A SAMHSA sponsored webinar presented by the National Federation of Families took place Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 1:30-3:00pm Eastern Time titled “Equity in Mental health and Substance Use Support: Overcoming Challenges to Access for Families”
Description: Mental Health and Substance use challenges affect families across diverse geographic, socio-economic, and cultural demographics. Well-resourced families, those in urban areas, or families with substantial insurance coverage typically have more access to support for their loved ones than marginalized families, those living in rural areas, or whose who are uninsured. When someone experiences serious mental illness or emotional disturbance alongside a substance use challenge, accessing quality support can become even more complex.
Join us for a conversation about how families, medical professionals, and systems staff are advocating for equitable access to quality substance use support. National Federation of Families Executive Director Lynda Gargan, PhD moderated a discussion with Director of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery Paolo del Vecchio, MSW and Stephen Loyd, MD., Chief Medical Officer, Cedar Recovery Center, Nashville, TN. Dr. Loyd has been in long-term recovery from opioids and benzodiazepines since July, 2004. Mr. del Vecchio shared SAMHSA's vision for integrating family support throughout substance use prevention, crisis intervention, and recovery. Dr. Loyd shared his story of becoming dependent on opioids during the beginning of his career as a doctor, which inspired the Hulu TV series Dopesick. Dr. Loyd shared how his challenges with substances affected his family and how his privilege as a medical professional afforded him the best recovery support. Dr. Gargan guided the conversation with her lived and professional expertise supporting her own loved ones and families of individuals affected by mental health and substance use challenges as they attempt to navigate an inequitable recovery support system.
Speakers:
Paolo del Vecchio, MSW, Director of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery
Stephen Loyd, MD., Chief Medical Officer, Cedar Recovery Center, Nashville, TN
Moderated by Lynda Gargan, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Federation of Families
If you have any questions, please contact Kelle Masten via email at kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or Paige Thomas at paige.thomas@nasmhpd.org.
Thank you!