DHS Practice & Policy Lecture Series will focus on methamphetamine abuse

The impact of methamphetamine abuse on communities statewide will be the focus of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Practice & Policy Lecture Series on May 10, 2018. The program, Methamphetamine: A Journey to Understanding, will be presented by criminal justice professor Dr. Rashi Shukla from noon to 1 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

In 2004, a law was passed in Oklahoma limiting access to pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. More than a decade later, methamphetamine abuse continues to be a serious issue. The lecture will highlight key findings from a multi-method research project on Oklahoma's methamphetamine problem and the discussion will include perspectives from law enforcement and former manufacturers.

Rashi Shukla is a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma School of Criminal Justice. She received her Ph.D. in criminal justice from Rutgers University. Her research includes data relating to the challenges of responding to crime and drugs in rural communities, methamphetamine production and the trafficking of the drug nationally and internationally. Her book, Methamphetamine: A Love Story, was published by the University of California Press in 2016.

The Practice & Policy Lecture Series has been developed to provide thought-provoking presentations on Oklahoma's emerging policy issues, trends and best practices. The series is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of Performance Outcomes and Accountability and the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Managementwith the goal of providing the best educational opportunities available in a forum that offers participants an opportunity to question, share and learn from each other.All lectures are free and open to the public. DHS staff can receive training credit for this event and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for social workers.

Clickhere to register. For more information, visit the Practice and Policy Lecture Series webpageor contact the Office of Performance Outcomes and Accountability at (405) 521-3552 or by email at DHS.LectureSeries@okdhs.org.

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