About the People's Opioid Summit
The People’s Opioid Summit – A real-time, virtual gathering of the people, by the people, and for the people addicted to opioids and their loved ones
Has your life or the life of a loved one been torn apart by opioid addiction? Come out of the shadows and join caring experts and people that have lived with the stigma for a day of loving acceptance and support, all from the comfort of your home.
• Hear from people who can help make sense of what you are going through.
• Learn about the resources available to you right in your community.
• Talk to people who have been through the same nightmare.
• Get answers to your most pressing and urgent problems.
• Get the resources you need.
The People’s Opioid Summit –Bringing Together Innovative Providers and Those in Need
The Presenting Partner of The People’s Opioid Summit is the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness® (AIHF). This revolutionary facility brings together health and wellness providers who can meet many of the needs of those suffering from opioid use disorder and their loved ones. With tenants able to provide counseling, alternative medicine, and pain management, as well as general health practices for dentistry, chiropractic, and more, we invite you to learn more about AIHF and other sponsors!
The People’s Opioid Summit – a judgment-free zone full of information. resources and people who can help.
We understand that when dealing with opioid addiction, you have many needs. At The People’s Opioid Summit, we will have representatives from a variety of service groups who share our goal of welcoming you and helping you. We have people from:
• The Legal community
• North Carolina state government
• Insurance providers
• Emergency departments
• Police department
• Community Support Groups
• Medical and health experts
• Mental health programs
• Residential and long-term programs
This is truly a people’s summit, designed to get information and solutions into the hands of everyday citizens affected most by this crisis. We envision bringing this expertise to YOU the individuals, families, and professional communities that need it most.
The People’s Opioid Summit – your place for love, comfort, and answers.
Whether you’re primarily seeking support as you battle opioid addiction for yourself or on behalf of a loved one, or you’re seeking tactical, practical solutions, The People’s Opioid Summit is here for you. In addition to the presentations and vendor information on October 9th, purchase of your ticket will provide you access to the resources on this website, recordings of presentations, vendor and sponsor information, and much more, long after the day of the summit.
If you have any questions regarding The People’s Opioid Summit or would like to get involved, please contact us.
Registration
PRESALE
- Register Early & Plan Your Day
- Day-Of Access to Presentations, Chats, Videos, and more
- Ongoing Access to Resources, Video Archives, Sponsor & Vendor Contact Information
DAY OF
- Day-Of Access to Presentations, Chats, Videos, and more
- Ongoing Access to Resources, Video Archives, Sponsor & Vendor Contact Information
- Remember to Register by 8:00 AM
The People’s Opioid Summit Coronavirus Considerations
While we are in the midst of a pandemic, we cannot ignore the impact of other public health crises such as opioid addiction. Our organizing team considered postponing the People’s Opioid Summit event in order to have it in-person at a later date. However, with the numbers of opioid-related deaths rising even more dramatically, we felt that we could not wait. As a result, we are working diligently to transition our event to one that can be participated in virtually. In addition to our exceptional lineup of speakers and presenters, we will still provide all of the information, support, and resources we had envisioned having at our on-site event. We strongly encourage your participation and consider inviting loved ones to join you in this new environment. If you have any questions about the capabilities and processes of this revised event, please contact us.
Summit Hosting Platform
The People’s Opioid Summit is very proud and excited to take place as a virtual event this year through the innovative online event platform, hopin. This decision was made with the goal of providing the best possible experience for attendees, vendors, sponsors, and speakers. With distinct areas for the main stage, vendor booths, breakout rooms, and more, all participants should be able to easily navigate to their desired presentations throughout the day. There will also be many opportunities for attendees to interact with each other, our vendors, sponsors, speakers, and more. As more specific information is available, we will send updates to registered attendees. If you have not registered for the event, you may do so here.
If you have any questions about the summit or the logistics of its virtual nature, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Inspired Speakers & Presenters
From the medical, political, legal fields, those living with addiction, family members, and much more!
Master of Ceremonies
Meet your People's Opioid Summit Host, Marilyn Shannon

