Free HOPE Family Drug Summit next week to help families touched by addiction

Thompson described it as a workshop of all the different tools people can use when they have a loved one in crisis.

Thompson said the idea for the HOPE (Healing, Opportunities and Possibilities to Empower) summit came from employees in his office and family drug summits hosted by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

What you can learn

Representatives from nonprofits, law enforcement agencies and government departments will be on hand to talk about addiction, support, the legal system, recovery and a variety of other topics. The list of topics is available at justice.gov/usao-sdwv.

One of the most important topics, Thompson said, will be the progression of the disease of addiction. Personnel from West Virginia University and the University of Virginia medical schools will speak on that subject.

Additionally, sessions will be offered that can help families and professionals learn how to choose between treatment options, Thompson said, “ to give them a better understanding of what works, what doesn’t work, and also the understanding of what works for one person might not work for the next person.�

Family court experience

Thompson has helped families deal with the effects of addiction since he was a circuit court judge in Boone County, where he started the state’s first family treatment court. There, he dealt with parents who suffered from addiction.

“I found that the success rate I was dealing with on the family treatment court was actually to be much higher [than other treatment courts], basically because, if I could get them engaged, they weren’t trying to figure out how to beat the system, how to use criminal thinking,� he said.

Thompson said he wants to share that knowledge with families at this summit.

“I want to give them the ability to know that just because they have a loved one who suffers from addiction does not mean [the loved one is] a criminal,� he said. “They can get help. They can recover from this.�

Thompson said he’s hoping to have 300 attendees at the free event, which he wants to be the first of many. So far, about 115 people have registered.

A need for HOPE

Deb Harris, manager for the West Virginia Schools of Diversion & Transition Reentry Programs and Jobs & Hope WV, will present two breakout sessions — one on the support systems available to families and another on the journey to recovery.

Harris said there’s a need for events like the HOPE Family Drug Summit.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand that the disease of addiction affects more than just the person going through it,� she said. “It really is a family disease.�

Harris, who helps West Virginians in recovery with job training, said she wishes more families knew there is “hope to recover� for those suffering from addiction.

“This summit will allow us to shed some light on the hope and possibility of recovery,� she said.