Removing the stigma surrounding substance use disorders

Th​e annual Coming Together Conference enhances public and professional knowledge of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Recovery. The event discusses the most current tools and methods of treating SUD/co-occurring mental health disorders, and aims to reduce the stigmas associated with addiction and recovery. Professionals from medicine, law, criminal justice, social work, counseling, and education are joined by national experts and spokespersons in a full day of presentations and workshops. The conference facilitates conversation and partnerships with a variety of community organizations, while sharing community resources, programs, and outreach services available for SUD and Recovery in our region.

Conference Registration is open!

Conference Ticket: $140
Student Ticket: $50

Keynote Speaker: Dr. John Kelly

Dr. Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is the Director of the Recovery Research Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Associate Director of the Center for Addiction Medicine at MGH, and the Program Director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service. Dr. Kelly is a former President of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society of Addiction Psychology, and is a Fellow of the APA and a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has served as a consultant to U.S. federal agencies and non-federal institutions, as well as foreign governments and the United Nations. Dr. Kelly has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and books in the field of addiction medicine. His work has focused on addiction treatment and the recovery process, mechanisms of behavior change, and reducing stigma and discrimination among individuals suffering from addiction.

WHEN

Day One

Coming Together Conference Kick Off Reception

October 24 | 6-8pm

WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
300 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

DETAILS

Enjoy an evening with our keynote speaker, Dr. John Kelly. Admission is free and this event is open to the community. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Registration is not required, but appreciated.

Please park in the Epic Center parking structure (136 E South St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). If you are an external member or arriving from a different campus, make sure to pick up a QR Validation Ticket at the Security Desk before you leave WMed. To exit the parking ramp, you will enter your original ticket and then scan the QR Validation Ticket.

WHERE

Coming Together Conference Kick Off Reception – Day One

WMed W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus

300 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

WHEN

Day Two

Coming Together Conference

October 25, 2023

WMU Fetzer Center
2251 Business Court, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

BREAKOUTS

  • Medication Assisted Treatment: Use, Availability, and Follow Up
  • Trends in Illicit Drug Use
  • Healing Disconnections of the Brain and Body through EMDR and Brain Spotting
  • Pride Recovery: Queer & Getting Clean
  • Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse
  • Allyship for Recovery; What can you do?
  • Coaches for Recovery
  • OutFront LGBTQ+ Panel Q&A Session
  • Roundtable Discussion: Solutions to Challenges in Long-Term, Sustained Recovery

WHERE

Coming Together Conference (Day 2)

Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University

2251 Business Court, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND EVENT AGENDA

8:00 AM | WELCOME
Chris Slater, Executive Director, Community Healing Centers and Dominick Gladstone, Coming Together Event Chair

8:15 AM | MORNING KEYNOTE: EFFICACY OF 12-STEP PROGRAMS: WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE TELL US
John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Founder and Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Recovery Research Institute.

Alcohol and other drug use disorders are the top public health problem in most middle-and high-income countries around the world. To address these challenges, most societies provide a variety of formal professionally directed treatment and recovery support services as well as a cadre of community-based recovery support options. Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are by far the world’s largest addiction recovery support organizations and professional treatments have been developed and implemented to link patients with these resources to help prevent relapse and sustain remission. Until recently, little was known from a rigorous scientific standpoint regarding the efficacy of clinically-delivered treatments designed to engage patients with these programs (so called, Twelve-Step Facilitation [TSF] treatments) or the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of AA and the therapeutic mechanisms through which AA confers benefits. This talk will review the latest science on 12-step programs, TSF treatments, cost-benefits, and mechanisms, and discuss the implications for clinical implementation. 

9:30 AM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS I

A. Healing Disconnections of the Brain and Body through EMDR and Brainspotting
Liz Cary, LLP, CAADC, CCS, Therapist and Owner, Freedom Counseling, and Kathy Piecuch, LPC, CAADC, Consultant in Brainspotting, Therapist and Owner, Brain Body Therapy Group

Participants will learn the basic tenets of EMDR and Brainspotting therapy interventions. Their relevance to healing addiction through understanding attachment and trauma will be discussed.

B. Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse
Victoria Orbe, LMSW, CAADC, Clinical Director, Children’s Services, Community Healing Centers 

This session will provide an overview of juvenile justice’s approach to address substance abuse in adolescents. Common patterns of adolescent substance abuse, interventions and barriers to treatment will be provided.

