A Family Perspective

“ Addiction does not exist in isolation. Its ripple effects touch the lives of everyone connected to the person suffering from substance abuse disorder... We think about family as providing love, support, and stability, but when addiction infiltrates this unit, it acts like a contagious disease, spreading dysfunction and despair. And children are really the most vulnerable victims.”

Hear from Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia in the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, about the tragic effect opioid addiction had on his family, and how he heeded the call to devote his life to ending this public health crisis that affects us all through trauma-informed, research-backed approaches to treatment.

This discussion took place at the University of Notre Dame’s Summit on the Opioids Settlement: A Pathway to Hope which focused on how to most effectively distribute the nearly $50 billion in settlement dollars to maximize the impact on our communities and citizens.

Held in August 2024, this summit brought together attorneys general from across the country to discuss best practices to proactively evaluate the efficacy of opioid abatement programs and develop strategies to best distribute the funds. Led by the University of Notre Dame’s Poverty Initiative, the summit explores how evidence-based practices can inform decision making and ensure that the Opioids Settlement best helps those victims it is meant to serve.

Join us Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Speaker:

• Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia