Panelists at the WMU-Cooley Law School event: (l-r) Erica Clute-Cubbin, Dr. Mark Menestrina, moderator Lauren Rousseau, Andre Johnson, and Hon. Jodi Debbrecht Switalski.
Photo courtesty of WMU-Cooley Law
On Thursday, March 19, WMU-Cooley Law School's Lansing campus hosted "Silence Equals Death: How the Heroin Epidemic is Driving Change in Perception, Treatment, & the Law." The program explored the new recovery advocacy movement, how the heroin epidemic is fueling its growth and effectiveness, and the resulting changes in public perception, policy, and the law.
The event featured a screening of the documentary film, "The Anonymous People," followed by a panel discussion moderated by WMU-Cooley Professor Lauren Rousseau. Panelists discussed how changes in perception regarding addiction have increased demands for public and legislative policy to recognize addiction as a disease and to ensure treatment availability.
"We have an epidemic with respect to heroin and opioids in this nation," said Rousseau. "We need to take action to change that. We need to demand that lawmakers recognize addiction as a disease, and ensure that treatment is available."
Following the film, Rousseau moderated a panel discussion with four experts in the field. The panel consisted of the Hon. Jodi Debbrecht Switalski, who presides over the 51st District Sobriety Court and is co-founder of RADEO (Regional Anti-Drug Education & Outreach); Andre Johnson, president and CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project; Erica Clute-Cubbin, business development and contract management specialist for Meridian Health Services and an Oakland County regional champion president of Families Against Narcotics; and Dr. Mark Menestrina, a physician specializing in addiction medicine, as well as former medical director for Bright Center for Recovery, Southeast Michigan Community Alliance and Personalized Nursing Lighthouse.
The panelists agreed the majority of individuals becoming addicted to heroin begin with an addiction to opioid-based prescription pain medications.
"Four out of five heroin users start with prescription drugs. We have a prescription drug problem that morphs into a heroin problem," said Switalksi. "If we can control prescription drugs in our communities, we will see a reduction in heroin use."
This is the second time this event has been hosted, the first being at the WMU-Cooley Auburn Hills campus this past January.
Published: Thu, Mar 26, 2015
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