Texting and tweeting 24/7? Got a bad case of Facebook-itis? When does time with technology turn into too much time with technology?

These timely questions and more will be the focus of "Understanding Addiction in the Digital Age," a free, public discussion taking place on Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Fairfield University's Alumni House. Sponsored by the advisory board of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP), the event features a presentation by Marc N. Potenza, M.D., Ph.D., professor of addiction psychiatry and neurobiology at Yale University School of Medicine.

"This presentation is part of an ongoing series of public events designed to engage the larger community in discussions of critical issues affecting families and children as well as the teachers and counselors who work with them," said Susan Franzosa, Ph.D., dean of Fairfield's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. "If we are to meet students' educational and social needs, we need to understand the new demands of the digital age and how to respond to the behavioral addictions that arise within it."

Dr. Potenza is a board-certified psychiatrist with sub-specialty training and certification in addiction psychiatry. He has trained at Yale University receiving a combined B.S./M.S. with honors in molecular biochemistry and biophysics and a Ph.D. in cell biology, the latter concurrent with the M.D. through Yale's Medical Scientist Training Program. He completed internship, psychiatric residency and addiction psychiatry fellowship training at Yale and is a professor of psychiatry, child study and neurobiology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Potenza is highly respected in the field of addiction. He is director of the Problem Gambling Clinic, the Center of Excellence in Gambling Research, and the Women and Addictive Disorders Core of Women's Health Research at Yale. He is on the editorial boards of 10 journals and has received multiple national and international awards for excellence in research and clinical care. He has consulted to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Registry of Effective Programs, National Institutes of Health, American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization on matters of addiction.

Dr. Potenza's presentation will include a panel discussion with GSEAP faculty members Virginia Kelly and Richard Madwid, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

This event, part of GSEAP's Community Conversation series, is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. To RSVP, call (203) 254-4280.

Posted On: 03-14-2012 11:03 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 217