Registration has launched for our 7th annual Overdose Awareness Series!

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Our annual Overdose Awareness Series brings together public health and other social services, healthcare, and engaged community members in addressing overdose prevention, response tactics, and harm reduction. Join us in opening dialogue, de-stigmatizing, and promoting awareness of the help available in our communities.

This series is free and held entirely online. Sessions will be held every Tuesday in August: August 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th. Registration will provide access to all 4 days. If you cannot attend live, we will post recordings to this page once the series ends.

Questions? Email educators@wapc.org.

Agenda

Please note, this agenda is subject to change

August 4

Fireside with Dr. Holtzer: Public Health in Rural Family Medicine

This fireside session features an intimate conversation with Dr. Caleb Holtzer exploring the deep, intrinsic connection between family medicine and public health in a rural setting. Drawing from Dr. Holtzer’s extensive background—including his leadership in the Rural Residency program and his public health training—the discussion highlights how a community clinic system can drive robust public health initiatives in Northeast Washington.

Speakers: Caleb Holtzer, MD, MPH; Scott Phillips, MD, FACP, FACMT, FAACT

Fostering Hope After Overdose: A Panel Discussion

Join this panel style discussion from staff at The Jamestown Healing Clinic, an integrated care clinic operated by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe offering an opioid treatment program, primary care, dental, substance abuse disorder counseling, and behavioral health. The panelists will explore maintaining hope after overdose and using it as an opportunity to engage or retain patients in SUD treatment.

Speakers: Anita Infelise, SUDP; Molly Martin, DNP, ARNP; Harmony Stratton, MD, MPH

Gabriel’s Challenge: Building a Community Response to Overdose

How do we move from awareness to action in addressing overdose and supporting recovery? Join Kitara Johnson, CEO of Gabriel’s Challenge, for an inspiring and practical conversation about the role each of us can play in creating communities where people are seen, supported, and connected to help.

Through storytelling, lived experience, and real world examples, attendees will explore Gabriel’s Challenge’s three pillars: Educate to build understanding. Engage with Empathy to reduce stigma and strengthen connection. Empower to Take Action so individuals, families, and communities can make a difference.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for creating a more compassionate, collaborative, and recovery ready community while advancing a No Wrong Door Recovery System where every person matters and every pathway to support counts.

Speaker: Kitara Johnson

The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Substance Use Disorders: Part 2

This presentation will review emerging evidence of GLP-1 and the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). This includes how this class of medications works, how they impact the mechanism of SUD, and potential treatment options using this class of drugs. This presentation will summarize last year’s presentation, but will also include new studies that have since been published on this topic.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the pharmacology of GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Explain the emerging literature describing the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in SUD
• Evaluate potential treatment implications for using GLP-1 receptor agonists in SUD

Speaker: Nicole Rodin, PharmD, MBA

Reducing the Risk of Overdose in Shelter and Supportive Housing

Moving inside, whether it be into shelter or into housing, should be a time to celebrate. However, a study out of San Francisco indicates that people who are experiencing homelessness have a 19x increase to the risk of fatal overdose when moving inside due to several compounding
factors. During this presentation, we’ll explore what factors lead to this increased risk and what resources staff can use to help our newly housed neighbors thrive.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the factors that lead to the increased risk of overdose when moving inside.
• Learn about impacts of stigma on houseless and formerly houseless people who use drugs.
• Explore concepts, tools, and services that direct services staff can use to help mitigate overdose risk.

Speaker: Jess Olson, MFA, CLE

Substance Use During Pregnancy & Postpartum

Session description coming soon

Speaker: Kelly Wurzel, MD

August 11

How Cannabis Adverse Events Impact Health Systems

Patients presenting with cannabis related adverse events (AEs) and other problems have become increasingly prevalent in the U.S. and Canada. The University of Washington’s Cannabis Education and Research Program (CERP) will present three projects focused on describing the people most vulnerable to cannabis AEs and how health systems are impacted.

Projects 1 and 2 utilized WA State data from the International Cannabis Policy Study. Project 1 used latent profile analysis to characterize six clusters based on the frequency of use of various cannabis product types and how these use patterns relate to the experience of adverse events and cannabis use disorder. Frequent use of a variety of products was associated with an increased risk of experiencing an AE. Project 2 examined how mental health diagnosis relates to different types of cannabis AEs and found that people with psychotic disorders are particularly vulnerable to all types of AEs.