C. Medication Assisted Treatment: Use, Availability, and Follow Up
Bruce C. Springer, MD, FASAM, Addiction Medicine Specialist, InterCare Community Health Network

This session will provide the definition of substance use disorder, criteria for the diagnosis of addiction, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of addiction and the basis for the effectiveness of MAT, various forms of MAT for specific substance use disorders, and the importance of a psychosocial recovery program in addition to MAT.

D. Pride Recovery: Queer and Getting Clean
Dell Darnell, Program Manager, OutFront Kalamazoo and Regan Hanley, Board of Directors, OutFront Kalamazoo; IT Analyst, Stryker

A look at the intersection of queer identities and substance use, through data and personal narrative. This session will help foster and increase cultural awareness and sensitivity around LGBTQIA+ persons and issues regarding substance use and recovery.

E. Michigan and Midwest Trends in Illicit Drug Use Since 2013
Matthew Levitas, MFS, D-ABFT-FT, Forensic Toxicologist, Certifying Scientist/R&D, Forensic Fluids

Xylazine, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, THC and other drugs have been trending in Michigan and the Midwest for the last ten years. Data from Children Services, Probation and specialty courts (Veterans, Drug, Juvenile, Adult and others) will be presented.

10:30 AM | BREAK
10:45 AM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS II 

Repeat of presentations A–E
11:45 AM | LUNCH

12:30 PM | AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: RECOVERY NEWS SHOW
Andy Dominianni, WWMT News Anchor and Jessica Harthorne, WWMT News Anchor 

The audience will watch a live “TV News Show” style keynote highlighting pertinent topics in our community related to substance use disorder. Approximately 20 topics will be covered including some interviews related to stories.

1:30 PM | BREAK
1:45 PM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS III 

F. Allyship for Recovery, What Can You Do?
Carlos Brown, LMSW, Doctoral Candidate and Chair of Justice Equity and Trauma Team and Suicide Prevention Program Manager

This presentation will be focused on informing participants on this historical nature of bias in SUD recovery, and how and what individuals can do to promote change in multiple systems. It is geared towards advocates, law enforcement, allied health professions, etc. Individuals will leave with practical tools, resources and insights on how to become better allies for underserved and underrepresented individuals

G. Coaches for Recovery
Amy Kemp, Certified Peer Recovery Coach, Gilmore Community Healing Center

Participants will learn the basic tenets of Recovery Coaches and Peer Support and their benefits to persons in recovery and those who are dual diagnosed. Participants will better understand Peer roles and the importance of them in the recovery field.

H. LBGTQ and SUD: Outfront Panel Q&A
Dell Darnell, Program Manager, OutFront Kalamazoo; Regan Hanley, Board of Directors, OutFront Kalamazoo; IT Analyst, Stryker; Isabeau Wilson, and Joshua Ouding

A panel session in which LGBTQIA+ community members will share their stories of SUD and recovery. After each panelist shares 3-5 mins of their story, attendees will have an opportunity to ask panelists about their queer identity, experience with recovery, and the intersection of each.

I. Roundtable Solutions Discussion: Challenges to Long-Term Sustained Recovery
Facilitator – Shawna Nolan, Certified Peer Recovery Coach, Family Treatment Court Recovery Coach CPSS/ CPRC, The Recovery Institute

Participants will engage in roundtable discussions with these topics: Finding stable housing, Employment with a record, and Continued access to support and services. Participants will rotate through each table providing input and discussion on challenges to sustained recovery following probation, treatment, legal issues.

2:45 PM | BREAK
3:00 PM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS IV

Repeat of presentations F–I
4:00 PM | ADJOURN

CONTINUTING EDUCATION UNITS

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and Community Healing Centers. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CREDIT AMOUNT SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

INTERPROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 6.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

PHYSICIANS

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

NURSES

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this activity for 6.0 contact hours for nurses.  Nurses should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PHARMACISTS & PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this activity for 6.0 contact hours for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.  Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

SOCIAL WORKERS

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 6.0 general continuing education credits.

PSYCHOLOGISTS

This program is co-sponsored by the American Psychological Association for continuing education credit. The American Psychological Association retains responsibility for the program.  This activity is designated for 6.0 APA CE Credits.

Thank you to our Funders, Conference Hosts, Sponsors, and Exhibitors.

HOSTED BY

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FUNDED BY

LUNCH SPONSOR

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COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSOR

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SUPPORTING SPONSOR

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