6th Annual Penn State Addiction Symposium

Please join us on the evening of Wednesday, December 2, 2020 and the day of Thursday, December 3, 2020 for the 6th Annual Penn State Addiction Symposium.

This year our esteemed keynote speaker will be Susan Sherman, PhD, Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Sherman’s research and publications focus on the social determinants of health and structural interventions among people who use drugs and female sex workers. Her work examining the validity, acceptability, and implementation of several fentanyl testing technologies led to the decriminalization of drug checking in several jurisdictions in the US. Dr. Sherman is leading the evaluation of a community-level intervention targeting street-based, drug using, female sex workers. The intervention consists of a full service drop-in center (SPARC Center) and extensive peer outreach. Dr. Sherman serves on several state and national advisory committees and testifies regularly at state and local government hearings, using evidence to support humane drug policy. She is a newly endowed Bloomberg Professor of the American Health in Addiction and Overdose.

Dr. Sherman will present two unique talks, one at the faculty event focused on policy, and one at the symposium focusing on her research.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020: Virtual faculty event formerly the “Dinner”

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Zoom

Register here http://bit.ly/PSUAddictionDinner

This event, formerly known as “The Dinner,” will include a social/networking hour (5-6 p.m.), possible through self-selected breakout Zoom rooms, to allow you to catch up with acquaintances and make new connections.

Dr. Sherman will deliver the keynote address, focused on public health and policy:

‘Innovative Approaches to the Opioid Epidemic: Harm Reduction Efforts in the time of COVID’

Dr. Sherman will discuss the evidence in support of harm reduction and overdose prevention among people who use drugs, including syringe service programs, safe consumption sites, and drug checking.  She will also examine the nature and reach of these programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including examples of nimble programs that reshape to meet a changing environment that impacts care delivery and need.

Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will also speak to provide an update on substance use in the state.

In attendance will be representatives from Penn State University, local and state government, and prominent members of the Pennsylvania substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery community.

Continuing Education Credits (1 hr CME and APA; eligible for opioid credit requirement) will be available for Penn State employees (currently pending).

All interested faculty and clinicians are invited, but registration is required (see below).

Thursday, December 3, 2020: Addiction Symposium

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Zoom

Register here http://bit.ly/PSUAddictionSymposium

The goal of the symposium is to familiarize ourselves with the many groups studying and treating addiction at the various Penn State campuses. This year, we will highlight the significant advancements at Penn State Hershey pertaining to substance use Research, Treatment, Education, and Community Engagement that have been achieved. We will also be discussing the role of the Penn State Addiction Center for Translation and how it can better serve the clinicians, researchers, and community affiliates of Penn State Hershey and beyond.

The symposium will feature a second talk by Dr. Sherman (12:00-1:00 p.m.) focused on her harm reduction research in the community:

‘The Invisible Impact of Gender: Overdose and HIV Risk Environment of Street-based Female Sex Workers’

Dr. Sherman will discuss the unique risk conferred by the environment for women who use drugs and sell sex.  Specifically, she will examine the role of the police on overdose and HIV/STI outcomes, as well as describe a full-service drop-in Center, the SPARC Center. She will detail SPARC services during the time of COVID-19.

Continuing Education Credits (1 hr CME and APA; eligible for opioid credit requirement) will be available for Penn State employees (currently pending).

Due to the restrictions of a large virtual event, our plan this year the majority of our data-blitz talks and all of our posters will be pre-recorded and made available to registrants for viewing prior to the symposium. During our Poster and Presentation Session attendees will be able to toggle between Zoom rooms to “visit” presenters and discuss research. Presenters will be able to share their screen to provide visuals for discussion.

ALL are encouraged to share their research and/or current projects.

To present a 5min data blitz-style TALK or a POSTER at the Symposium, the deadline for submission is November 17, 2020.

Please send a 250 word abstract, complete with title, author(s), affiliations, and the presenter’s email address to Sarah (PSACT@pennstatehealth.psu.edu). Specific recording directions will then be sent to you.