Tim Sigler

A community coming together addressing the Opioid Crisis

Tim Sigler, Senior Manager – Community, Housing and Human Services Department, 509.625.6055

Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 3:48 p.m.

A community coming together addressing the Opioid Crisis

Next week on Tuesday, May 7, there is an opportunity to join an informative and motivational event for the community; A Community Connected: Addressing the Opioid Crisis Together from 5-8 p.m. at Riverside Place Auditorium in Spokane. The event will also include a panel of local experts with an opportunity for Q & A from the audience.

This is a free event for the community. The registration is available online.

Tony Hoffman, Olympian coach, world-ranked pro BMX racer, and former addict is the keynote speaker for the event. Tony has inspired audiences across the county through his motivational speeches. His story is one of addiction, recovery, and hope.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Spokane and sharing my story about how one choice can change the rest of your life.”

Understanding opioid disorder can help bring about change. Some items to note:

  • Opioid use disorder is a chronic condition, like heart disease and diabetes
  • Changes occur in both brain function and chemistry
  • Like many chronic conditions, it requires regular monitoring and treatment
    • Without regular monitoring and treatment, the condition can get worse
    • Getting worse means returning to using illicit drugs, either prescription or illegal
  • Using drugs illicitly can lead to overdose and death
  • Treatment = harm reduction (of overdoses, infectious diseases like hepatitis B&C, HIV)
  • Individuals with OUD shouldn’t be blamed for their condition
  • There’s a great likelihood that everyone knows someone who struggles with misusing these medications
  • Misuse of opioids is commonly associated with misuse of other medications (e.g., methamphetamine, benzodiazepines)
  • Looking to blame the medical community for the problem isn’t accurate; rather, people who misuse medication are attempting to relieve the pain in their lives that isn’t only physical social conditions – poverty, adverse child experiences, low educational attainment, are all risk factors for substance misuse

The event is intended for community members wanting to learn more about the disease and to become a part of the solution; teachers, students, neighborhood leaders and activists, families of those struggling with addiction, individuals struggling with addiction, health care providers, social service providers, elected officials, churches, anyone wanting to learn more and to be a part of the solution.

Thank you so much for your partnership in addressing Opioid misuse and promoting this important event. If you have any questions about the event, please don’t hesitate to contact our community project manager, Heidi Wilson at hwilson@srhd.org

WHAT: A Community Connected: Addressing the Opioid Crisis Together
TIME: 5-8 p.m.
WHEN: May 7
WHERE: Riverside Place Auditorium in Spokane, 1110 West Riverside Avenue, Auditorium - Main Street (North Side of Building)

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