April 09, 2018

Three faculty members from Midwestern University in Glendale participated in a free public forum about the ongoing opioid crisis in America and non-opioid alternatives for pain management. The presentation took place at the Glendale Foothills Library on April 3rd as part of the University's free monthly Community Health Lecture Series.

The opioid crisis is a national and state epidemic. Drug overdosing is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. More than 6 million Americans over the age of 12 use a prescription drug nonmedically every month. In Arizona, almost 800 people have died from opioid overdoses.

The Midwestern presentation, titled "Chronic Pain and Opioids: New Solutions and Alternatives," examined the opioid crisis from pharmaceutical, osteopathic medical, and physical therapy perspectives. Attendees learned how to recognize common signs of opioid abuse in friends and family, how to safely dispose of unused prescriptions, and effective alternative pain management options.

Midwestern University faculty participating in the presentation were Mindy Burnworth, Pharm.D., Professor, Pharmacy Practice at the College of Pharmacy-Glendale; Richard Dobrusin, D.O., M.S., Clinical Associate Professor, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine; and Mark Kargela, PT, D.P.T., Clinical Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences.

The Midwestern University Community Health Lecture Series offers free public lectures every month on human and animal health and medicine by Midwestern University faculty. For more information, please call 623/930-3868. Reservations are not necessary.