Tipping the Pain Scale

Roz Pichardo is a domestic violence and gun violence survivor. Roz channels her trauma into service by helping the often-forgotten people of North Philadelphia. In her own volunteer capacity she has personally saved the lives of over 800 men and women in active addiction by administering naloxone and training others to do the same.

Sara Howe is an award-winning, nationally recognized behavioral health leader with 20 years of experience building successful coalitions to take organizations to the next level. Sara holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health promotion from Purdue University and an MBA from Purdue’s Krannert School of Management. Sara served on board of directors and as public policy chair of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for seven years. She also recently served as chair of the Illinois Department of Human Services Social Services Advisory Council.

Jason Jackson (MAC, CADC, CCJAP, CCFC) works for the Pitt County Sheriff’s office as the Program Coordinator for two programs: Sheriff’s Heroin Addiction Recovery Program (S.H.A.R.P.) and Women’s Empowerment and Recovery (W.E.A.R.). These programs connect program participants to licensed therapists, peer support specialists, and other professionals to help them break the cycle of addiction and prepare for a life of recovery upon release from incarceration. Jason has extensive education, training, certifications, and experience within the fields of criminal justice and addiction, including nearing the final stages of securing his PhD in Human and Social Services.

Diannee Carden-Glenn  became an advocate for harm reduction and treatment for Hepatitis C following the overdose death of her son Michael who was a pioneer in the harm reduction movement. Diannee is a Certified Case Manager, graduate of the Honeywell Institute of Information Sciences, certified in non-profit management through Duke University office of continuing studies and  has worked in law enforcement and the medical field including substance use treatment.  Diannee is the Board President of North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, is a Board member of  Pitt County Coalition of Substance Use; serves on the Advisory Council for Mental Health America Eastern Carolina, is a member of the Florida Viral Hepatitis Planning Group, and serves as the Harm Reduction Consultant for Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group New York. She founded ekiM for Change, a harm reduction syringe service access and public health initiative program, and is a supervisor on the nationwide GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) web site and facilitates a local GRASP chapter.  She is an invited speaker and freelance writer on Hepatitis C, addiction, dealing with the death of children from overdose and has served on various boards focusing on public health issues such as domestic violence, sex work, overdose prevention, HIV and Hepatitis C, child fatality prevention, substance use and misuse, and the homeless.

William “Leigh” Atherton (PhD, LCMHCS, LCAS, CRC, CCS) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies at East Carolina University. His duties include: Director of the MS in Clinical Counseling with an emphasis in Addictions program, Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate program, and teaching various clinical, addictions and rehabilitation counseling related courses.

Dr. Atherton received a BA in Psychology from Clark University, a MA in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration from East Carolina University. Prior to joining ECU, Dr. Atherton served as Clinical Director of a Critical Access Behavioral Health Agency in Greenville, NC. Dr. Atherton has over 17 years of clinical experience in clinical, addictions, and rehabilitation counseling, and clinical supervision.

Khrecia Holley (she/her) is a Pitt County, NC native. Ms. Holley is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and serves the Family Accountability and Recovery Court of District 8 which provides resources to areas such as Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene Counties. Ms. Holley’s 16 years of lived experience is a catalyst of support and encouragement to spur others onto their recovery pathway. Ms. Holley’s knack to say things the way they need to be said inspires anyone in the room to make real changes in systems.