Project 3 summarized results of a survey of WA State health care providers that elicited frequency and seriousness of cannabis-related AEs and other health problems that they encounter, current clinical practices, and barriers and facilitators to identifying and intervening in such events. Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, cannabis-induced psychosis, and Cannabis Use Disorder were identified as being most frequent and/or severe. Providers saw value in intervening and would be more likely to do so if they had clear clinical guidelines. Current and future work on this topic will also be discussed.

Speakers: Jason Williams, PhD; Sharon Garrett, MPH, MA

The Link Between Sports Betting & Intentional Poisoning

Session description coming soon

Speakers: Ty W. Lostutter, PhD; Jimmy Leonard, PharmD, DABAT

Peptides, Placebos, and Problems: Public Health at the Crossroads of Hype and Hazard

The consumer market for unproven peptides and research chemicals has expanded rapidly, driven by social media, biohacking culture, and demand for weight loss, performance enhancement, and anti-aging solutions. Explore some of the more common products, regulatory monitoring and public health impact.

Learning Objectives:

• Define unproven peptides and research chemicals and describe their growing market.
• Identify common products currently being marketed and used by the public.
• Recognize health risks associated with these substances.
• Understand regulatory gaps that contribute to widespread availability.

Speaker: Sasha Kaiser, MD

Scenario-Based Naloxone Dosing

This lecture will discuss how to optimally dose naloxone depending on the therapeutic intent and scenario, with a review of the evidence.

Learning Objectives:

• Review naloxone/opioid pharmacology in the context of naloxone dosing
• Interpret the evidence and rationale behind various naloxone dosing strategies
• Evaluate the argument that naloxone should be titrated with 0.04 mg IV aliquots

Speaker: Adam Blumenberg, MD, MA

From Policy to Practice: Demonstrating Statewide Impact in Opioid Harm Prevention

This session presents a statewide model for advancing evidence-based opioid harm prevention through hospital leadership and multi-sector collaboration. Learn how Washington hospitals, supported by the Washington State Hospital Association, have translated best practices into measurable action, improving prescribing safety, expanding access to MOUD and increasing naloxone availability.

The presentation will highlight targeted strategies addressing high-risk populations, including youth, older adults, pregnant and postpartum individuals and rural communities.

Attendees will also explore how initiatives such as Starts with One and Scala NW amplify prevention and treatment efforts through coordinated outreach and system alignment.Participants will leave with actionable strategies and implementation insights to drive similar impact in their own systems.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize statewide strategies used to reduce opioid-related harm across hospital systems.
• Assess approaches that effectively address population-specific vulnerabilities in opioid prescribing and treatment.
• Recognize the value of partnerships between hospitals, public health and community campaigns.
• Translate successful models into scalable interventions within varied healthcare settings.

Speakers: Jenica Sandall, MSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS; Brittany Weiner, MS, LMFT, CPPS; Tina Seery, MHA, FACHE, BSN, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, LSSBB, SANE; Abigail Berube, MPH, CPHQ, CPCHE; Megan Hermann

Education as Prevention: Addressing Post-Release Overdose Risk Through Correctional Programming

Individuals recently released from incarceration face a dramatically elevated risk of overdose death, particularly in the weeks immediately following release due to decreased opioid tolerance, fentanyl contamination in the drug supply, and limited access to treatment and recovery resources. This session will describe the development and implementation of a correctional-based opioid education program designed for incarcerated individuals convicted of drug-related offenses.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the elevated overdose risks faced by individuals during the post-incarceration reentry period.
• Identify key components of developing effective opioid education and harm reduction curriculum in patient specific populations.
• Apply culturally responsive approaches when developing or implementing substance use prevention programming for justice-involved populations.

Speakers: Laci Larsen; Nicole Rodin, PharmD, MBA

August 18

Not Just “In Your Head”: The Science and Recovery of the Meth-Altered Brain

Methamphetamine changes the brain’s chemistry, creating a ripple effect that impacts memory, focus, and self-control. But how exactly does this happen, and can the damage be undone? Join us for an accessible, low-jargon look at the neuroscience of meth. We will demystify how the drug alters the brain’s internal messengers and explore the hopeful science behind brain recovery and healing.

