C-Bar-C at Cloverdale slated to host Opioid Symposium Aug. 2

The organizer of four opioid epidemic symposiums scheduled across Indiana -- including one set for Aug. 2 at Cloverdale -- says the focus of the gatherings in Putnam, White, Wabash and Daviess counties is “illumination.”

Indiana Rural Health Association Network Development Officer Deena Dodd calls the crisis pervasive, but the symposiums could be a catalyst for strategic discussions in communities of all sizes, she said.

The Indiana Rural Health Association and AgrIInstitute Rural Opioid Symposium scheduled in Putnam County will be the fourth and final session, slated for Thursday, Aug. 2 at the C-Bar-C Expo Center in Cloverdale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The cost per registrant is $30 per event. Lunch will be provided.

Registration will close three days prior to the event. For questions, persons may contact Deena Dodd, IRHA @ ddodd@indianarha.org or Beth Archer, AgrIInstitute @ beth@agriinstitute.org.

The first symposium was staged July 10 at the White County Fairgrounds near Reynolds. The next will be Thursday, July 26 at the Heartland REMC facilities in Wabash, followed by July 31 at Eastside Park in Washington.

The events are a partnership between the IRHA and the nonprofit, agricultural leadership-focused AgrIInstitute, and will bring together public, service provider, law enforcement and health care representatives.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Dodd said Hoosiers are struggling with how close to home the opioid epidemic is hitting.

“As rural Hoosiers, we all like to say ‘that doesn’t happen here,’ but unfortunately, this epidemic has crossed all boundaries,” she said.

“There’s no wrong conversation, no wrong time for dialogue,” Dodd said, noting that multiple communities have already broached the subject and can serve as resources.

A previous event in Boone County attracted what organizers described as a standing-room-only crowd, spurring the IRHA and AgrIInstitute to bring the conversations to more locations.

Knowledge is key, AgrIInstitute Executive Director Beth Archer has stressed.

“An important step in resolving this crisis is becoming better informed citizens,” she said. “That means becoming better informed about what each of us can do in our homes, in our communities, in our workplaces, in our churches and elsewhere, so healthy living can again be possible for those whom we care about.”

The Aug. 2 program at C Bar C will include opening remarks at 9:15 a.m. by Jim McClelland, executive director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement, Office of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, followed by Rochelle Owen, director of Community Programs, Indiana Rural Development, speaking at 9:45.

Speaking later will be Larry Blue, president, Indiana Association Recovery Residences, at 10:40 a.m., with Erin Klaus, Health Impact manager, Indiana United Ways, at 11 a.m.

After lunch and networking at 11:30, Katrina Norris, director of behavioral health and addiction services at Fayette Regional Hospital, and Amnah Anwar, Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium program director, will speak at 12:15 and 1 p.m., respectively.

Rounding out the day’s program will be comments from Stephanie Woodcox, Health and Wellness program director for Purdue Extension, at 2 p.m. and Mike Neilson of the Boone County Sheriff’s Dept. at 2:45 before a question-and-answer session at 3:30 p.m.