BGSU to host teach-in to ‘Change the Story’ on opioid crisis

Bowling Green State University will host “Change the Story: Opioid Teach-In” on Sept. 25 at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Sessions will be held in various rooms from 9:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The event is open to all students, staff and faculty as well as community members from northwest Ohio interested in or affected by the opioid crisis.

The purpose of the teach-in is to raise awareness about the crisis, make connections to existing resources, research and data and to apply BGSU expertise to help individuals gain practical skills to help the community.

“Because of our knowledgeable faculty and staff, across disciplines, Bowling Green State University is uniquely positioned to examine the opioid crisis facing the region and the country,” said Dr. Melissa Burek, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “We hope to increase awareness of this epidemic as well as explore solutions for positive change.”

Topics of the teach-in include:

• National context of crisis
• Family experiences
• Neurology of addiction
• Recovery
• Treatment
• Urban, suburban and rural justice responses
• Prevention
• Policies and approaches to changing the story 

The opioid crisis affects nearly every community and the country at large. It is projected that opioid use may result in the deaths of more than 500,000 people over the next 10 years at the present trajectory. In Ohio, opioid overdoses and deaths are among the highest in the nation. By hosting the opioid teach-in, the University takes a leadership role in education and solutions for this epidemic.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in any session of interest. Sessions will vary from informational videos, discussion panels, training seminars and story sessions to presentations by individuals who have experienced addiction as well as families affected by the opioid crisis. BGSU also has created “Change the Story: An Original Film,” offering important techniques to lead safe and informative discussions for positive change in the way the community views the opioid crisis.

BGSU has brought together knowledgeable faculty and leading community members to share their expertise. Sessions will be led or facilitated by representatives from local health and safety organizations, including the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, Wood County Sheriff’s Department, the Zepf Center, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Northwest Community Correctional Center.

Burek added that, in addition, BGSU students have been a valuable part of the planning process.

In keeping with BGSU’s role as a public university invested in the public good of the region, the teach-in will help individuals responsibly address the crisis in their fields, occupations and neighborhoods. The knowledge and skills of University faculty will go on to educate the public and make a lasting impression on the health and well-being of our community, she said.

Find more information on teach-in session themes, locations and times on the event's website. Follow and share #changethestory on social media links on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.