Substance Abuse - Navigating a Shifting Landscape for Effective Prevention and Recovery

Date of Event: Thursday, August 7th 2025

Time of Event: 9:30 AM — 1:00 PM PST

Place of Event: Webinar

Key Speakers

Overview

The battle against substance abuse in the United States presents a complex and evolving picture. Recent provisional data from the CDC offers a glimmer of hope, predicting a nearly 24% decline in drug overdose deaths nationally for the 12 months ending September 2024, the fewest in any 12-month period since June 2020. This unprecedented drop, translating to over 70 lives saved daily, reflects significant public health investments and improved data-driven responses. Virginia, for example, has demonstrated remarkable success, leading the nation in year-over-year percentage declines and reporting a 44% drop in fentanyl-related overdose deaths, attributed to a comprehensive strategy focusing on interrupting the drug trade, enhancing penalties, public education, and widespread naloxone availability.

However, this progress is set against a backdrop of persistent and emerging threats. The opioid crisis, largely fueled by illicit fentanyl, remains a grave concern. Alarming figures indicate that since September 2024, nearly five tons of fentanyl have crossed the southern border – a quantity sufficient to kill over five billion people. Moreover, despite national declines, five states still saw increases in overdose deaths, highlighting the continued need for tailored, local responses. The landscape of addiction treatment itself is also transforming, with a greater emphasis on dignity, respect, evidence-based practices, and understanding addiction as a complex medical condition. New challenges are also surfacing, such as the need for more research into the long-term impacts of chronic cannabis use as legalization expands.

This webinar is designed to equip professionals with updated, actionable strategies. Moving beyond general awareness, this program will delve into proven intervention models, examining successful and replicable strategies from states like Virginia that are demonstrably turning the tide against fentanyl and other substances. We will explore the community-level impact of large-scale fentanyl trafficking and effective multi-agency responses, moving beyond border statistics. Furthermore, the webinar will address emerging substance trends and treatment innovations, filling knowledge gaps concerning substances like high-potency cannabis and highlighting the significant role of technology, such as telehealth and monitoring solutions, in modernizing treatment, enhancing accessibility, and fostering accountability. Crucially, we will focus on actionable prevention frameworks, demonstrating how to implement practical, community-based strategies, like those outlined by SAMHSA, that build resilience and create supportive environments. Our goal is to provide attendees with not just statistics, but with concrete tools, innovative approaches, and a forward-looking perspective to tackle the multifaceted challenges of substance abuse effectively in their communities.

Program

Who Should Attend?