DARTMOUTH – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s College of Nursing and Leduc Center for Civic Engagement announced in a statement earlier this week they expect 400 local students to gather on campus later this month for a summit focused on “health, hope and recovery” regarding the nationwide opioid crisis.
Following previous related events at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass., and the Attleboro campus of Bristol Community College, the UMass Dartmouth event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main auditorium.
Topics including “A Humane Approach to Caring for Those with Substance Use Disorders” and “What Does Substance Misuse Look Like at College” will be discussed. Summit speakers and participants include:
- UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert E. Johnson
- Donna White, chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association Addictions Council
- Dartmouth Police Detective Kyle Costa
- Bridgewater Police Officer Scott Hile, a drug recognition expert
- UMass Dartmouth Police Captain Timothy Sheehan
- Dr. Michael Rocha, cardiologist and founder of both Physicians to Prevent Opioid Abuse and the New Bedford Wellness Initiative
- The Rev. David Lima
- Craig Longo of St. Luke’s Hospital
- Callie Nunez, registered nurse, UMass Dartmouth ’17
- Ann-Melissa Pognon, UMass Dartmouth peer health educator
The 400 attendees are to come from Bridgewater State University, Bristol Community College, Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable, Mass., Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass., Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Mass., as well as UMass Dartmouth enrollees. In addition, the event will be livestreamed to participating campuses.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
