The Social Determinants of Health: Preventing Substance Use and Overdose

Participants will learn how social determinants of health impact overdose as well as prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery initiatives. Presenters will discuss how the social determinants of health vary by community and the impact of these factors in bridging gaps and forming a healthy environment. They will outline the social factors that decrease access to health care for people who use drugs in Southern Appalachia and describe how harm reduction services can uniquely meet the needs of people who do not have access to other forms of care. They will discuss how law enforcement working with harm reduction groups can impact the social determinants of health. Because people affected by OUD and SUD are less likely to maintain sobriety and more likely to continue to misuse substances when they receive OUD and SUD services in isolation, presenters will also focus on addressing the social determinants of health when working with these individuals and discuss how addressing these barriers positively impacts the rate of recovery.

• Melissa Clark, B.S., Area Health Education Center West;
• Lesly-Marie Buer, Ph.D., M.P.H., Positively Living/Choice Health Network Harm Reduction;
• Donnie Varnell, B.S., Dare County Sheriff's Office;
• Robert Childs, M.P.H., JBS International, Inc.;
• Ann McCauley, M.Ed., CHW, Randolph County Caring Community Partnership;
• Patty Hendren, CHW, Randolph County Caring Community;
• Jayme Palmgren, B.A., CHW, Randolph County Caring Community, Inc.

These presentations may not be Section 508-compliant. If you have an immediate need for a Section 508-compliant presentation, please contact RCORP-TA-RSV@jbsinternational.com.