Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse Conference 2021

Addressing Substance Use: Cross-Systems Solutions

The annual conference of the Penn State Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, funders, and community leaders to focus on community-engaged solutions to problems of substance use. Opportunities to leverage evidence-based solutions in coordination across extension/education, faith-based, criminal justice, and healthcare systems are highlighted. Sessions on each of these systems are designed to stimulate impactful collaborations between individuals across systems and across communities within the Commonwealth and beyond.

The schedule of events is as follows:

10:15-10:25am | Welcome / Opening Remarks

10:25-11:10am | Educational Systems: Critical Partnerships for Evidenced-Based Prevention with Dr. Paul Kazmarcik, Carbondale School District; Dr. Scott Gest, University of Virginia; and Ms. Melissa Tomascik, Penn State University

11:10-11:15am | Coffee Break

11:15-12:00pm | Engaging the Faith-Based Community: An Opportunity and a Challenge with Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, Rev. Melissa Maher, and Imam Dr. Basem Hamid

12:00-1:00pm | Lunch Break

1:00-1:45pm | Correctional Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Progress, Challenges, and Lessons Learned with Mr. Steven Seitchik, PA Department of Corrections; Dr. Kristofer (Bret) Bucklen, PA Department of Corrections; Mr. Jared Lutz, RASE Community Recovery Organization

1:45-2:30pm | Beyond the Clinic Walls: Advancing Healthcare Approaches to Substance Use with Dr. Sheryl Ryan, Penn State College of Medicine; Ms. Meghna Patel, PA Department of Health; and Dr. Linda Thomas-Hermak, The Wright Center for Community Health

2:30-2:45pm | Coffee Break

2:45-3:30pm | Interacting Systems Closing Session with Dr. David Saunders, PA Department of Health