use disorder conference
HAMBURG — The Center for Prevention and Counseling’s annual substance use disorder conference was held in Hamburg at the Emerald Room in Crystal Springs on Nov. 13 to a sold out crowd. Parents, law enforcement, health and treatment professionals, school staff, addiction and recovery advocates, young people, clergy members, local government officials and others left with a better understanding of the current drug trends and how to advocate for prevention, treatment and recovery services for people and families with substance use disorders.
Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch welcomed everyone to the event and Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (NJDMHAS), Valerie Mielke, opened the event with an overview of our state’s coordination of mental health and addiction services. Renowned epidemiologist from Broward County, Florida, James Hall, enlightened attendees with his vast knowledge of synthetic drugs and the ever-evolving lethal landscape that these substances present for parents, law enforcement and youth nationwide.
DEA Special Agent Timothy McMahon spoke about the myths, issues and current problems with marijuana that plague our next generation. Adam Polhemus of the Regional Operational Intelligence Center, New Jersey State Police, reviewed the overall state response to our drug epidemic with information connecting the state police to every local effort. Neva Pryor, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, connected the many times accompanying addiction of gambling that those with addiction may also be experiencing.
The conference included prevention, treatment and recovery information with excellent speakers and exhibitors from across the country, linking many local issues with state and national efforts. The Center presents this conference annually with the generous support of kind and generous sponsors. This year’s major sponsors included Lakeland Bank, Vernon Township Board of Education, Premier Health Associates, Retreat at Lancaster County, GenPsych, Summit Behavioral Health, Endeavor House, High Focus Centers, Carrier Clinic, Advanced Health and Education, Summit Oaks, Footprints to Recovery, Behavioral Health of Palm Beaches and Dream Recovery Center.
Gary Mendell brought his personal story about the death of his 25-year-old son, Brian, and how this became his inspiration to create an organization, Shatterproof, to address addiction. Conference attendees were silent and somber, engrossed in the details of how a grieving father transformed his heartache into a campaign to encourage other individuals and families to seek prevention and recovery from substance use disorders.
Patrick Roff, NJDMHAS Addiction Recovery Advocate and Aaron Kucharski, NCADD-NJ, also a Recovery Advocate both emphasized the combined strengths of grassroots efforts, the attention of lawmakers and policy change that is making a difference in New Jersey which leads the nation in advocating for recovery supports for people with substance use disorders. Aaron invited attendees to join the Recovery Advocacy movement statewide as well as in Sussex County if they wanted to help increase the understanding of addiction and widen the path for people to achieve and maintain recovery. The next meeting of the Sussex County Recovery Advocates is on Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. at 65 Newton-Sparta Road.
Becky Carlson, executive director of The Center for Prevention and Counseling, emphasized the many different individual, family and community programs and services that the agency offers for youth, adolescents, adults and families at risk of substance use disorders.
More information can be found at www.centerforprevention.org or by calling (973)383-4787.