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Montgomery County to Host Webinars on the Basics of Addiction and Pathways to Recovery

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 14, 2022

Montgomery County residents are invited to participate in upcoming, free webinar conversations between February and April about the basics of addiction and establishing pathways to recovery. The three-part series will cover the topics of addiction, recovery, and the resources available to residents in Montgomery County. The first two webinars will feature expert guest speakers and there will be a question-and-answer segment during the final session.

The purpose of this upcoming online conversations is to educate the community, prevent overdoses (both nonfatal and fatal), and disrupt the cycle of addiction. The webinar series is sponsored by Montgomery County’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council (AODAAC). The webinar series was planned by the AODAAC’s Treatment & Recovery subcommittee to serve the community in education, awareness of resources, and early intervention ideas.

“The most difficult part of recovery can be taking that first step in the journey. Sometimes, trying to understand all the services available to fight addiction can be overwhelming and a barrier to getting started in recovery,” said Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director Dr. Raymond Crowel. “We hope that this series of webinars can help simplify the process, give greater clarity to the robust landscape of resources available in Montgomery County, and ultimately save lives.”

The topics and speakers for the webinar series include:

Feb. 19, noon to 1 p.m. “What is Addiction/Substance Use Disorder?” 

  • Sara Rose, Operations Manager for DHHS Local Behavioral Health Authority & Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor 
  • Joey Zabel, president of the Board for Arise and Flourish

March 26, noon to 1 p.m.  “What is Recovery?: Pathways to Recovery”

  • LaTonia Rich, executive director of Tree of Hope
  • Anne Ellis and Elizabeth Leek, public relations committee members for 12-Step Fellowship 

April 2, noon to 1:30 p.m. “AODAAC and Provider Panel Q & A”

  • AODAAC voting members
  • Youth Ambassador program representatives
  • Local treatment providers

All three webinar events are free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required. To register: https://sheppardpratt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5T8KdempTj2zSKCc845LAA

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Release ID: 22-107
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6507
Categories: Health, Public Safety