May 2, 2017

In the May session of Hot Topics in Practice, members of the Seattle and King County Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force discuss implementing “supervised consumption sites” to address the health and social harms of substances.

The staggering level of opioid addiction and overdoses around the country has prompted communities to seek out novel, evidence-based approaches for addressing this complex issue. In the May session of Hot Topics in Practice, members of the Seattle and King County Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force discuss their attempts to implement “supervised consumption sites” where people can safely use in the presence of a trained health professional.

In this one-hour presentation, the speakers will review important concepts of harm reduction in drug use prevention and share evidence and stories about how consumption sites operate in different communities around the world. They will also discuss feasibility issues related to site selection, public perception, and strategies for navigating conflicting local, state, and federal laws.

Register today to learn innovative approaches for addressing substance misuse while engaging users with dignity.

Drug Use and Dignity: Exploring the Potential for Supervised Consumption Sites in King County, Washington

Date: May 23, 2017, noon to 1:00 p.m. (PT)

Intended Audience

Local, state, and tribal public health professionals; staff working in behavioral health programs, drug treatment services, and law enforcement

Presenters

Brad Finegood, MA, LMHC, Assistant Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, King County Department of Community and Human Services

Dan Otter, RN, MPH(c), public health student, University of Washington
 

About Hot Topics in Practice

Hot Topics in Practice is a monthly webinar forum to discuss issues affecting public health practice.