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Advocacy in Action: Legal and Medical Allies Working for People Living with Substance Use Disorders

March 19 @ 2:15 pm3:35 pm

The opioid and stimulant epidemics continue to pose major public health challenges in the U.S., claiming over 107,500 lives in 2023 despite a slight 3% decline in overdose deaths—the first decrease since 2018 (CDC). Synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in nearly 75,000 of these deaths, while stimulants-related deaths have also surged, often involving co-use with opioids. This evolving crisis requires close collaboration between physicians and law enforcement to continue to decrease and cease these preventable deaths. Medical providers provide essential care through evidence-based treatments including harm reduction interventions like naloxone and low barrier access to treatment, medication assisted treatment and behavioral health support and contingency management. Law enforcement partners can complement these efforts. However, there has traditionally been barriers between the medical and law enforcement spheres working together. Our approach focuses on reducing these barriers through mutual education with a focus on how harm reduction and a community centered response can effectively address the dual opioid and stimulant epidemics.

About This Session

Commercial Support Acknowledgement

This conference is supported, in part, by independent educational grants from ineligible companies. A full list of supporters is available here. All accredited content has been developed and delivered in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence and the criteria of Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education™, and is free of commercial bias.