Addiction and Recovery Summer Series will address topics such as drug trends for young adults and online sports betting

By Jennifer Fukuda • Addiction & Recovery Services Program Coordinator

It is not uncommon for parents, caregivers, and members of the community to have questions about topics related to addiction and recovery. Yet these conversations can be difficult because of the stigma surrounding addiction. Addiction is like many diseases; it is a result of changes in a person’s brain and can require treatment.

Unfortunately, due to the stigmas associated with addictions, some people still consider these diseases moral failings. As a result, this population struggles with feeling alienated, judged, and discriminated against. Over the summer months, JFCS will be offering three unique opportunities to raise your awareness in areas of interest such as:

Understanding current drug trends and how to reduce harm
Grasping the developing area of online gaming and sports betting, along with techniques and tactics to address concerns
Learning to identify an opioid overdose and reverse its effects with the life-saving tool Naloxone

By coming together to learn about addiction, we aim to help break down these stigmas and support our family members, friends, and community members who are living with addiction or are in recovery. It is one step we can take to support one another and remind each other that no one has to do this alone.

These are opportunities to gather together and educate ourselves about important topics that impact our family members and neighbors of every age, but especially our young people. By attending these sessions, you will grow in your knowledge, connect with like-minded people, have an opportunity to ask questions of experts in the field, and identify practical strategies that are realistic for you and your loved ones. These evenings will be empowering! We hope you will join us!

For more information and to register for one or more of these sessions, please visit our events page at: https://jfcsmpls.org/event/addiction-and-recovery-summer-series/