Marilyn Shannon
Presentation Leader - Panel DiscussionCarolina Performance - Speaker, Author, Life/Business Coach

Steven Mange
Keynote Speaker - An update on efforts to address the opioid epidemic in North CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Justice - Senior Policy & Strategy Counsel

Shane Willis
Featured Speaker - An Athlete's Outlook: The Pressure To PerformManager of Youth & Amateur Hockey at Carolina Hurricanes

Gina Musa, NCCpSS, CARC
Speaker - My Story of Addiction - From Sex Work to Fulfilling RecoveryUNC IPRC - Rural Outreach & Networking Coordinator - Peer to Peer Project

Dr. Eric Morse
Speaker - Recognizing Opioid Use in a Friend or Family MemberCarolina Performance - Addiction & Sports Psychiatrist

Aysel Atli, MD, MPH
Speaker - If not opioids, then what for pain?Triangle Pain Consultants - Founder, Pain Specialist

Dr. Jamila Battle
Speaker - How Adverse Childhood Experience Affects Substance Abuse and RecoveryCarolina Performance - Family/Sleep/Addiction Medicine Physician

Dr. Robert Bruck
Speaker - CBD & CBG from Hemp - the Therapeutic of the FutureHempire Capital, Inc. - President of Research and Development

Joshua Dittmer, MD
Speaker - Addressing the Trauma Beneath AddictionCarolina Performance - Addiction & General Psychiatrist

Nora Henderson
Speaker - Neurofeedback & Holistic Opioid Addiction HelpBrain Fitness Specialists of America - Director of Operations

Smythe Hoover
Speaker - The impact of addiction, overdose, death, and grief on a teenagerLost his Brother to Opioids

Stephanie Hoover, CHC, CRC
Speaker - Caregivers Find Their Boundaries to Talk - Removing their Stigma to FeelFirstHealth of the Carolinas - Peer Coordinator

Amanda J. Isac, PharmD, MPH
Speaker - Prescribing Medications: Ask A PharmacistNC Division of Public Health, Health Park Pharmacy - Pharmacist

Carlyle Johnson, Ph.D.
Speaker - Challenges and opportunities in improving access to opioid treatment for the uninsuredAlliance Health - Director of Provider Network Strategic Initiatives

Aynisa Leonardo
Speaker - Understanding Addiction Trends with VeteransLong Island Center for Recovery - Director of Training, Education, and First Responder

Michael Lewis – CFA, MBA
Speaker - Bridging the Gap Between Sober Life and Sober LivingCFA, MBA - Founder Tutor Financial Advisors, LLC

Nancy Loeffler
Speaker - How to Grieve the Physical and Emotional Losses Associated with Opioid UseFounder - Being with Grief

Donald McDonald
Speaker - Language Matters: Addressing SUD StigmaDMcDRecovery.org - Behavioral Health Recovery Consultant

Flo Moses
Speaker - The Role of Physical Therapy in Managing PainSports & More Physical Therapy, Inc. - Physical Therapist, Co-Owner

Debbie Orol, RN
Speaker - Natural Solutions to Pain Management For Recovery and SelfcareHolistic Health Coach

Justin Garrity, Jeffrey Halbstein-Harris, Nicole Singletary
Speakers - Post Overdose Rapid Responder Response TeamWake County Government

Dr. Monique Santoro
Speaker - The Role of Chinese Medicine in Combating Addiction & The Opioid EpidemicCenter for Chiropractic & Wellness -LAc/ Chinese Medicine Doctor

Manny Shelton
Speaker - From the Darkness to the LightJoCo Angels - Member

Amber Shelton Vreeland
Speaker - When children must care for their parentsFirstHealth of the Carolinas - SUD / OUD Recovery Specialist