The Opioid Crisis in Philadelphia
October 20, 7pm Eastern
RSVP Here
We will hear from both a scientist and an activist in the sphere of the opioid epidemic. We'll cover what we know about opiods and how they affect the brain, what people are doing to help people addicted to opiods, and what you can do to help!
OUR SPEAKERS
October 20, 7pm Eastern
RSVP Here
We will hear from both a scientist and an activist in the sphere of the opioid epidemic. We'll cover what we know about opiods and how they affect the brain, what people are doing to help people addicted to opiods, and what you can do to help!
OUR SPEAKERS
Mitch Nothem, Ph.D., Completed His PhD With Dr. James Barrett In 2020, Where His Dissertation Focused On The Effects Of Peripheral Nerve Injury And Gabapentin On Cortical Pain Processing As A Strategy To Find Of Opioid Alternatives For Those In Chronic Pain. His Postdoctoral Work Focuses On The Interaction Between Chronic Pain And Substance Use Disorders. Mitch Is Also An Avid Member Of The Recovery Community And Is Broadly Interested In The Development Of Treatments For Opioid Use Disorder And Alcohol Use Disorder.
RACHEL FRENCH, PHD, RN IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH SOL COLLECTIVE, A PHILLY-BASED ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ENDING THE OVERDOSE CRISIS AND THE RACIST WAR ON DRUGS. RACHEL ALSO LEADS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOL COLLECTIVE, THE NATIONAL NON-PROFIT NEXT DISTRO, AND THE PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THAT MAILS HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES LIKE NARCAN AND FENTANYL TEST STRIPS TO PHILADELPHIANS FREE OF CHARGE. SHE WRITES ABOUT AND ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE OVERDOSE CRISIS LOCALLY AND ON A NATIONAL SCALE. RACHEL IS ALSO A FELLOW IN THE NATIONAL CLINICIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND A POSTDOC WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY’S CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHERE HER RESEARCH FOCUSES ON DETERMINING THE BEST STRATEGIES TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS. SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY, ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND EXPLORING INNOVATIVE MODALITIES TO PROVIDE HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES. RACHEL RECEIVED HER BACHELOR’S DEGREE AT BOSTON COLLEGE AND HER PHD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. SHE ENJOYS ENGAGING IN RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE CARE AND OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.