Hospice of Northwest Ohio Dr. Sharon Erel Lecture Planned for February 8
TOLEDO — Registration is now open for the first session of the 2024 Dr. Sharon Erel Lecture Series featuring Matt Bell, chief executive officer of Team Recovery.
The event will be held on Feb. 8, 2024 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the McMaster Center, Toledo Lucas County Library – Main Library.
The program is being offered at no charge to attendees and includes continuing education credits for nurses and social workers/counselors. Community members and those who are not seeking continuing education are also welcome to register for this insightful and informative talk.
This presentation will explore current trends in substance abuse, signs that healthcare clinicians should be mindful of during visits, indications of medications being shared and / or abused by patients’ families or visitors, and interventions and language that clinicians and caregivers can use to promote change.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The Main Library is located is 325 Michigan St.
Bell is a Toledo native who founded Team Recovery following a series of life-changing addictions. The first occurred during high school when his father died unexpectedly, and he was looking for ways to cope. He turned to alcohol, which led to marijuana and eventually cocaine. He went on to play baseball at the University of Toledo and kept his addiction at bay until he tore his rotator cuff and was prescribed pain medication. This started a downward spiral that led to him dropping out of school and eventually using heroin.
The next 10 years found Bell addicted to heroin, estranged from family and friends and homeless. On Oct. 15, 2015, after nearly taking his own life with a stolen gun, he landed in rehab and faced not only getting sober, but also making amends with the many people he had hurt over the years. Oct. 15, 2015 was the last day he used. Based on these experiences, he was determined to help others like him leading to the creation of Team Recovery.
To register for this event, email Mary Davis at [email protected]. Deadline to register is Feb. 5.
