The next presentation in the Your Health lecture series at Northern Michigan University is titled "Addiction, the Addict and the Opioid Epidemic." This free event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in Reynolds Recital Hall in NMU's C.B. Hedgcock Building. The featured speaker will be Dr. Talal Khan, assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and chief of addiction services at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. 

Khan will discuss the magnitude of the opioid epidemic, which included 12.5 million people in the United States who misused prescription opioids in 2015, contributing to 15,281 deaths. The discussion will provide information on why addiction is considered a disease and how to recognize the distress of an addict.

Your Health is designed to provide qualified, general health information to area residents through a collaborative effort between Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, NMU and UP Health System-Marquette.