Understanding the Opioid Crisis: A Frontline Perspective
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 4:00PM- 6:00PM | Hybrid Event – Asian American Cultural Center and Livestream
Join us for a two-hour presentation offering a firsthand look at the opioid epidemic through the eyes of Peter Canning, a UConn Health experienced paramedic and public health advocate who has spent decades on the front lines of emergency response. Click on this link to read Peter Canning’s bio.
Through real-world stories and practical insights, participants will gain a clear understanding of the roots of the crisis, the dangers of fentanyl, and the life-saving benefits of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The session also covers essential harm reduction strategies—including how to recognize the signs of an overdose, understand key risk factors, and take effective, compassionate action during an emergency.
The workshop is designed for community members, healthcare providers, educators, advocates, and first responders alike. Special attention will be given to the unique challenges faced by police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, as well as their critical role in prevention, response, and community partnerships.
This event is hosted by the Office of Outreach and Engagement in collaboration with Student Health and Wellness (SHaW)—a Division of Student Life and Enrollment — with community initiatives focused on mental health, prevention, and building empathy-driven responses to substance use. This event is also coordinated with support from the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) and the Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC). This program is also supported by grant funding from the Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative (CHCI), reinforcing our shared commitment to fostering healthier and safer campus communities.
If you require accommodation to participate in this event, please email merly.downey@uconn.edu by January 22, 2026.
UConn is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Provider
Registration
| Platform/Venue | Registration Link |
|---|---|
| In-person at the Asian American Cultural Center | Use this link to register for in-person attendance. |
| Virtual – WebEx | Use this link to participate via livestream. |
Peter Canning’s Biography
Peter Canning has been a paramedic in Hartford, Connecticut, since January 1995. His first book, Paramedic: On the Front Lines of Medicine (1997), details his journey from speechwriter for the Governor of Connecticut to caregiver on the city streets. Rescue 471: A Paramedic’s Stories (2000) is the sequel.
His nonfiction book about the heroin epidemic, Killing Season: A Paramedic’s Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Opioid Epidemic published by Johns Hopkins University Press (JHUP)was selected by Amazon as one of the ten best nonfiction books of April 2021.
JHUP will also publish his latest book, The Friends and Family Guide to the Opioid Overdose Epidemic, in 2025.
He is the author of two EMS novels, Mortal Men (2012) and Diamond in the Rough (2016), and the short story collection, Promised Land (1994)
Since 2006, Canning has written the influential EMS blog: StreetWatch: Notes of a Paramedic. Writing as “Medicscribe,” he posts regularly about the opioid epidemic and other topics from an EMS perspective.
A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Canning attended the Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of Virginia. He has held many jobs in his life, including tennis instructor, aide to a United States Senator, taxi driver, meatpacker, line cook, telephone solicitor, book and movie reviewer, factory worker, health department administrator, speechwriter, and political campaign director, before finding his place in life as a paramedic. In addition to being a field paramedic, he is the EMS Coordinator at UConn Health John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, Connecticut.
Canning lives in West Hartford with his wife, Chevaughn, and their three children.
RSVP Form – Understanding the Opioid Crisis: A Frontline Perspective
Please fill out this RSVP form for in-person attendance. If you’d like to join via livestream, please use the livestream registration option found on the website. If you require accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Merly Downey at merly.downey@uconn.edu by January 22, 2026.