The 2016 Matthew J. Ryan Law and Public Policy Forum

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic
 

The abuse of heroin and other opioids is a deadly epidemic in Pennsylvania. The 2016 Matthew J. Ryan Law and Public Policy Forum, Understanding the Opioid Epidemic, explored the medical, legal, policy and sociological dimensions of this issue. This conference brought together leading experts—including Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections John E. Wetzel and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine—and featured an excerpted screening of NBC 10’s “Generation Addicted” with commentary by the documentarians.

The event took place on Friday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Laurence E. Hirsch ’71 Classroom (Rm 101) at the Law School. The program was approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 6 substantive credits.

Welcome

Mark C. Alexander, Arthur J. Kania Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Panel 1: “Scope of the Opioid Epidemic”

Dr. Rachel Levine, Physician General, Pennsylvania Department of Health
Devin Reaves, Certified Recovery Counselor and Founder, Brotherly Love House
Dr. Scott E. Shapiro, President, Pennsylvania Medical Society

Moderator: Michael Campbell, Director of Clinical Programs and Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Panel 2: “Responding to the Crisis (policy)”

Barry L. Denk, Director, The Center for Rural Pennsylvania
Jordan M. Hyatt, Assistant Professor, Drexel University
The Honorable Joanna McClinton, Representative for the   191st District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Honorable John E. Wetzel, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Moderator: Steven L. Chanenson, Faculty Director of the David F. and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo Center for Ethics, Integrity and Compliance and Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Excerpted screening of NBC 10’s “Generation Addicted:”12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Featuring a discussion with documentarians:
Vince Lattanzio, Reporter, NBC10
Denise Nakano, News Anchor and Reporter, NBC10
Morgan Zalot, Reporter, NBC10

Panel 3: “Responding to the Crisis (the front lines)”

Cpl. Patrick Krouse, Officer, Upper Merion Police Department
The Honorable David J. Lozier, District Attorney, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Annie Fisher, Chief of East Division, Defender Association of Philadelphia
The Honorable Steven O’Neill, Judge, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas

Moderator:  Shea Rhodes, Director, The Villanova Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Panel 4: “Race and Drugs: Then and Now”

Jill McCorkel, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University
Helena Hansen, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Anthropology, New York University

Moderator: Allison Payne, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University

The Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Matthew J. Ryan Law and Public Policy Forum honors the memory of one of the Law School’s most distinguished alumni, The Honorable Matthew J. Ryan ’54 BS, ’59 JD, the former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Ryan Forum was made possible by the generosity of his many friends and the leadership of Arthur J. Kania ’56 JD; Albert A. Lindner ’68 JD; James E. McErlane ’64 BA, ’67 JD; and Richard G. Phillips ’62 BS, ’66 JD.