The annual Hope and Healing Conference of Western New York was held virtually this year because of COVID-19. 


What You Need To Know

  • Annual Hope and Healing Conference held virtually
  • Topics discussed included addiction and prevention
  • Keynote speaker Anne Hazlet from White House Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Health and prevention leaders discussed a number of issues, as there has been an uptick in local drug overdoses.

"It's really important for us all to come together because we're all here on the same mission, you know, trying to build that healthy community and save lives," said Melanie Witkowski, Prevention Works executive director. 

"Hope and healing are needed more now than any other time I can recall," said Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua Health and Human Services director.

Local health leaders addressed a variety of topics including addiction, treatment and COVID-19.

They say access to care and recovery have been made simpler during the pandemic.

"The new rules and practices such as telehealth now in place are making it easier for people to access medical care, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment, including medication assisted treatment," said Schuyler.

"During this very difficult time of COVID-19, coalitions, your coalitions, coalitions across the state, kept the work going. You did not skip a beat," said Pat Zuber-Wilson, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

State leaders on hand credited collaboration for helping combat drug addiction.

Leaders say 10,000 milliliters of medication and 25,000 pills have been collected and destroyed in Chautauqua County.

"And you have really set a marker for us to work together as a team to address substance use disorder in your region of the state, in your area, your county," said Zuber-Wilson.

"I find great hope and an enormous opportunity for all of us to cast a new vision for a brighter tomorrow," said Anne Hazlet, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for Rural Affairs adviser.

Keynote speaker Anne Hazlet from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy discussed prevention and education, as well as ways to reduce the availability of drugs and combat drug trafficking.

She also offered a number of tools and guides available to local advocates.

"Here in Western New York, you face a great challenge in the impact that addiction has had on this region without question," said Hazlet.

Other topics included suicide prevention and mental health disorders.