We have seen a dramatic change in the form and potency of substances over time. Fentanyl has devastated our region, “tranq” (xylazine) use has escalated, and poly-substance use is much more common. We’ll address the trends being seen by behavioral health professionals, experienced by people in recovery, and will explore community-based efforts, harm reduction and treatment options.

We’ll be joined by community leaders with lived experience and a treatment professional. This program will include naloxone training and education. Thank you to Savage Sisters for providing a limited number of Narcan doses, which will be available for distribution.

Meet our Presenters:

Sarah Laurel

Sarah is the Founder and Executive Director of Savage Sisters. Sarah created Savage Sisters and its programming after she overcame her traumatic battle with Substance Use Disorder and homelessness. After years of being shuffled through the system, she found herself in a wheelchair and once again being offered substandard care. What began as a desire to have one safe home for a couple of women, grew organically over the past five years. Today Savage Sisters has nine recovery homes, a drop-in center, weekly street-based outreaches, and statewide overdose reversal and harm reduction trainings.

Clay Gueits, MD
Addiction Psychiatrist at Saint Luke’s Health Network/Penn Foundation

Dr. Gueits is an addiction and general psychiatrist at Saint Luke’s Health Network/Penn Foundation in the Lehigh Valley. Dr. Gueits graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in physics. He received his medical degree from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York after which he spent several years conducting neuroimaging research at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his psychiatry residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, where he served as chief resident and developed an interest in treating addictions. He furthered this interest by completing an addiction psychiatry fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania where he honed his skills in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders.

This program is funded by the Montgomery County Office of Drug & Alcohol

Thank you to Ethos Treatment, LLC for hosting this event.