NORWAY – Western Maine Health and the Substance Abuse Conference Committee of Healthy Oxford Hills at Stephens Memorial Hospital will host a day-long conference, “Alcoholism and Drug Addiction: Disease, Treatment and Recovery Update 7,” on Friday, Dec. 7.

The annual conference in an effort to reach members of the community with information regarding substance abuse.

The conference is open to all area residents, employers, human resource directors, educators, substance abuse counselors, law enforcement and judicial personnel, physicians, nurses, clergy, social service workers, guidance counselors, parents, people in recovery and family members and friends affected by someone else’s drinking and drugging, and others wanting to know more about alcohol and drug addictions.

Dr. Mark Publicker, medical director at Mercy Recovery Center in Westbrook, will be the speaker on the “Disease Concept of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.”

Other scheduled speakers include Guy Cousins, associate director of the Maine Office of Substance Abuse; Darlene Glover, nurse manager of emergency services at Stephens Memorial Hospital; William Stockwell, chairman of the committee; and John D. McElwee, court judge, District 11.

Joan Churchill from Community Concepts will discuss “What Can We Do?” Presentations by local substance abuse counselors will round out the day; there will also be anonymous presentations about recovery and the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous,

Al Anon and Narcotics Anonymous.

The Oxford Hills Project Aware Players will make a special presentation under the direction of artistic facilitators Marissa Breton and Katey Branch.

The conference will be held in the Harper Conference Center in the Ripley Medical Building at Stephens Memorial Hospital from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The cost is $10 a person and lunch will be provided.

Preregistration is required and forms are located at Community Concepts, local substance abuse agencies and in the lobbies at Stephens Memorial Hospital. Scholarships are available.

Mail completed registration forms before Nov. 27 to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Conference, c/o Common Ground Counseling, 235 Main St., Norway, ME 04268. Make checks payable to Stephens Memorial Hospital.

For more information, call Jennifer Raudonis at 739-2644 or e-mail [email protected] or Kathryn Gardner at Healthy Oxford Hills at 743-1562, ext. 775.

The conference is co-sponsored by Healthy Oxford Hills, Stephens Memorial Hospital and Western Maine Health with support from Community Concepts, Inc., Common Ground Counseling, Crooked River Counseling, Healing of Persons Exceptional (HOPE), Maine Office of Substance Abuse, Mercy Recovery Center, Project Aware, Oxford County Mental Health Services, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Tri-County Mental Health Services, in conjunction with National Alcohol Awareness Week Dec. 1 to 7.