United States Attorney Will Thompson is collaborating with various partners to organize the HOPE Family Drug Summit. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the University of Charleston. The summit aims to support West Virginia families affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and is free for attendees.
The summit's agenda includes sharing information, building connections, fostering collaboration, and strengthening partnerships to provide hope to those suffering from SUD and their families. "Whether it is a child, parent or other family member struggling with addiction or a loved one lost to an overdose, virtually no one in West Virginia has been left unaffected by the drug epidemic," Thompson stated. He emphasized that the summit focuses on hope and demonstrating that recovery is possible.
Topics covered during the event include the neurobiology of addiction, mentoring for youth in foster care, and navigating treatment and recovery systems. Attendees will hear from individuals who have experienced loss due to overdoses and others who have found success in recovery. Speakers will also discuss legal system overviews and present data on the state's drug crisis.
The main portion of the summit will be held at the Geary Student Union Ballroom at the University of Charleston. Partners involved in organizing the event include several local and federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration's Louisville Division, Federal Public Defender’s Office for Southern District of West Virginia, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Jobs & Hope West Virginia, among others.
For more details about registration for this in-person event, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/hope-family-drug-summit.