Fighting prescription drug abuse? Save your spot for 'The Difference Faces of Substance Abuse' conference Jan. 28-29

Early registration is open for the 2014 Different Faces of Substance Abuse Conference, which seeks to build collaborations and partnerships among Kentucky community members to address the state's prescription-drug abuse problem at the local level.

The conference, to be held Jan. 28-29 at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington, will address all aspects of substance abuse and misuse, and provide opportunities for networking and professional development. Continuing education credits are available for alcohol and drug counselors, social workers, licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists.

Topics for Jan. 28 include faces and voices of recovery, children of substance abuse, and drug-use trends and updates. Michael Barry, CEO of People Advocating Recovery, will be the keynote speaker and will talk about combating the stigma of substance abuse.

On Jan. 29, Jennifer Havens, epidemiologist for the University of Kentucky's Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, will discuss her research about the effect of prescription painkiller use in Eastern Kentucky, followed by a session during which stories of recovery will be shared. Participants can also attend three of the following nine breakout sessions:

Registering early guarantees participants one spot among the 250 available. If registration is received by Nov. 1, it costs $100 per person; after Nov. 1, if space remains, the fee increases to $150 per person. Click here to register.

The conference is a partnership of UK's Cooperative Extension Service and state drug abuse prevention gaencies, says its website. Part of its mission is to plan and implement an educational conference for community partners combating drug abuse problems to improve strategies for minimizing and preventing drug abuse in Kentucky counties.