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Listening Session: Harm Reduction

Listening Session: Harm Reduction

This Listening Session shares experiences with fentanyl test strip education and distribution, preparedness for overdose emergencies; the evolution of Harm Reduction, and emerging groups of synthetic opioids. 

Learning Objectives: 

  1. Attendees will develop a comprehensive understanding of overdose emergencies, including recognizing signs and symptoms associated with opioid overdose.
  2. Participants will be able to explain the significance and application of harm reduction strategies, including fentanyl test strip  education and distribution.
  3. Participants will learn about the evolution of harm reduction practices and be introduced to emerging groups of synthetic opioids, enhancing their preparedness to address overdose emergencies within their communities.

Moderator:

Bianca D. McCall, LMFT is a retired professional women’s basketball player. She is an international TED Speaker, and renowned mental health researcher and expert. Bianca is a licensed clinical therapist, with 25 years in Behavioral Health, and 12 years as a Healthcare CEO. In recent years, she has grown significantly in the digital health space, and created a first-of-its-kind social-emotional platform, designed to improve human healthspan.

For more than a decade, her work and research has been dedicated to psychological (mental) injury prevention and the discovery of innovations addressing existential isolation. Bianca is passionate about leading projects which promote ongoing research in mental injury prevention, integration of technologies, data analytics, and the discovery of culturally and linguistically responsive crisis interventions. Bianca represents Nevada, on national committees and namely the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; designated by SAMHSA, and Steering Committee for the U.S. Department of Public Health and is a contributor to the National Strategies for Suicide Prevention in areas of Clinical Education, Provider Standards, and Technology. Bianca is a subject matter expert, a curriculum developer, and instructor in higher education with the Centers for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), Region 9, housed at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Panelists: 

  • Katarina Pulver, Health Educator II, Office of Disease Surveillance Division of Disease Surveillance and Control
  • Bethany Wilkins, Yuba Harm Reduction Collective, and currently the Education and Advocacy Committee Chair with the Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance
  • Donald Griffin, PRSS-S, CHW II, Co-founder and Director, Black Wall Street Reno
  • Darcy Patterson, RN, Founder and President, Wakeupnv

Continuing Education Units: 1.5 CEUs

This training is approved for continuing education by the boards listed here.

Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders