June 9 & 10, 2008 MSUB College of Technology Health Science Building, 3803 Central Ave The Great Room Conference Fee: $159 College Credit: $100 For more information or to register, call 896-5890

The State of Montana has made great strides in fighting the Meth Epidemic, but we're not done yet.

The human cost of past and current meth abuse crosses racial, social geographic, and economic lines and affects thousands of Montana families. Join us June 9-10 for a two-day conference on how we can continue the good work and respond to the affects of meth on our court and prison system, child welfare and family services, medical facilities and schools in our communities. Our goal is to summon the resources of all aspects of the community--medical, educational, psychological, spiritual, political and legal--to respond to the threat of methamphetamine uses on the users themselves, their families and our communities. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, including the attraction of meth, early intervention, educational responses, legal consequences, community collaborations and many other related topics like sexually transmitted diseases, attachment disorder that affects hundreds of kids in the Montana school system and the impact Meth continues to have on Montana's economy. Individuals recovering from meth addiction and their families will share their stories and their ideas for hope and healing. The conference is open to all and will be hosted on the main campus of MSU Billings.

Nationally renowned speaker, Frank Kros, M.S.W., J.D., of the Upsidedown Organization in Baltimore, Maryland and Executive VP of the Children's Guild. Mr. Kros will speak on the Addicted Brain and examine why pre-teens and adolescents are more sensitive and vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, nicotine and drugs than adults. He will discuss why this vulnerability exists and offer concrete suggestions on both prevention and intervention after use. In addition, the process of addiction in the brain will be examined with implications for changing behavior in teens.

Other notable speakers include:

• Don Schroeder, Nexxus
• Dr. Brenda Roche, Arrowhead Psychological & Behavioral Sciences
• Dr. Sandra Wells, University of Montana
• Dr. Mary Gaddy, Billings Clinic
• Dr. Ernest Randolfi, MSU Billings

Conference is presented by:

• MSUB College of Education
• MSUB College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning
• Yellowstone County Tavern Association