Forbes House Museum Hosts John Halpern for Author Talk

MILTON, MA – February 18, 2022 – The Forbes House Museum welcomes John Halpern, M.D., to the Milton Art Center, 334 Edge Hill Rd, on Thursday, March 3, for a discussion of his book, Opium: How an Ancient Flower Shaped and Poisoned Our World.

Halpern places opium in its historical context and provides an overview of the root causes of the current opioid epidemic. With opium inextricably linked to modern trade networks, drug enforcement policies and medical treatments, he presents a need for a compassionate, multifaceted approach to battling opioid overdoses and substance use disorders.

“We’re delighted that Dr. Halpern, who has both professional and personal experience with substance use disorders, will be setting the stage for our upcoming exhibits and programs related to opium and the opioid epidemic,” said Barbara Silberman, the museum’s special projects director.

John Halpern, MD, will discuss the opioid epidemic and treatments on March 3

Halpern, a psychiatrist with a subspecialty in addiction, practices in Belmont, MA and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the Boston area, including North Shore Medical Center-Salem and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

This talk is the first in a series of programs the museum is offering that complement its new exhibition, “Opium: the Business of Addiction,” opening April 27. The Milton Library and Milton Coalition are partnering with the museum on the exhibition, which examines the Forbes family’s involvement in the 19th-century opium trade, the trade’s links to the current opioid epidemic and its lasting impact on US-Sino relations.

Tickets for the author talk, which starts at 7 pm, are $15 or $12 for museum members, and are available through the museum’s website, www.forbeshousemuseum.org/opium-exhibition. The book, co-authored with David Blistein, will be available for purchase at the Milton Art Center on March 3 and at the museum.

This program was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IGSM-249469-OMS-21). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

For information about museum exhibits, tours and programming, call 617-696-1815 or visit www.forbeshousemuseum.org. Information about IMLS awards is available at www.imls.gov.

About the Forbes House Museum:

Inspired by the Forbes family legacy of entrepreneurship, social action and philanthropy, the Forbes House Museum fosters discourse around civic engagement and cultural awareness. Built in 1833, the Greek Revival home at 215 Adams Street in Milton has been a museum since 1964 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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