Nationally recognized addiction medicine expert Dr. Stephen Loyd presented a free two-hour program about opioid addiction on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.
In addition to describing his own personal descent into opioid addiction, Dr. Loyd addressed how “systems” overdose deaths occur and explain how they are preventable. Also during the program—which was designed to focus on addiction as being a treatable condition rather than a moral failure—Dr. Loyd explored two of the markedly different treatment options in the United States, examine the impact of stigma surrounding addiction and delve into the implications of drug policy in the criminal justice system.
The program was primarily geared toward individuals within the Dare County community with an interest in a discussion about opioid addiction, including local nurses, peer support specialists, community health workers, school counselors, substance use professionals, social workers, school-based personnel, care coordinators, first responders, law enforcement and members of the justice system.
