Dr. Jilla Sabeti to Present Opioid Abuse and Prevention Program at Western New England University

Western New England University Professor Dr. Jilla Sabeti will offer a community lecture concerning opioid abuse and prevention. The program will be held on Wednesday, November 8, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Room 300, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA. The event is free and open to the public.

Opioids -- Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, and heroin use -- and the tragic consequences of drug misuse and abuse, have spiraled into a nationwide crisis. It is reported that across college campuses prescription opioid abuse has increased by 343 percent while overdoses and overdose deaths have more than tripled since 2010. These statistics are chilling reminders of the reality of substance abuse and addiction that ultimately touches the lives of everyone in a community. It is time to recognize that it is no longer "someone else's problem."

This lecture will encourage the community to explore several key questions: What are opioids and how do they work? How can you recognize the signs of opioid abuse/addiction? And what can you do to help those who struggle with addiction to become healthy again?

Western New England University is a private, independent, coeducational institution founded in 1919. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England serves 3,830 students, including 2,580 full-time undergraduate students. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs are offered through Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy, and the School of Law.

For more information, visit wne.edu/pharmacy/community/healthy-u or register at [email protected]