COMMUNITY
EDUCATION
The Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition wants to tell your school, civic group, faith organization, or social group about opioids.
From small groups to town hall meetings, we will provide engaging,
in-person or virtual presentations.

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
BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Local experts discuss the consequences of trauma in the lives of children and how they can lead to sub- stance use disorder, mental illness, and chronic physical disease as adults.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, describe traumatic experiences among children and teenagers. Mental health professionals now understand adults who experience significant trauma as children are at elevated risk for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. High ACEs scores can also cause the early onset of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
NOTE: The Charlotte Area Health Education Center (CAHEC) provides complimentary CEU and Contact Hours for this program.