Nation’s largest meeting addressing the opioid epidemic brings lawmakers, physicians, law enforcement, clinicians, and advocates together for four days focused on solutions

Malvern, PA (March 12, 2019) — As part of continued efforts to address the opioid epidemic, the largest and most complex public health crisis facing the US, the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit today announced the first wave of federal health officials slated to speak at the 8th annual summit taking place April 22-25, 2019, in Atlanta:

Francis Collins, MD, PhD, Director, National Institutes of Health

Robert Redfield, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Nora Volkow, MD, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse

“The impressive lineup of top federal officials underscores the gravity of the opioid crisis and the government’s commitment to fighting it,” said U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers (KY), founder of Operation UNITE, the original organizer of and now educational partner for the Summit. “This conference is the leading outlet where the very best ideas for fighting the opioid crisis are presented and discussed and reflects our ongoing determination and dedication to getting ahead of this crisis.”

Founded in 2012, the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit is now the largest national gathering of professionals from “federal to family”: local, state and, federal agencies, public health officials, business executives, academia, treatment providers, advocates, law enforcement, and family members impacted by drug abuse.  More than 3,000 attendees participated in 2018. Previous notable speakers have included President Barack Obama in 2016, Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Speaker Newt Gingrich in 2017, and former President Bill Clinton and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway in 2018. The meeting is produced by HMP, a leader in healthcare events and education.

“The toll of addiction, from lost lives to broken families, touches every community. The Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit is focused on bringing the best minds together to discuss what’s working in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement in order to find solutions and save lives,” said Doug Edwards, director, HMP's Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network.

The 2019 program will deliver practical, evidence-based education and actionable takeaways in 12 topic areas:

Advocacy – Collaborating to further policy and action

Clinical – Improving outcomes and adopting safe prescribing

Federal – Addressing national policy

Heroin and Other Illicit Drugs – Examining best practices and trends

Law Enforcement and Corrections – Responding to the opioid crisis

Overdose Prevention Strategies – Saving lives

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Data Surveillance – Evaluating monitoring practices

Prescription Practices/Third Party Payer – Understanding provider and payment relationships

Prevention Strategies – Exploring successful approaches

SAM Summit – Smart Approaches to Marijuana

Treatment and Recovery – Treating the community at-large

Trending Topics – Uncovering new therapies and best practices

To learn more about the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, visit rx-summit.com.

Media Credentials

Media credentials are required to attend the summit. Contact the Press Office at pr@hmpglobal.com  to request a credentials form or visit the website for additional information.

About HMP

HMP is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical – and is a multichannel leader in health care events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global health care community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America’s largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.