Nov 27, 2016
“In Our Midst: The Opioid Epidemic, and a Community Response” was presented on November 22, 2016, by Dr. Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CARN-AP; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing and University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (Co-Chair, Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project) and a panel. Non-medical use of opiates has been called an “epidemic” by CDC Director Thomas Frieden and “an urgent public health crisis” by former US Attorney General Holder. Local and national leaders and media headlines echo and highlight this concern. Communities across the country are in the grips of an opioid epidemic, and our local Washtenaw County Michigan community is no exception. This program will examine the opioid epidemic in our midst, and what is being done to respond. The presenter will discuss factors that have contributed to a national opioid epidemic, rates and patterns of opioid overdose deaths locally and nationally, areas of focus for the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project, and actions that can be taken to be part of the solution. The presentation includes a panel discussion by experts who are on the local forefront of combating opiod misuse.
About the presenter: This program was developed and is presented by Dr. Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, NP, PMHCNS-BC, CARN-AP, FIAAN; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing and University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (Co-Chair, Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project.) Dr. Stephen Strobbe is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, and the Department of Psychiatry. He is board-certified both in psychiatric and addictions nursing. His professional background has included clinical care, research, administration, and education. Dr. Strobbe was first Clinical Director for the University of Michigan Addictions Treatment Services (UMATS), for which he received the Administration/Management Award from the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA). He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, position statements, book chapters, and other works related to substance use and addictions nursing. He has been an invited speaker, both nationally and internationally, including Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. In 2015, Professor Strobbe received the 25th Annual Golden Apple Award, the only student-nominated and student-selected teaching award at the University of Michigan. Dr. Strobbe is the current President of the International Nurses Society on Addictions, and Co-Chair for the Washtenaw Health Initiative Opioid Project. In October, 2016, he was inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing.
This presentation is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a free, annual education series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.