Drivers of Overdose in the U.S. Opioid and Stimulant Epidemics

This Prevention Talk will provide an overview of several Colombo Plan and US Department of State-funded projects using state of the art technologies to test street drugs internationally and domestically, uncovering hidden factors that drive overdose and chronic health problems in substance users. Thom Browne Jr. President and CEO of Rubicon Global Enterprises and CEO of the Colombo Plan Secretariat will identify various drug/drug and drug/cutting agent combinations (in addition to fentanyl) driving overdose and life-threatening chronic health problems; the emerging composition of street drugs over the last decade and their effect on overdose; constituents of street drugs that might make naloxone administration more challenging; cutting agents that increase a user’s susceptibility to Covid; and the role law enforcement can play in informing the prevention community on the composition of street drugs in their respective communities.

Finally, William B. Crano, Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California and member of APSI’s Scientific Advisory Committee will discuss the challenges in tailoring prevention messages to address the changing composition of street drugs from both a mortality (overdose) and morbidity (chronic health problems) perspective.

Please keep in mind we only have 100 spots for this Prevention Talk on a first-come first-serve basis so RSVP today to receive the link to this very interesting and relevant session.