Idaho’s opioid epidemic is topic of annual ISU Kasiska Research Day April 20

MERIDIAN – A holistic approach to tackling Idaho’s opioid epidemic is the topic of the 2018 Kasiska Division of Health Sciences Research Day, Friday, April 20, at Idaho State University campuses in Meridian and Pocatello.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the event is free. Activities in Meridian will be held in the Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center, 1311 E. Central Drive, and Pocatello presentations will occur in the Pond Student Union, 921 South 8^th Avenue. The event concludes at 1 p.m. 

Health care providers, faculty, students, and the public are invited to Research Day activities, which will feature presentations across multiple health care professions.  

Research Day is a way to show the importance of research in addressing real and prevalent issues in the health care community. This year an expert panel will discuss the opioid crisis in Idaho, how it impacts the community and health care workers, and alternatives to opioids in managing acute and chronic pain. 

Panel members include: 

• Dr. Christine Hahn, Medical Director of the Idaho Division of Public Health
• Charles Wahl, Diversion Investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration
• Dr. Magni Hamso, opioid addiction treatment expert
• Dr. Steve Pote, pain management psychologist 

Christopher Wertz, program director and assistant professor for ISU’s Kasiska School of Health Professions Radiographic Science, program says the opioid crisis affects everyone. “We want to inform the ISU community and the community at large about the current state of the opioid crisis in Idaho, how it's being combated, and alternatives to opioid use,” he said. 

Podium sessions will be broadcast simultaneously using distance-learning technology.  For more information about Research Day 2018, visit isu.edu/ichr/kdhs-research-day.

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