Town Hall Meeting and Health Symposium

Two recent community meetings hosted by Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) explored the epidemic of opioid addiction in the Hudson Valley region.

Margaretville Hospital, a member of WMCHealth, sponsored a town-hall-style meeting called “Confronting the Opioid Epidemic: Face to Face and Through Film.” After a brief film screening of a key part of an award-winning documentary, a panel discussion unfolded with Stephen J. Ferrando, MD, Director of Psychiatry at WMCHealth; David Scarpino, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley; Allen Nace, LMHC, CASAC, Administrative Director of Community Rehabilitation Services at HealthAlliance; Debra Mierop, LCSW, Director of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of Delaware County; and Peter Volkmann, MSW, Chief of Police in Chatham.

“At least 10 people in Delaware County are estimated to have died each year since 2016 after overdosing on opioids,” says Nace. “With this meeting, we hoped to share ways to stem the crisis.”

In September, WMCHealth presented another symposium, led by Dr. Ferrando, on opioid addiction in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, discussing the scope of the problem and practical skills to screen, engage and treat patients for addiction.