Thursday, May 16th (6:30 p.m.-8:00p.m.)
Far West End Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Rockville
15600 Pouncey Tract Rd, Rockville, VA 23146
Also available through live stream: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/89490803265
Join us as Tom Bannard leads us in a conversation of the things your loved one wishes you understood about Substance Use Disorders (but won't or can't tell you), including:
When you do things for me that I can do for myself, I feel useless (but PLEASE go ahead and do them anyway)
I'm not bad, I'm just sick (but I might do some bad things)
I don't know what I need (but I will tell you that I do)
...and more!
The talk will explore how to be an Ally to people in recovery, resources for substance use disorders, strategies for getting your loved one into treatment, and addiction and the brain.
Tom Bannard (he/him/his), CADC, CPRSS, MBA, is the Assistant Director for Substance Use and Recovery Support at Virginia Commonwealth University. A person in long-term recovery, Tom is passionate about changing the way we treat substance use and firmly believes that we must improve our systems of care by focusing on long-term recovery supports, allowing easier access to treatment and recovery resources, educating and supporting family members, and reducing stigma around substance use.
Tom directs Rams in Recovery, the largest Collegiate Recovery Program in Virginia and oversees an expansion grant through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand recovery supports at 9 schools in the Commonwealth. Tom loves to help people in recovery find purpose and passion in their career paths and especially enjoys teaching and expanding the peer recovery workforce and profession. Tom spent the first 7 years of his career working with people experiencing homelessness at CARITAS. Tom lives in Richmond with his partner Julz, his daughter Inez, and his dog Murphy.
