by Lara Dunkelberg '20
A panel of experts, including Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, will discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the opioid epidemic in central Pennsylvania on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in Dickinson’s Anita Tuvin Schlechter (ATS) Auditorium. It is free and open to the public. It will also be available via livestream online.
The panel brings together substance abuse prevention advocates, law enforcement and medical experts to discuss the current opioid epidemic in central Pennsylvania, focusing on problems faced by both users and non-users as well as strategies to cope with the repercussions of opioid abuse. Panelists are Dr. Carrie DeLone, medical director of the Geisinger Holy Spirit Medical Group; David Freed, Cumberland County district attorney; Duane Nieves, career paramedic; Kristen Varner, director of Carlisle programs for The RASE (Recovery, Advocacy, Service, Empowerment) Project; and Jack Carroll, executive director of the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission, who will serve as moderator.
DeLone is responsible for overseeing clinical operations at Geisinger Holy Spirit Medical Group’s physician practices. She served as Pennsylvania’s physician general during former Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration and continues to be a liaison with community and government groups.
Freed has served as Cumberland County district attorney since 2005. He has also worked as assistant district attorney, York County deputy prosecutor and a private law practitioner. Freed gives frequent lectures on law enforcement topics including victim’s rights and services, domestic violence, sexual assault and trial advocacy.
Nieves is director of field operations and chief at Holy Spirit EMS, a Geisinger affiliate. He is an adjunct faculty member in the HACC EMS program, a member of the academic advisory committee for the HACC paramedic program, president of Cumberland County EMS Council and an EMS representative on the Cumberland County Community Opiate Overdose Prevention Coalition (COOP).
Varner leads Carlisle programs, training and advocacy for The RASE Project. She also volunteers for several community organizations, including serving on the board of Carlisle CARES (Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter), as well as being a member of COOP.
Carroll is responsible for managing publicly funded substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment services for residents of Cumberland and Perry counties.
The program is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and co-sponsored by the Department of Sociology, the programs in policy studies and health studies and the Dickinson College Wellness Center.
Published November 3, 2017