Discussion on addiction and what it does to the brain
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum Behavioral Health is hosting a guest speaker Tuesday, September 17th who will be speaking out about addiction.
The speaker is Dr. Brad Lander from the Ohio State University Medical Center. He will start the day at Genesis Hospital talking to healthcare professionals, then he will go to the Zanesville Fire Department to talk to those first responders who are on the front line of the heroin epidemic. There will be a resource fair at the Secrest Auditorium from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and finally he will end the day speaking on his own and joining a panel to have a discussion and answer questions.
Steve Carrell, Chief Executive Officer of Muskingum Behavioral Health said, “I think this is a great opportunity for those who are involved with addiction as well as just the general public. Why does a person become an addict? How does a person become an addict? Why do they keep doing these behaviors that are causing all kind of trouble in their life?”
Dr. Lander will discuss how addiction impacts the brain and the behavior that comes with it. The panel will also include a nurse, Chief Tony Coury, and someone who is currently in recovery. This program is to help answer the question, why?
“We want to raise people’s awareness about the brain disease of addiction,” Carrell said. “Addiction is not a choice. Use may be a choice when a person first starts using but when the brain becomes addicted it’s not a choice.”
It is free to attend. Carrell said you don’t have to be directly involved with addiction to come. You can call the Mental Health and Recovery Services at (740) 454-8557 or Muskingum Behavioral Health at (740) 454-1266 for more information.
