Track:  Prevention

2.1 million people initiated misuse of Rx pain relievers and 135,000 people initiated use of heroin in the previous year, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Opioid (including Rx pain relievers and heroin) overdoses cost 28,000 people their lives in 2014 — more than any year on record — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The societal costs of illicit drug abuse — including health care, crime and lost productivity — totaled $193 billion, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In contrast, every $1 invested in prevention can save $2 to $20, according to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. The Prevention Track will consider how to prevent Rx drug and heroin abuse, as well as their associated harms, such as overdose deaths. Presentations will cover best practices in preventing initial substance use, research to craft communication and social media campaigns, study drug trends and response, and effective youth prevention programs, including peer-to-peer models.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm