CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host the Southern Illinois Drug Awareness Conference on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13.
This year’s theme is “Strength in Partnership: Communities United for Prevention, Treatment and Recovery.” The conference will bring in diverse groups of people to address substance abuse, mental health and homelessness, and how they all connect.
There will be keynote presentations, panels, workshops, vendors and networking opportunities. Professionals in a variety of fields will lead presentations.
Participants will learn tactics to:
- Address the stigma that typically surrounds addiction, mental health and homelessness
- Break down barriers to offer support for affected people and their families
- Help support recovery, resilience and wellness in affected communities
- Increase coordination between various agencies and personnel
The sessions will cover multiple topics. Some include:
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- Addictions and Veteran Care
- Cannabis Policy and Prevention
- Mental Health Advocates: Mental Health and Substance Misuse-What We Do and Scenarios and Scenes
- Service Dogs and Their Benefits to Mental Health
The conference will be held in the SIU Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Drive, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days. Door prizes will be awarded on March 13.
Register by Feb. 27 to receive an early-bird discount of $60 and a conference t-shirt. Tickets purchased after Feb. 27 are $75. Students and retiree tickets are $40. Registration includes two full days of sessions and lunch each day.
Visit the conference website for more information and a complete schedule. For questions, email conferenceservices@siu.edu or call 618-536-7751.
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