Opioid addiction continues to be a problem around our region and more organizations are working to do their part to help combat it.

The Brockway Center for Arts and Technology in Titusville is hosting their Second Annual Drug Diversion in Healthcare Conference on Thursday and Friday to raise awareness about drug addiction and prevention.  It's happening at the University of Pittsburgh's Titusville Education and Training Hub. On Thursday, it runs from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Friday it runs from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. There is an evening portion of the event geared towards the community. The daytime sessions are intended more for healthcare workers, law enforcement officials and counselors.


Jessica Hummer, the Acting Director of Arts and Technology explained, "If we can prevent one teenager or one adult from thinking twice before taking a pill that may be laced with fentanyl or another cartel illicit drug that could kill them, then why not give them that education."


As new drug trends continue to emerge, organizers of the event hopes their event makes a difference. "I feel for healthcare workers, this conference is really good because it gives them that little bit of information that they can take back to their coworkers as Derek has said but it also gives them a chance to see what's happening in the hospitals and community around Titusville that isn't around there to public knowledge", said Hummer. 


The two-day conference focuses on mental health, social media and current drug trends. Derek Hansen, the Director of Medical Programs said, "It's a very important topic both in the healthcare field as well as in general society. In society we are suffering from an opioid epidemic and specifically a fentanyl epidemic, but if we can promote awareness and education and just general knowledge about this topic to one person and that person goes and promotes it to another person it's kind of like a domino effect."


Not only do organizers hopes this conference provides resources to those in need, but also saves lives. "Prevent hopefully deaths in the future, we don't know if it's going to happen or not, much less in Titusville, but why wait until it happens to do something so try to be proactive about that", said Hummer.


The event is free and open to the public. Registration is still open, if you are interested in attending, to learn more, click here.