NBPL release – On Tuesday, October 10 at 11:00 AM, the North Bend Public Library will host a panel discussion on opioid addiction. During the panel, our speakers Dr. William Croson, Dr. Luana Hearn, and Program Director of Adapt OTP Samuel Denney will focus on methods to reduce the probability of developing an opioid dependence and will share strategies to aid in the recovery from addiction. They will also hold a Q&A following their discussion. Oregon has the second highest opioid prescription misuse in the nation. With such staggering statistics, no person is immune to being affected by opioid misuse. Even more concerning is that most often a person’s first encounter with this narcotic is through a legitimate prescription. Understanding and identifying how easy it is to develop an addiction or be living with an addict, is the first step to recovery. Opioid addiction is not “someone else’s problem,” and we cannot turn a blind eye to this epidemic. Dr. William Croson specializes in pain management and providing non-opioid options for treating pain. He completed his MD at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He is Board Certified through the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association and the Oregon Medical Association. Dr. Luana Hearn practices Internal Medicine and specializes in addiction. She completed her MD at Federal University in Brazil. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency Program at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, where she also completed an Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. Samuel Denney, RN, MSN, works for Adapt Oregon’s Opioid Treatment Program. Adapt combines prescribed medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to help people achieve long-term recovery from opioid dependence. Adapt’s Opioid Treatment Program is licensed and accredited by the Oregon Health Authority, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information about this event, contact the library at (541) 756-0400 or email nbservices@northbendlibrary.org.