The first-ever Opioid Addiction Symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Ind.
Daily news feeds are filled with leading stories on the Opioid Addiction epidemic in Indiana and across our nation. Gov. Eric Holcomb named this issue among the top five priorities of his administration upon taking office.
"We know strong, healthy rural communities are critical to Indiana," said Beth Archer, executive director of the Indiana Ag Leadership Institute, which is organizing the conference. "The businesses that call these rural communities home depend on a healthy workforce."
What happens when those communities are impacted by a preventable crisis like the opioid addiction epidemic? What happens when increasing demands are placed on the health care, mental health, social services, law enforcement, education and governance systems of our rural communities because of this crisis? What happens when business and industry are not able to secure a work force to fill the jobs that underpin the financial security of the community?
According to Archer, understanding the impact on business economics, community services, law enforcement and the overall health of the county population is a start to community conversations that can lead the way to positive outcomes. The public is invited to participate in this much-needed conversation about the true impact of the opioid addiction on the Indiana agricultural industry and rural communities.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch will kick off the day's program followed by the following experts: Sam Quinones, author, "Dreamland, The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic;" Jim McClelland, executive director, Office of Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, State of Indiana; and Anne Hazlett, assistant to the secretary for rural development, USDA.
The morning and afternoon programs will feature a robust lineup of experts representing community businesses, law enforcement, health and human services and policy points of view.
To register, visit www.agriinstitute.org.