BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In observance of National Recovery Month, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and IU Grand Challenge: Responding to the Addictions Crisis is partnering with Lawrence County’s Families Forever to host a community conversation on addictions and recovery.
Residents and local leaders from the region are invited to the discussion, which will take place at StoneGate Arts and Education Center, 931 15th Street in Bedford, on Tuesday, September 10 from 6-8 p.m. This is one of the events IU is hosting in September to empower residents with information to combat the devastating impact of substance use disorder.
Discussion panelists include Robin Newhouse, dean of the School of Nursing and lead investigator on the IU Grand Challenge addictions initiative; Gabriela Williams, an addictions inpatient pharmacist with Eskenazi Health; John Keesler, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, researcher on rural opioid response planning with Indiana Rural Health Association and Lawrence County resident; and Kenny Bundy with Families Forever and Centerstone organizations in Bedford.
The nonprofit organization Overdose Lifeline will conclude the discussion with naloxone training and distribution. Naloxone is an FDA-approved medication that is administered in an emergency to counter the effects of an opioid overdose.
As part of Grand Challenge efforts, IU has partnered with the Indiana Supreme Court and state agencies to help train almost 1,000 court and law enforcement officials on Medically Assisted Treatment for addictions, and led a coalition of nonprofit groups and government agencies to distribute naloxone kits and provide training in their use across Indianapolis and southern Indiana.
The IU Center for Rural Engagement, in partnership with other IU centers and the Indiana Rural Health Association, is examining substance use disorder, community perceptions and effective rural recovery programs to inform future initiatives in the state of Indiana.