Will County Forum Addresses Heroin Epidemic, Offers Continuing Education Credit

Article submitted by the office of Will County Executive Larry Walsh:

Heroin and other opiate overdose has become the leading cause of accidental deaths surpassing motor vehicle accidents. The 2013 Hero Helps Conference and Community Forum, slated for April 19 at Lewis University in Romeoville, will focus on the role of the medical community in the fight to reduce heroin abuse and overdose deaths.

According to the coroner's office, heroin overdoses claimed 53 lives in Will County last year. 

“This conference will offer essential information for professionals in healthcare, social work, counseling, and substance use prevention treatment and recovery support” said Paul Lauridsen, clinical director of Stepping Stones Treatment Center in Joliet. “Attendees will learn about strategies aimed at reducing the number of heroin and other opiate overdoses.”

Continuing education credits will be offered through Illinois Alcohol and Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., Silver Cross Hospital and Aurora University.

Four CME units or CEU’s will be available for healthcare professionals, LCSW’s, LCPC’s, and all IAODAPCA certification categories at no charge.

The keynote speaker at the conference is Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli, who will discuss prevention, early intervention, and expanding treatment and recovery support programs.

“We are fortunate to have Deputy Director Botticelli speak to the strategies of the ONDC which are aligned with our focus in Will County,” Lauridsen said.

Other speakers include James Roache, FBI-Chicago Division; Kathleen Burke, Robert Crown Center for Health Education; Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, Illinois Dept of Public Health; Dr. David Mikolajczak, Silver Cross Hospital; Dr. Seth Eisenberg, Illinois Dept of Human Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse; and Dr. Steven Aks, Toxikon Consortium and Cook County Health and Hospital System.

The 2013 Hero Helps Conference and Community Forum will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and will conclude at 12:30 p.m. The event is being held in the JFK Sports Complex on the Lewis University campus, One University Parkway in Romeoville.  While pre-registration is not required, those planning to attend are encouraged to visit the website: www.herohelpsevent.org to sign up.

Read about last year's Hero Helps event: Dad: Heroin Epidemic ‘More Than a Crime’