Hamptons Stand-Up Comedy Show To Support The Fight Against Opiate Addiction

A Stand Up Against Opiates Comedy Show, sponsored by Steve Rosenberg and the Residency Program in Social Medicine at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, is being held at 230 Elm in Southampton on Saturday, December 2 at 8 p.m.

The evening will feature sidesplitting sets from national headliner Liz Russo, Jessica Kirson (who’s appeared on The Tonight Show, The Comedian, and Comedy Central Presents), Aaron Berg (who’s appeared on Comedy Central and Gotham Live), and Jeff Nichols (who’s appeared on Showtime and HBO, and his memoir, The Little Yellow Bus, inspired the 2007 movie American Loser).

Aaron Berg. (Courtesy Photo)

“Though opiate addiction is a scary epidemic facing our East End community, it’s good to get together to help support awareness and the good work that the Southampton fellows program is up to regarding this crisis,” Nichols explained.

“It is a pleasure to be joining with local comedians in the fight against opiate addiction,” added Shawn P. Cannon, DO, FACOI, Chief Academic Officer and Director of Medical Education at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. “The Residency Program in Social Medicine has been on the forefront of Addiction Medicine.”

All proceeds from the comedy show will support drug awareness on the East End. “We currently send our medical students and residents to the Caron Foundation in Pennsylvania for biopsychosocial training in addiction,” Cannon explained. “This requires significant housing and travel expenses for which the comedians have offered to donate the proceeds of the December 2nd event to, continuing our vision of educating young physicians in the serious epidemic affecting our population.”

Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo announced that $25 million in federal funding will be used to expand vital initiatives that will address the opioid crisis in New York State and the 2017 state budget included $200 million allotted for the fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic.

Jeff Nichols and Liz Russo. (Courtesy Photo)

“Our medical students and residents are also attending a special program in New York City that requires transportation, Physician Alcohol and Addiction training (PAAT),” Cannon added. “We are also fortunate to have an educational relationship with Seafield Center in Westhampton.”

Admission to the Stand Up Against Opiates Comedy Show is $30.

230 Elm is located at 230 Elm Street in Southampton. For more information, call 631-466-7223.