UB experts to present as National Prevention Network Conference visits Buffalo

UB and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) are working together to bring the National Prevention Network Conference to Buffalo on Sept. 13-15.

The conference, which is taking place at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, offers an opportunity for addiction specialists and researchers from across the nation to network and discuss best practices in alcohol and substance use prevention. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend, according to conference organizers.

NYS OASAS will host a special reception at 5 p.m. on Sept. 13 to honor longtime prevention supporters Bob and Mindy Rich of Rich Products Corp., founders of Western New York United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The reception is co-sponsored by UB, Visit Buffalo Niagara and Independent Health.

“We are very grateful for the support we’ve received from many UB units that deal with addiction issues, including the School of Social Work, the Graduate School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development,” says Kenneth Leonard, director of UB’s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA). “Along with RIA, their support made it possible for UB to serve as a reception co-sponsor and silver sponsor for the conference.

“In addition, we look forward to many of UB’s research professionals offering their expertise at workshops throughout the conference,” Leonard says.

The conference will feature multiple presentations and workshops, all focused on the conference theme of “Advancing a Prevention Agenda in an Era of Health Systems Reform.” Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about emerging drug issues and trends, building prevention partnerships and collaborations, prevention-focused media messaging and prevention workforce development.

UB presenters include:

• Christopher St. Vil, assistant professor, School of Social Work, and Amy Billing, University of Maryland, will present a workshop on  “Synthetic Cannabinoids: Findings from the Community Drug Early Warning System (CDEWS) and a Study of Black Males under Criminal Justice Supervision” at 10:15 a.m., Sept. 13.

• Rina Das Eiden, RIA senior research scientist, and Mary Dozier, University of Delaware, will present a workshop on “Importance of Early Intervention” at 1 p.m. Sept. 13.

• Craig Colder, professor, Department of Psychology, and Susan Ennett, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, will present a power session on “Emerging Issues: Trying Alcohol with Parental Permission: Risk Pathways and Prevention of Adolescent Alcohol Use” at 3 p.m. Sept. 13.

• Kenneth Leonard, RIA director; Smita Bakhai, medical director, Internal Medicine Clinic, ECMC; Sarah Cercone Heavey, doctoral student, UB Department of Community Health and Health Behavior; and Heather Lindstrom, UB Department of Emergency Medicine, will present a workshop on “The Opioid/Heroin Epidemic: Perspectives from the Primary Care Clinic, Emergency Room, and First Responders” at 3 p.m. Sept. 14.

• Jennifer Livingston and Kathleen Miller, RIA senior research scientists, and Amanda Nickerson, director, UB’s Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, will present a workshop on “Bullying and Substance Use among Adolescents” at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 15.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the conference website.