Liz Connors is a licensed clinical social worker, certified substance abuse counselor, and clinical program manager with thirteen years of experience in both clinical and research settings addressing substance use, mental health, criminal justice, and the opioid epidemic. Her work primarily focuses on addressing and eliminating barriers to accessing care for people who use drugs, naloxone distribution to high-need populations, and providing harm reduction education and resources to people who use drugs. Her recent work focuses on first responder occupational safety, public health oriented behaviors, and creating collaborative care networks within the scope of the opioid epidemic. Liz has expertise in community coordination, resource collaboration, infrastructure development, and advocacy work across organizational lines. She currently serves as the Director of First Responder and Public Health Programming at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health.

Presentation(s):

Expanding Harm Reduction and Naloxone Access throughout Missouri – Overcoming Objections and Knocking Down Obstacles to Build New Paths Forward

Lauren Green is the Director of Community Harm Reduction Programming at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri Institute of Mental Health. She has experience working collaboratively with partners across various sectors to reduce overdose mortality and increase access to harm reduction training and resources. Over the past six years, Lauren has worked to create more acceptance of harm reduction as a philosophy and vastly expand access to overdose education and naloxone across the state of Missouri. Lauren’s passion and focus is centered on reducing harm for people who use drugs and addressing stigma and inequalities related to drug use, incarceration, and access to care.

Presentation(s):

Expanding Harm Reduction and Naloxone Access throughout Missouri – Overcoming Objections and Knocking Down Obstacles to Build New Paths Forward