District Attorney to Lend Perspective at Substance Abuse Symposium

UMass Amherst: News Archive

The College of Nursing will explore the effects of addiction through the eyes of those on the front lines in the symposium, “The Art and Science of Social Justice and Healthcare, Substance Abuse: The Lived Experience” on Monday, April 24 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium.The general registration fee is $50, or $20 for students. Breakfast and lunch are included.
Through the personal and professional experiences of a family member, a person in recovery, a treatment provider and law enforcement, the event seeks to better connect art and science with social justice and healthcare.  
“While it is important to understand what the individual with an addiction or substance use disorder experiences, we need to remember that substance abuse impacts not just the individual. Many others are affected  as well, and they too have their stories to share. This symposium provides us the opportunity to hear from those on the front lines regarding their personal and professional experiences,” says Donna Sabella, Seedworks Endowed Professor at the College of Nursing.           
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan will speak to the law enforcement experience with substance abuse. Sullivan has served as District Attorney for Hampshire and Franklin counties and the town of Athol since 2011 and has been involved in a number of efforts to reduce substance abuse in his district.
Jacquelyn Campbell, a national leader in research and advocacy in the field of domestic violence or intimate partner violence, will deliver a keynote.
Introductionswill be given by Sabella and Seedworks founder Susan Hagedorn. The day will also include a talk by faculty researchers on addiction-related topics, and a digital story on nursing and addiction, created by the Seedworks Foundation and the Center for Digital Storytelling.  
The Seedworks Fund, a 501 (c)3 family foundation, supports social justice initiatives, with an emphasis on health and nursing. It recognizes the value of a university education ...

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