(Courtesy of Touro College) Nearly half of American adults have a close friend or family member who’s been addicted to drugs, and the skyrocketing opioid epidemic is driving this statistic even higher. On Tuesday, March 13, Touro College and University System will host a lecture on the causes of addiction and ways communities can help their members recover. The program is part of the Presidential Lecture Series.
Dr. Richard Riemer, D.O., will explain how opioids hijack the human brain to reinforce self-destructive behaviors. Dr. Riemer is an expert in neurology and a consultant to the Medical Board of California. He is also the senior associate dean of Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Riemer’s contributions have informed the development of the California Medical Board Guideline for Prescribing Controlled Substances for Pain.
David Mandel, CEO of OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, will speak about the community’s role in an addict’s recovery. He will share a six-step community recovery process that syncs with traditional 12-step programs. This approach is essential to help stem a community-wide crisis.
“It is time to recognize that addiction affects every community, and that we all can play a role is breaking its hold on our friends and families. This program is designed to facilitate a conversation that leads to healthier and stronger communities,” said Alan Kadish, M.D., president of Touro College and University System.
Confronting Addiction will take place on Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. The program will be held at Touro’s Lander College for Women at 227 West 60th Street in New York. For more information, contact Malka Fleischmann at [email protected].
