Community Education
The Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition wants to tell your school, civic group, faith organization, or social group about opioids and how you can join us to stop the opioid epidemic.
From small groups to town hall meetings, we will provide engaging, in-person or virtual presentations.
See below for a list of our past events.

Gaston Substance Use Summit, Spring 2021 / audio only
Opioid Update, Jeffrey Ellison, PhD, Kintegra Health
Opioids and Recovery Through the Eyes of Lived Experience, Karen Lowe and Chasty King
Trauma and Addiction, Karen Melendez, MD, Support Inc.
Caring for Ourselves, Kelly Hamilton, Phoenix Counseling
Changing Paradigms: Engaging Law Enforcement as a Strategic Partner Within a Harm Reduction Model, Ron Martin
Recognizing Signs of Addiction / Jennifer Vilardaga, PhD, DukeHealth
Integrated Care: Managing Opioid Use in the Primary Care Setting, Jeffrey Ellison, PhD, Sarah Dergins, LCSW, Kintegra Health
Gaston Substance Use Summit, Fall 2021 / audio only
Cultural Competency with People who Use Drugs, Michelle Mathis, Olive Branch Ministry
Harm Reduction Basics, Michelle Mathis, Olive Branch Ministry
Preventing Substance Use Disorder Among Youth, Maceo Mayo III, RHA Health
Building Resilience in Children Whose Parents Have Substance Use Disorder, Karen Melendez, MD, Support Inc.
Working in faith communities, Rev. David Julen, First Baptist Cramerton
Best Opioid Treatment Practices, Allison Gosda and Bess Stanton, MD, Partners Health Management
Narcan and GEMS, Joshua Crabtree, Gaston Emergency Medical Services
Hepatitis C Treatment and HIHV Education, Erin Hultgren, Kintegra Health
Faith Fighting Addiction / videos
Collateral Damage: Helping Families of People Suffering from Addiction / March 2020
Opioids Come to Church: A Pastor’s Story a Parent’s Story / August 2021
Relapse- Detour or Dead End / March 2021