Jeffrey L. Anker, M.D., Clinical Director of Erie County Medical Center's Chemical Dependence Treatment Services

Drug abuse (Alcohol and Other Drugs); an American epidemic

Bio

Dr. Anker is a psychiatrist who has worked in the field of substance abuse treatment for over forty years. He did some of the original contemporary epidemiologic research in this field, when drug abuse beyond alcoholism was just beginning to establish a presence in the United States in the late 1960s. Since then, at different hospitals and clinics, he has been involved in developing a continuum of programs that have included inpatient, residential, day hospital, intensive outpatient, and office based treatments. He has worked closely with the "new professioanls" (certified alcohol and substance abuse counselors) and with self help/peer support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Al Anon.

Overview

Will discuss:

• the different drugs most abused
• how to determine whether someone is abusing drugs
• how you can help someone you care about who is abusing drugs
• how you can help yourself when someone you care about is abusing drugs and it is hurting you
• kinds of treatment and rehabilitation available to drug abusing people
• audience members' questions and concerns about drug abuse