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Physician and Addiction Specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky Delivers Keynote at Wilkes University Pain and Addiction Summit

The host of "Loveline" and "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" is the featured speaker on Friday, April 3 at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Wilkes-Barre, PA (10/31/2019) — Leaders at the forefront of battling the opioid crisis will present at Wilkes University's Pennsylvania Pain and Addiction Summit on Friday, April 3 at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Dr. Drew Pinsky, known nationally as "Dr. Drew," will deliver the keynote address, "The Opioid Epidemic: How Did We Get Here and What Do We Do Now?"

During the full-day conference, medical, legal and law enforcement professionals will discuss the current state of the opioid crisis, share methods in dealing with these issues, and identify opportunities to treat pain and substance abuse. Continuing education hours are available for counselors, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, nurses and social workers.

Dr. Drew is a practicing physician and board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist. For more than 20 years, he served first as the director of medical services and later as the program medical director of chemical dependency services at a full-service psychiatric hospital. He has also served in a variety of clinical professor roles at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Dr. Drew is a national lecturer in medical training programs and presents to the public on health and addiction issues. He hosted the nationally syndicated radio show Loveline for over 32 years. He also produced and starred in the hit reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1 which chronicled the struggle for sobriety and the cycle of addictive disorders of a group of celebrities.

Dr. Drew received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his M.D. from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, where he remained for his residency. He then became chief resident at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. He has been appointed to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and is a Fellow with the American College of Physicians.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, "overdose deaths, particularly from prescription drugs and heroin, have reached epidemic levels, now making drug overdoses the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50." Locally, overdose deaths in Luzerne County have increased annually, with deaths at an all-time high of 156 in 2018.

The cost to attend the full-day program is $150. Half-day participation is $75 and does not include lunch and the keynote address.

Presentation proposals are being accepted. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Attendees can learn more and register online at www.wilkes.edu/addiction. For more information, contact Margaret Petty, director of the center for continued learning, at (570) 408-4460 or margaret.petty@wilkes.edu.

For more stories about Wilkes University and its students, faculty and staff, please visit News@Wilkes.

About Wilkes University

Wilkes University is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, Wilkes is on a mission to create one of the nation's finest doctoral universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small college, open to all who show promise. The Economist named Wilkes 25th in the nation for the value of its education for graduates. In addition to 46 majors, Wilkes offers 24 master's degree programs and five doctoral/terminal degree programs, including the doctor of philosophy in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education, doctor of pharmacy, and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.

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