Mary Beth O’Connor, author of From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, will be one of the keynote speakers for the University of Southern Indiana’s 41st annual Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies (IADS) May 15-17 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West on the USI campus. The three-day conference is for counselors, social workers, case managers, therapists, nurses, personnel directors, correction personnel, educators and all other professions interested in the impact of alcohol and drug use disorders/addictions.
For O’Connor, childhood abuse and other traumas led to drug use and addiction at an early age. She struggled with methamphetamine addiction until she was 32 years old. Six years into recovery, she attended Berkeley Law at the University of California. After graduation, she worked at a large firm in Silicon Valley, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014, O’Connor was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge, a position from which she retired in 2020.
She will present her personal story with key concepts and examples of how to build a personal recovery plan and ways to approach it which include how trauma and addiction are connected. She will also lead two concurrent sessions: one on recovery and peer support options and the other on the benefits of journaling and using writing as part of healing.
In addition to O’Connor, Dr. Andrew Chambers, Psychiatrist with the Indiana University Neuroscience Center, will give a keynote presentation on current practices related to treatment of substance use disorders with an underlying mental health diagnosis, the biology of mental health and addiction and safe medications for those in recovery. During his first concurrent session, Chambers will address adolescent vulnerability to addiction. During his second session, he will screen a film he created that animates the neuroscience of addiction in mental illness, followed by a discussion.
Also, during the conference local experts will present concurrent sessions on a variety of topics, such as:
- Co-occurring disorders
- Safe prescribing for people in recovery
- Change and orientation group
- CRAFFT model
- Harm reduction
- Restorative yoga
- Illegal narcotic use and distribution trends
- Ethics, HIV and hepatitis C education
Enrollment cost is $215 for all three days, $85 for Wednesday only, $85 for Thursday only and $75 for Friday only. There is a reduced cost for students. In 2024, IADS registration is discounted with generous support from Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Register soon to take advantage of the discount.
Registration information is available at USI.edu/IADS. For conference information, call 1-877-USI-HLTH or 812-461-5217.
Continuing Education Information
The USI Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning is offering continuing education for the interprofessional team. For specific questions about contact hours, email usi1nhpcert@usi.edu. Application for continuing education will be submitted to ICAADA, Illinois ICB, Kentucky board ADC, Kentucky board of psychologists, Indiana CLE and Kentucky CLE.