Last Sunday, the non-profit organization Grands Flourish held their Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Grand Connections Conference at the Wyndham Providence Airport Hotel in Warwick. This event sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Opioid Response Network helped to bring grandparents and grandchildren together who are battling opioid addiction. More than 50 people attended the event in order to show their support of the organization and to represent that these “grand-families” aren’t alone.

Speakers at the event included founder of Grands Flourish, Magdalena Andreozzi, former Senior Advisor to the Governor and master of ceremonies, Tom Coderre, and CEO of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Linda Hurley spoke about the dangers of using opioids, and how it has affected their families. Andreozzi said, “Statistically the ripple effects of the opioid epidemic will affect someone in this room today during this conference.” She also said, “I am one of the 13, 968 Rhode Island grandparents who raise or care for their grandkids as a result of a family member struggling with substance abuse disorder.”

 Coderre also spoke about his own struggles with addiction and how even though he was a victim of substance abuse, he was able to rise above it and overcome his addiction battle. “I got the help that I needed, and today I am in long term recovery.”

Hurley gave a slideshow presentation about how opioid use affects the body scientifically, and spoke about how opioid abuse “Highjacks the brain and causes harm by a number of contributing factors. We know now that there is a genetic vulnerability.” She also added that she had lost, “Five loved ones due to chemical dependency.”

SPEAK UP:

Founder of Grands Flourish, Magdalena Andreozzi, welcomed everybody to the first annual Grand Connections Conference, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Andreozzi stated, “Our mission at Grands Flourish is to empower, engage, and inspire grandparents raising grandchildren impacted by substance abuse disorder and other traumas.”

HERE TO HELP:

Sponsors of the conference like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the department of Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), and the Boys and Girls Club of America, welcomed grandparents and grandchildren to the event by providing information about the opioid epidemic and how they can receive help.