Road to Recovery symposium addresses substance abuse
Road to Recovery symposium addresses substance abuse
Local officials, recovery advocates, and community leaders gathered Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for Washington County’s annual Road to Recovery Symposium, a collaborative initiative that aims to break the cycle of addiction and to streamline local substance use resources.
The event drew about 155 representatives from school districts, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, recovery center operators, court system leaders, jail personnel, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, drug and alcohol recovery officers, and other stakeholders affected by the crisis to brainstorm cross-sector solutions to the region’s drug and alcohol issues.
The symposium featured leaders of Washington County organizations whose programs address drug and alcohol addiction, including UPMC Washington Teen outreach, LeMoyne Community Center, and Shekinah Ranch Camp.
“Prevention is not simply about teaching a child to say no to drugs. It’s about giving them the tools, the support and the confidence to say yes to a healthy future,” said Teresa Burroughs, executive director of LeMoyne Community Center. “We believe that prevention begins with education, connections and opportunities. We teach children to understand the risks associated with opioids, inducing the dangers of taking medication that was not prescribed to them, sharing medication or experiencing unknown substances with their friends.”
She added, “We can’t do this alone. Everyone in this room works together. No single organization is an island. We must meet with parents, teachers, community partners, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and nonprofits. We must work together as a community, within our community. We all stand together to save lives.”
In its third year, the Road to Recovery Symposium has become a platform for Washington County to unite stakeholders and focus on solutions to drug and alcohol addiction.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, director of UPMC Washington Teen Outreach, who has dedicated decades to serving young people.
“We, as adults, have the capacity to shape young people who are at risk, and flip the script of the young people experiencing trauma and not have them walk into the cycle of poverty and generational trauma. We can stop that. It takes connection – that means you’re there, you’re genuine.”
Jeff Hancher, a Washington County native, bestselling author and leadership development expert who grew up in poverty and turned to substances and his parents battled chronic illness, provided opening remarks.
“I want to thank everybody in this room who continues to show up, who continues to make a difference. The stats are against us, but, man, it’s like the starfish on the beach that are washed up: I can’t save the all, but I can save this one. Recovery gives people a second chance, but if we can help them with readiness, it helps them make the most of that second chance.”
Tim Grealish, president of the Harmony Life Center Board of Directors, was presented with the Eugene Vittone Award.