Renewed Energy, New Name Highlight Rx Summit's Return to Atlanta

With a renewed energy and a newly christened name, the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit convened in person for the first time since 2019 on Monday, April 18, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nancy Hale, president and CEO of Operation UNITE, the Rx Summit’s educational advisor, welcomed attendees to Georgia World Congress Center for a late afternoon plenary.

“After being remote the last 2 years,” Hale said, “I don’t think there are 2 sweeter words than ‘welcome back.’ ”

Hale explained that the Summit’s new name reflects the current landscape of the nation’s addiction crisis, and the change was made after consideration and consultation with stakeholders. Still, though, Hale said the broad mission of the Rx Summit remains the same: to turn around the addiction epidemic, save lives, and pursue hope.

US Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky noted the sharp increase in overdose deaths in recent years, with more than 100,000 reported in 2021—about 22,000 more than the previous year. Rogers championed an approach of collaboration and heralded the Summit as an opportunity for stakeholders to network with peers from across the country and to sit with those in other industries that can lead to life-saving impacts.

“Some of you have been standing in the trenches with us since day 1,” Rogers said. “Look at how far we’ve come in one decade. We’ve laid our problems on the table. We believe people in our communities will appreciate the fact that you’re being honest with them about addiction. We’ve created a safe environment to talk about the struggles of addiction and how to overcome.”

Rogers noted that the federal government has committed more than $7.4 billion to address substance use disorders in fiscal year 2022, a $254 million year-over-year increase.

He then presented the Congressman Hal Rogers Beacon of Hope Award to Tim Robinson, founder and CEO of Addiction Recovery Care in Louisa, Kentucky. The timing of the presentation was poignant for Robinson, a former prosecutor who has been in recovery from alcohol addiction for 15 years, as Monday marked the 22nd anniversary of his mother’s death after a fight with cancer, the life event Robinson said led to him turning to alcohol. Robinson said it was a blessing to pay forward the gift of recovery given to him, and he lauded the more than 1000 Addiction Recovery Care employees as beacons of hope.

Maritime Interdiction Update

Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson, commander of the 7th Coast Guard District, which is headquartered in Miami, Florida, then took the stage to discuss the Coast Guard’s maritime interdiction efforts. In fiscal year 2021 alone, the 7th District interdicted $4.15 billion in illegal narcotics, saved and assisted $81 million worth of property, inspected more than 5700 vessels, and interdicted 10,489 migrants, he said.

“No single agency or org can succeed alone,” McPherson said. “But together, with our partners around globe, we can continue to build momentum in this fight.”

Looking Ahead

The session concluded with a panel discussion that included Jennifer Smith, secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Christopher Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH, acting director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and Judge Duane Sloane, JD, Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial District in Tennessee.

Smith said her biggest concern currently is fighting fatigue.

“A lot of people in this room have been big champions pushing efforts in communities, states and at the federal level,” Smith said. “The impact of COVID tired a lot of us. With the addiction crisis getting worse during that period, it’s easy to focus on numbers trending in wrong direction. … This conference is so important to remind us there is so much hope that comes with recovery. We can’t take our eye off prize. … I hope this conference rejuvenates people to stay in the game.”

Sloane pointed to telehealth as a topic that will get significant attention this week in Atlanta. It has made a significant impact his community, he said, as it has allowed individuals in rural drug court programs to be connected with the best medication-assisted treatment practitioners in the state.

Dr Jones said telehealth has a place in the field long term, with COVID-19 functioning as “a fast-forward button” for innovation in treatment. Still, practitioners need to find a balance to make sure patients are being connected to the services they need, he said.

Smith concluded the panel by highlighting a lesson she has taken from Pennsylvania about the importance of integrating behavioral healthcare services while addressing SUD.

“There is so much connectivity with mental health and implementing trauma-informed care,” she said. “That has been a focus for us. To tackle this crisis long term, we have to look at incorporating those services, from how they are delivered to how they are paid for. Some lessons we’ve learned are in taking step back to look at needs of people with SUD and how do we blend those services together so that we don’t put onus on individual to find services.”

Reference

Hale N, Rogers H, McPherson B, Smith J, Jones C, Sloane D. Plenary. Presented at Rx and Illicit Drug Summit; April 18-21, 2022; Atlanta.