Wilkes University hosts Pain and Addiction Summit
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There are parts of our area that opioids have devastated leaving leaders fighting to stop the deadly drug epidemic.
Healthcare professionals are on the frontlines of this battle and are sharing those experiences with pharmacy students in Luzerne County.
The theme of this year’s Pennsylvania Pain and Addiction Summit is “Access to Care,” with an emphasis on the holistic treatment of the patient.
Wilkes University hosted the sixth annual Pennsylvania Pain and Addiction Summit at the Stark Learning Center.
It’s a day of collaborative learning about opportunities to approach the treatment of pain and substance use disorder.
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“Part of the treatment of addiction is eliminating the sense of unhealthy shame that unfortunately a lot of patients feel. so, by decreasing stigma, we’re actually moving towards an area where we can better provide care for patients,” said Dr. Thomas Franko, chair & associate professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University.
fentanyl and other opioids are fueling what’s described as the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States.
From big cities to rural communities, the opioid epidemic does not discriminate.
“This is something that unfortunately affects everybody, everywhere. the good news is that there are plenty of opportunities out there to help somebody if you happen to find it,” says Dr. Franko.
for many people suffering from substance abuse, the stigma of addiction creates an additional barrier to treatment and recovery.
“It’s not only about helping the patients but the community to kind of understand it. because if these patients have these support systems in their areas, we’re better able to get them treated because they might reach out more,” added Ashleigh Brady pharmacy student at Wilkes-University.
Reducing the stigma won’t happen overnight but these future pharmacists are on a mission to make a difference.
“I feel like I would rather teach people to treat people that are going through this with respect and be able to help them through it. learning about the stigma and what’s going on around it would help people be more comfortable with it, being more outgoing with it,” explained Brianna Honish, a pharmacy student at Wilkes University
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please know that there are several ways to get help.
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