The Hope and Healing Conference of Western New York (WNY) will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Fredonia State University of New York.

The two-day event will include keynote speakers, informational wellness tables, and interactive educational workshops on mental health and chemical dependency topics in Chautauqua County and our region.

The two featured key-note speakers are Dr. Davina Moss-King who will give a presentation entitled, The New Millennium: Providing Hope and Healing While Simultaneously Treating Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health.

The other speaker will be Emma Fabian of Evergreen Health, who will focus her talk on The Crucial Role of Persons with Lived Experience in Shaping Programs and Communities That Serve Them.

Other presentations and workshops throughout the two-day event will include overdose prevention and Narcan administration, Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders, mindfulness, harm reduction, and many other topics to inform and promote wellness in our community.

Presenters will highlight local resources, programs, and other initiatives in prevention, treatment, and recovery.

This event is open to the public, and registration is required. Lunch and refreshments for both days is included in the registration fee of $40. To register call 664-3608.

JAMESTOWN – It was a packed house at Jamestown Community College’s Scharman Theater Tuesday night as hundreds turned out to hear six different speakers offer an update and provide information in the fight against drug addiction.

The “Many Faces of Addiction” forum was organized by the city’s Health Care Action Team and featured six speakers focusing on various topics related to the issue, including public safety, stigma, human trafficking/sexual exploitation, challenges facing women and mothers, harm reduction, and spirituality/community connection.

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings during the Nov. 15 drug forum at Jamestown Community College

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings offered an update on how addiction has impacted public safety in recent years, saying that while the community has seen some positive changes recently, but also said the numbers indicate it’s still a long way off and there’s still a lot more work to do.

Snellings presented data that illustrates the rising demand for both illegal opioids and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. He also talked about the increase in overdose calls in the area, pointing out that there was 68 calls in 2015, but through the first 10 months of 2017, that number has climbed to 213 calls.

Snellings also said that fatal overdoses have also been on the rise, with 26 reported in 2015, compared to 13 in 2010. He also said that while officials try to keep track of the number of fatal overdoses in the community, the number is not accurate because often times an autopsy or toxicology may not be performed on someone who has died.  Snellings added that the situation isn’t unique to Chautauqua County with a total of 30 counties in New York State that are likely under-reporting fatal overdoses due to substance use.

Another speaker was Dr. Karen McElrath, a Jamestown native and current Professor of Criminal Justice at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina. Dr. McElrath focused on the stigmas associated with addiction and how they can prevent those who are addicted from seeking help.

Yet another speaker, Leanna Luka Conley from Children and Family Services in Chautauqua County, discussed the impact addiction has on human trafficking, which she said can be more commonly known as sexual exploitation.

Other speakers included Dr. Davina Moss-King, from Positive Direction and Associates in Buffalo and who spoke on the impact addiction has on women, pregnant mothers, and new borns; Andrew O’Brien, former Director of Behavioral Health at WCA; and Rev. Luke Fodor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Jamestown.

A question and answer period followed.  The forum was moderated by Dr. Lillian Ney.

To tackle the crisis of substance abuse disorders in Chautauqua County, more than two dozen organizations are collaborating to present “The Many Faces of Addiction: No One Cause, No One Solution.” This second Community Education Forum will be held at Jamestown Community College on Wednesday, November 15, 6:30 p.m. Among the planners are (seated, from left) Andrew O’Brien, UPMC-Chautauqua-WCA; Kia Narraway-Briggs, Executive Director, Mental Health Association; Dr. Lillian Vitanza Ney, Health Care Action Team; (standing, from left) Leanna Luka-Conley, Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services; Janet Forbes, Program VP, AAUW-Jamestown Branch; and The Rev. Luke Fodor, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

JAMESTOWN – An event geared at raising awareness about the causes and treatment for drug addiction is happening Wednesday night, Nov. 15, at Jamestown Community College.

The “Many Faces of Addiction: No One Cause, No One Solution,” is being organized by the Jamestown Health Care Action Team (HCAT) along with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Mental Health Association (MHA).

• LISTEN: COMMUNITY MATTERS PREVIEW OF MANY FACES OF ADDICTION FORUM

The forum will feature several speakers who will share information about their role in working to fight the region’s drug epidemic, along with a question and answer period.

Speakers will include:

• Dr. Karen McElrath, Professor of Criminal Justice, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina;
• Dr. Davina Moss-King, Positive Direction and Associates, Buffalo;
• Andrew O’Brien, former Director of Behavioral Health at WCA;
• Leanna Luka-Conley, Deputy Commissioner of Adult, Children and Family Services for the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services;
• Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings;
• and Reverend Luke Fodor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Jamestown.

Moderator will be Dr. Lillian Ney.

The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at JCC’s  Scharmann Theatre. Attendance is free and open to the public. Light refreshment will be available beginning at 6 p.m.

In recognition of local groups’ educational efforts on drug addiction, Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will be proclaiming May 2017 as Drug Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in Chautauqua County.

One of the main events happening in May will be the Hope and Healing for Chautauqua event, taking place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. This free, day-long event will feature guest speakers, presentations, and addiction resources for the community.

Dr. Rodney Wambeam

The featured keynote speaker for Hope and Healing for Chautauqua is Dr. Rodney Wambeam, Senior Research Scientist at the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center of the University of Wyoming. Wambeam will present on “Boomers, Xera and Millennials: How New Research on Generations Can Inform the Future of Prevention.”

In addition, Level Up Talks will be given in the form of micro presentations to provide further information about prevention, treatment and recovery concepts with the potential to “level up” hope and healing in Chautauqua County.

Breakout sessions will complete the day with HOPE Youth Empowerment Program for Youth Advocacy lead by Laurie Reynolds and Tracy Jespersen of CASAC; Planning and Evaluating Environmental Prevention Efforts lead by Wambeam; Success in Treatment and Recovery with Lifestyle Changes lead by Dr. Davina Moss-King; and Peer Specialists and Peer Recovery Supports lead by Kia Briggs, MHA and Pastor Leecroft Clarke of Addiction Response Ministry.

Information and resource tables will be available throughout the day. Additionally, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Credential Hours for CPP/CPS and CASAC will be available. Attendee registration to the event is open until May 1 and those who register after this date may not be guaranteed a lunch.

The Hope and Healing events are put on by the Healthy Opportunities for Prevention Education (HOPE) Chautauqua Coalition. This diverse group of community partners has been working together to plan local events that promote hope, highlight resources, and strengthen substance abuse efforts in Chautauqua County. The planning committee includes representatives of  CASAC, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Chautauqua Tapestry, Evergreen Health, HOPE Chautauqua Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, MHA, UPMC Chautauqua WCA, local faith leaders, and other dedicated community members.

For more information about the Hope and Healing for Chautauqua events, registration information and additional details, visit the HOPE Chautauqua Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/HopeChautauqua/.