CREST HAVEN – Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage will host a community summit June 27 to discuss the challenges of the opioid epidemic and identify solutions.
The half-day Cape May County Opioid Crisis Summit, to be held at Cape May County Technical High School in Crest Haven, will include representatives from the public and private sectors who will present their experiences in the field of opioid addiction treatment.
The summit is open to community partners and agencies committed to addressing addiction and seeking solutions toward prevention and recovery.
“Much like the highly successful summit held in Atlantic County last month, this event will bring together individuals with a wide range of perspectives to share comprehensive information on the opioid crisis,” stated Assignment Judge Julio L. Mendez. “Law enforcement, educators, court officials, health professionals, state lawmakers and individuals in recovery will share their experiences and examine solutions in order to respond to this devastating epidemic.”
Erin Zerbo, an assistant psychiatry professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, will give an overview of the opioid epidemic.
Superior Court Judge Mark Sandson, who heads the vicinage’s Recovery Court Program, will moderate a question-and-answer session.
John Ruskey, an emergency room physician at Cape Regional Medical Center in Court House, will give his front-line perspective dealing with overdose victims.
Vanessa Vitolo, community outreach coordinator for Victory Bay Recovery Center in Laurel Springs, will introduce two graduates of the Judiciary’s Recovery Court Program who will share their personal journeys to sobriety.
Treatment and municipal court representatives, as well as hospital outreach coordinators, will discuss innovative community approaches for those with substance use disorders. Local government officials and law enforcement also will discuss their response to the opioid crisis.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by opening remarks by Mendez at 9 a.m. A recovery court graduation will take place after the summit.
The summit is free but registration is encouraged.
To RSVP for the summit, contact Ellen Procida at Ellen.procida@njcourts.gov. To RSVP for the graduation, contact Rebecca Super at Rebecca.super@njcourts.gov.
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