About the Speaker Series

Sam Quinones has spent more than three decades immersed in the origins and culture where the opioid creation and use in Mexico originated, before expanding to the United States. His firsthand accounts present a foundation for how the opioid epidemic began and grew by way of retailing black tar heroin and addiction through pain medications as a parallel.

Quinones’ career as a journalist has spanned 30 years—Living for ten years as a freelance writer in Mexico, where he wrote his first two books. He returned to the United States to work for the L.A. Times, covering immigration, drug trafficking, neighborhood stories, and gangs.

A discussion panel comprised of community health leaders and officials followed Quinones’ presentation to engage the audience discussing issues related to drug addiction, the opioid epidemic and ideas for local solutions.

West Lafayette Speaker Series

Moderator

Michael Budd CEO of United Way of Greater Lafayette

Panelists

Sam Quinones Journalist, Author and Speaker, National Opiate Epidemic
Tony Roswarski Mayor of Lafayette
Honorable Kristen McVey Judge for Tippecanoe Superior Court 5
Khala Hochstedler Administrator Tippecanoe Dept. of Health
Jason Huber Executive Director for Community Corrections
John Catron, LMHC, LCAC Clinical Manager at Innovative Medicine
Grace Paton, CAPRC Program Coordinator Teen Hope-APG, Recovery Coach for Tippecanoe Dept. of Health
Stafka Poweleit, MSW, LCSW, CADCII Meridian Addictions and Recovery Center Practice Manager

Date and Time

Mon, September 30, 2019
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Lunch provided.

Location

Ross-Ade Stadium
850 Steven Beering Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47906

Sam Quinones

Sam Quinones is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist and author. His latest book, Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic addresses the addiction crisis that has ravaged the country which has no social or demographic barriers.