Addiction medicine expert to speak at April 18 event in Nags Head – OBX Today

Dr. Stephen Loyd. (Courtesy bettertennessee.com)

Dr. Stephen Loyd, a nationally recognized addiction medicine expert and Chief Medical Officer at the Tennessee based-Cedar Recovery will be at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head on April 18, 2024 for a special event that focuses on recovery from substance use disorder (SUD).

This event, which includes one lunch session and one dinner session, is free to the public and geared toward people who live and work in Dare and Currituck counties. It is sponsored by Saving Lives Task Force, Dare County Department of Health & Human Services, Outer Banks Health and Trillium.

“Addiction is not a moral failure. Addiction is treatable. Treatment works. People recover,” asserts Dr. Loyd, who will describe for the audience his descent into opioid addiction and his rise from the ashes to live a life of service.

During the afternoon “Recovery Together” session – which runs from 11:30 to 2 p.m. and includes lunch – audience members will learn how “systems” overdose deaths happen and how they are preventable. Dr. Loyd will explore two of the markedly different treatment options in the United States and examine the implications of drug policy in the criminal justice system.

The “Recovery Together” session is ideal for nurses, peer support specialists, qualified professionals, community health workers, school counselors, substance use professionals, social workers, school-based personnel, care coordinators, other interested health care workers, first responders, law enforcement, justice system professionals and community members.

The second session, “A Whole Person Approach to Recovery,” will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and includes dinner. During this session, Dr. Loyd will focus on the components of the recovery ecosystem, an evidence-based approach that creates the environment that individuals with SUD and their families need by providing all the necessary tools, services and support for recovery to occur. Emphasis will be placed on addressing SUD and mental health needs to increase the chances of long-term recovery and improved health.

The second session is ideal for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, psychologists and licensed mental health clinicians who live and/or work in Dare and Currituck counties. Contact hours and credits are available for this course.

For more details on this event, or to register, please visit https://www.easternahec.net/coursesand-events/72484. Keep in mind that space is limited and registration may fill up quickly. If you need help with online registration or other technical issues, please contact the Eastern AHEC help desk at 252-744-5210 or email easternahec@edu.edu.