October 9, 2025
For Immediate Release
Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207
WORCESTER – Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr, is hosting a free event for the public focused on holistic approaches to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery on Thursday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Veterans Inc., 59 South Street, Shrewsbury.
This event, presented by the Prevention and Support Network, will feature keynote speaker Linda Geraghty, a trauma-informed yoga instructor and dedicated family recovery specialist prominently featured in the award-winning documentary Our American Family.
Ms. Geraghty will share insights into the role of mindfulness, movement, and self-compassion when exploring generational addiction and trauma. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating mind-body practices into traditional recovery pathways to promote long-term healing for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder.
The event will also include a panel discussion featuring professionals in wellness, nutrition, and fitness, further exploring how holistic strategies can complement traditional recovery supports. Refreshments, networking, and resource tables will take place from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. The program will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.
District Attorney Early is dedicated to addressing the root causes and impacts of the polysubstance use crisis, as well as the effects of trauma, especially on children. In 2015, he formed the Central Massachusetts Opioid Task Force, now known as the Prevention and Support Network, which has more than 800 members in the network. Additionally, Mr. Early launched the Critical Incident Management Systems (CIMS) software in 2020, which allows police throughout Worcester County to track overdose incidents as they occur and promptly follow up with survivors to assist them in obtaining treatment. In 2021, Mr. Early also established the Worcester County Drug Endangered Children’s Alliance to identify and support children who have experienced a traumatic event. Federal grant funding was awarded in 2022 to support the expansion of the Alliance and the implementation of the Handle With Care programs in schools throughout the county, through which schools are notified by local police when a student has experienced a trauma such as viewing a drug overdose, enabling the school to reach out to the affected child.
Please register using the QR code provided on the flyer or visit the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/sUPeVKYdBx
