Wilkes University has announced that the Pain and Addiction Summit, previously scheduled for April 3, 2020, has been rescheduled for April 23, 2021. Leaders at the forefront of battling the opioid crisis will present at the event at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Dr. Drew Pinsky, known nationally as “Dr. Drew,” will deliver the keynote address, “The Opioid Epidemic: How Did We Get Here and What Do We Do Now?” Registration already is open for the 2021 event and reminders to register will be sent in fall 2020.
During the full-day conference, medical, legal and law enforcement professionals will discuss the current state of the opioid crisis, share methods in dealing with these issues, and identify opportunities to treat pain and substance abuse. Continuing education hours are available for counselors, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, nurses and social workers.
Dr. Drew is a practicing physician and board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist. For more than 20 years, he served first as the director of medical services and later as the program medical director of chemical dependency services at a full-service psychiatric hospital. He has also served in a variety of clinical professor roles at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Dr. Drew is a national lecturer in medical training programs and presents to the public on health and addiction issues. He hosted the nationally syndicated radio show Loveline for over 32 years. He also produced and starred in the hit reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1 which chronicled the struggle for sobriety and the cycle of addictive disorders of a group of celebrities.
Dr. Drew received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his medical degree from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, where he remained for his residency. He then became chief resident at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. He has been appointed to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and is a Fellow with the American College of Physicians.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, “overdose deaths, particularly from prescription drugs and heroin, have reached epidemic levels, now making drug overdoses the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50.” Locally, overdose deaths in Luzerne County have increased annually, with deaths at an all-time high of 156 in 2018.
The cost to attend the full-day program is $150. Half-day participation is $75 and does not include lunch and the keynote address.
Presentation proposals are being accepted. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Attendees can learn more and register online at www.wilkes.edu/addiction. For more information, contact Margaret Petty, director of the center for continued learning, at (570) 408-4460 or margaret.petty@wilkes.edu.
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