Eastern Wyoming College Hosts Free Faces of Addiction Series

October 10, 2009

TORRINGTON, WY –

Eastern Wyoming College, in conjunction with the Wyoming Humanities Council and the Wyoming Department of Health, welcomes all area citizens to participate in a new film discussion series entitled Faces of Addiction. Through the use of film and dialogue, this free, four-part series will allow people to explore and address the challenges of addiction. The film series will be presented once a week for four consecutive weeks beginning October 29, 2009. Each program will take place on a Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room, #274, at Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington, Wyoming. A free light dinner will be provided for program participants.

The series includes four films: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (not rated) – presented October 29; Blow (rated R) – presented November 5; Maxed Out (not rated) – presented November 12; and Hello, My Name is Bill W (not rated) – presented November 19. The first three films examine types of addiction including addiction to financial risk and trading on Wall Street (power and greed); alcohol/drugs; and consumerism/gambling – all from different perspectives. The final film in the series, Hello, My Name is Bill W, explores recovery from addiction. Through the personal life stories depicted in these films, the audience will witness the experience of addiction when someone’s life is taken over by something more powerful than he or she is.

Following each film, program facilitators Dr. Rick Patterson, EWC Division Chair/Criminal Justice Instructor and Licensed Addictions Therapist, and Wayne Deahl, EWC English Instructor, will facilitate a discussion on how the media and society influence and portray our views and abilities to cope with and respond to addiction.

The series provides excellent opportunities for reflection and discussion, in a balanced and respectful forum, about topics that affect Wyoming communities.

The Faces of Addiction film series is sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Health – Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Eastern Wyoming College, with support from the following area community agencies: Peak Wellness Center, Community Hospital, New Hope, Goshen County Family Violence Program, and Goshen County Public Health. The program is also funded, in part, by the We the People Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information and/or to register for the Faces of Addiction film/discussion series, please call Anne Gardetto at 307.532.8328.