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Â鶹ÊÓƵ will kick off its celebration of International Education Week (IEW) November 14 with a public talk in health sciences called “A Respectable Form of Addiction? Codeine Misuse in Ireland, the UK, and South Africa.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

The Dishman School of Nursing and the Office of Study Abroad are joint hosts for the event. Jeff Palis, director of global studies and study abroad, says that the talk is one of the most important activities offered during IEW because of its local relevance.

“Prescription painkillers such as Oxycodone and OxyContin kill many hundreds of Texans every year. Understanding how other countries are handling the rise of opioid abuse will help us better understand preventative and treatment measures to better serve our communities,” he said.

John Wells, professor from the School of Health Sciences at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), will lead the talk at Â鶹ÊÓƵ at 4 p.m. in the Mamie McFaddin Ward Health Sciences Building. Representatives from Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s school of nursing will also give the visitors a tour of the school’s High Fidelity Simulation Facilities.

Palis says Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s relationship with WIT began earlier this year with a summer study program, and the visit from leaders of the WIT School of Health Sciences is another important step in the relationship.

“This event showcases our ever-growing number of active international partnerships. International partnerships create a space for dialogue about issues that are important to all of us. Health matters are not Texas issues or Irish issues— they are global issues and require global solutions,” said Palis.

International Education Week is from November 14 to 19 and will include talks, workshops, films, and a cultural festival, all open to the public.