Registration is now open for the 2013 Different Faces of Substance Abuse Conference.  Hosted by the University of Kentucky, the conference’s mission is to strengthen grassroots efforts to curtail prescription drug abuse and misuse across the state.

The conference will be Jan. 23-24 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington.

On Jan. 23, the conference opens at 10 a.m. EST.  Presentations begin at 12:30 p.m. Speakers on Jan. 23 include Shannon Weatherly, acting administrator of the Drug Free Communities Support Program in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Michelle Lofwall, UK associate professor of psychiatry; Dave Hopkins, program manager for Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER); Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy; Mary Davis, director of Behavioral Oncology at the Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville; Ryan Stanton, medical director of the emergency room at UK’s Good Samaritan Hospital; Sharon Stancliff, medical director of the Harm Reduction Coalition and Josh Huffman, youth pastor at Frontline Student Ministries.

The conference will resume at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. Participants will have the opportunity to attend three breakout sessions. Topics include prescription drug abuse and other risky behaviors in rural Appalachia, drug courts, Theatre in Diversion program, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s Rx Prevention Toolkit on forming local coalitions, how to get information and assistance with prescription drug abuse, Truth and Consequences: The choice is yours youth program, Health Rocks! curriculum for kids, successfully engaging pregnant women into substance abuse related services and Champions for a Drug Free Pendleton County.

Eight hours of continuing education units are available for educators, social workers, UK Cooperative Extension Service county personnel, vocational educators, mental behavioral health specialists, marriage and family therapists, drug and alcohol counselors and others.

Space is limited to the first 250 applicants. Registration is $100 if received before Nov. 15 and $125 after that date. Registration forms, exhibitor forms and hotel information are available on the conference’s website http://www.facesofdrugabuse.net/. Conference information also is available on Facebook under The Different Faces of Substance Abuse and through Twitter @FacesDrugAbuse.

Conference sponsors include the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, its School of Human Environmental Sciences, UK Health Education through Extension Leadership, UK Cooperative Extension Service, UK College of Social Work, UK College of Pharmacy, UK College of Medicine, Bluegrass Prevention Center, Lexington Mayor’s Alliance on Substance Abuse, Kentucky Department of Corrections, Fayette County-KY ASAP (Agency for Substance Abuse Policy), Operation UNITE, Kentucky Division of Behavioral Health, Ohio County Together We Care and West Kentucky Family Enrichment Center.