OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Oct. 23, 2024) — Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) hosted a free panel discussion about opioid awareness and addiction on Oct. 22, drawing more than 150 attendees.
The event was moderated by OCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Juanita Ortiz and featured panelists Professor Jennifer Allen, Ph.D., chair of the Psychology Department, OCCC; Dr. Jason Beaman, chief medical officer, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Brian Couey, Psy.D., executive director at INTEGRIS Health Arcadia Trails Center for Addiction Recovery; and Jeff Hargrave, J.D., general counsel and director of operations at the Whitten Newman Foundation.
“Oklahoma City Community College is proud to serve as a forum for important discussions addressing opioid awareness and addiction,” said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of OCCC. “Our goal is to raise awareness, educate and provide resources that promote a more compassionate and proactive community.”
An Understanding Opioid Addiction micro-credential will be awarded to attendees who viewed all episodes of the documentary “Killing Pain” prior to the event.
Released in 2018, the in-depth, seven-part documentary explores the public health crisis in Oklahoma from its origin to steps the state is taking to stem the epidemic. The series is presented by Fighting Addiction Through Education (FATE) and produced by Lampstand Media and is available to view, free of charge, on killingpain.com.
About Oklahoma City Community College
Since its inception in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been the heartbeat of the Metro, dedicated to empowering learners and strengthening communities. Serving more than 18,000 students in credit-seeking courses and more than 5,000 students in non-credit-seeking programs, we are committed to producing leaders. “Student Success, Community Enrichment” is our mission, and we offer 87 degree and certificate programs plus more than 50 micro-credentials that provide a foundation for further education or immediate career readiness. We remain dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education that equips students to achieve personal and professional goals. OCCC is more than an institution; we are a community catalyst, fostering growth and success in our city, our workforce, and the lives of our students. Discover your potential at OCCC, where your future is our purpose.
Media Contact:
Sarah Barrow
Executive Director of Communication
(405) 834-5406
sarah.barrow@occc.edu