Speaker: Scott Phillips, MD, FACP, FACMT, FAACT

Updates on Nitrous Oxide Abuse in the United States

Nitrous oxide misuse has rapidly evolved in the United States with increasing recreational use, changing product availability, and growing reports of severe neurologic and psychiatric toxicity. This session will review contemporary trends in nitrous oxide misuse, mechanisms of toxicity, common clinical presentations, diagnostic challenges, and current approaches to management, with emphasis on recent poison center data and emerging public health concerns.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the underlying mechanisms, diagnostic evaluation, and current management strategies for patients with suspected nitrous oxide toxicity
• Recognize the neurologic, psychiatric, and hematologic manifestations associated with nitrous oxide toxicity misuse and abuse
• Review recent epidemiology, trends and patterns of nitrous oxide misuse in the United States

Speaker: Courtney Temple, MD

Increasing Access to MOUD for Youth

While youth overdose death rates are declining, they are still tragically high. Youth are the least likely age group to be treated with MOUD or to get naloxone in the event of an overdose.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore ways in which youth differ from adults in terms of use, overdose patterns, and treatment
• Elucidate benefits of and barriers to MOUD in this population
• Discuss avenues for increasing access to naloxone and MOUD for youth

Speaker: Chris Buresh, MD, MPH

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: The Health Risks and Misuse of an Emerging Drug Class

GLP-1 receptor agonists have rapidly emerged as one of the most widely prescribed drug classes, but also one of the most widely misused. As their use continues to expand beyond approved indications, healthcare providers must be informed of an evolving safety profile that is still be studied and understood. This session examines both the known and emerging health risks associated with therapeutic use and misuse of GLP-1 receptor agonists. The goal of this session is to educate clinicians with what they need to know to counsel patients, and to provide toxicologic consultation on this emerging class of drugs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify patterns of misuse seen in clinical and non-clinical populations
• Describe the known and emerging health risks associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including adverse effects from therapeutic use.
• Apply evidence to provide toxicologic consultation to other healthcare providers or counsel patients on the safety risks and considerations of GLP-1 receptor agonist use

Speaker: Caroline Wight, MD, MPH

August 25

Kava

Kava (kava kava, kavalactones) is from a root native to South Pacific Islands. It has been used as a traditional ceremonial and recreational drink. Interest as a treatment for anxiety has grown in Western countries for the last 30 years. This talk will describe the risks and benefits of kava and changing epidemiology of poison center data.

Speaker: Jimmy Leonard, PharmD, DABAT

Medetomidine Adulteration of the Fentanyl Drug Supply

A review of medetomidine’s basic pharmacologic properties, and the resultant intoxication and withdrawal syndromes seen in Philadelphia with suggestions for management.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the pharmacologic class and anticipated effects of medetomidine
• Acknowledge signs of medetomidine intoxication and overdose
• Recognize medetomidine withdrawal syndrome and methods of management

Speaker: Lauren Murphy, MD

From Surveillance to Action: Using OD2A Data to Strengthen Equitable Overdose Prevention Strategies

The CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) initiative translates overdose surveillance data into practical strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery. This session is designed for a public health audience and highlights how data can be used to guide population-level responses to substance use and overdose.Participants will learn how to interpret local overdose data, recognize emerging trends, and apply findings to inform prevention strategies, care coordination, and system-level decision-making. The session emphasizes culturally responsive, equity-focused approaches that address how structural and community factors influence overdose risk and outcomes.Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will explore how OD2A data can be integrated into public health planning, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and support trauma-informed, data-driven interventions.By the end of the session, participants will be able to use OD2A data to inform public health practice, guide equitable overdose prevention efforts, and support community-level responses to substance use and overdose.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) framework and its relevance to public health practice.
• Apply overdose data to inform culturally responsive interventions that address disparities and improve population and client outcomes.
• Integrate OD2A strategies across intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic levels to strengthen behavioral health and public health practice.
• Develop actionable plans to enhance organizational and community-level overdose prevention and recovery efforts.

Speaker: Ryan Warner, PhD

AI in Tox

Patients use it. Doctors use it. Parents and even children use it. AI is here to stay, and it is changing the healthcare landscape.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the current common AI tools used by the public.
• Discuss examples of AI generated medical/toxicology advice.
• Examine the challenges of using large language model AI tools to generate medical information

Speaker: Marlo Murray, PharmD, CSPI

Propranolol: Challenges with Overdose & Untreated Anxiety

Over the last twenty years, propranolol has increasingly been prescribed to treat anxiety, particularly in young adults. However, propranolol is not a APA-recommended treatment for generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder in adults and it carries very significant risks of morbidity and mortality in overdose. This talk will explore the history of beta blocker use for treating psychiatric illness, the current trends of use, and the risks those trends pose. Finally, we will discuss what treatment options are currently recommended for generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and depression with anxious distress.

Speaker: Colleen Cowdery, MD

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