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Adolescent Recovery as a Social Process: Examining and Fostering Social Network Change


Wednesday September 24, 2025 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: The Recovery Research Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital

Social influence plays a powerful role in shaping adolescent behavior, including substance use, as adolescents form their personal and social identities. Social identity, defined by group memberships, guides behavior based on shared norms and values. Adolescents with family members who use or supply alcohol, or who have close peers who use substances, are at significantly higher risk of initiating substance use, social dynamics which also play a central role in treatment and recovery. Join us for our new Recovery Science quarterly webinar series. This presentation will discuss the research on the importance of social influence and social capital for youth substance use prevention and recovery. Register here.

Emerging Trends: Briefs Exploring Novel Substances

N-Methylclonazepam Overview


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: RTI International


N-Methylclonazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative with highly sedative and hypnotic effects. In July 2025, at least 27 people in a Baltimore neighborhood were hospitalized after a mass overdose event. This overview of N-Methylclonazepam is part of a series of reports developed for ORN on emerging and trending topics of interest and importance to the addictions field. Briefs are intended to raise awareness and serve as a primer on the topic. Read here.

Is Medetomidine the New Xylazine?


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: American College of Medical Toxicology


Since May 2024, medetomidine has been detected with increasing frequency in the illicit opioid supply. Similar to xylazine, medetomidine is approved for veterinary sedation and analgesia. However, compared to xylazine, medetomidine is up to 200 times more potent, potentially increasing the risk for severe bradycardia, hypotension and respiratory depression among opioid users. Read more.

Upcoming ORN-Funded Webinars

The following trainings are sponsored by ORN partner organizations. They are free and available to all. Share these resources with your colleagues. A calendar of upcoming trainings can be found here. Follow us on LinkedIn for news in your feed.

Recovery Coach Drop-in Forum


Thursday August 28, 2025 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Grayken Center for Addiction TTA at the Boston Medical Center


A drop-in session for recovery coaches to discuss coaching and other topics related to substance use, recovery and coaching. This group is only open to recovery coaches and peer support specialists. We ask anyone interested in the forum to respect this as this is a dedicated and protected space for those in the field needing support. Register here.

Addressing Disparities in Health Outcomes for Pregnant and Parenting Peers


Thursday September 4, 2025 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR)


This webinar will examine the challenges that pregnant and parenting peers face in accessing and receiving support services. Participants will explore the factors that contribute to discrepancies in health outcomes and discuss strategies to better support this population through peer-led and community-based approaches. Register here.

The Fundamentals of Wound Care


Wednesday September 10, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Grayken Center for Addiction TTA at the Boston Medical Center



This training is designed to equip addiction medical treatment teams with the basics of wound assessment and treatment. Topics covered include assessment of wound tissue type, drainage, cleansing, dressing supplies, special considerations for loop drains, and xylazine-related wounds. Register here.

Office Hours: Stimulant Focus


Thursday September 18, 2025 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Grayken Center for Addiction TTA at the Boston Medical Center


A virtual open forum where clinical providers and staff supporting individuals with substance use disorders and stimulant use can drop in with questions or present brief de-identified challenging clinical cases for discussion. Register here.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder


Tuesday September 23, 2025 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Fenway Health

 

This training will explore the use of FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid ese disorder (OUD), including methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. How each medication works, clinical considerations for initiating and maintaining treatment, and the evidence behind their effectiveness will be discussed. This session will also address common misconceptions and barriers to access, with time for Q&A at the end. Register here.

Management of Psychiatric Comorbidities with Opioid Use Disorders



Thursday September 25, 2025 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET


ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Fenway Health

 

Co-occurring psychiatric disorders are common among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and can present a significant barrier to effective treatment if not appropriately addressed. This presentation will cover the management of commonly co-occurring psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma related disorders, in patients with OUD. Register here.

More Resources and Training Opportunities


The trainings listed below are not sponsored by ORN, but available through SAMHSA and other SAMHSA-funded Technical Assistance centers and/or recommended by ORN Consultants. Check out these free educational opportunities!

Evidence-Informed Strategies for Substance Use Communication Webinar


Sponsor: Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional center (ROTA-R)


Tuesday September 2, 2025 3:00 - 4:30 PM PT I 6:00 - 7:30 PM ET


This session will introduce participants to the concept of stigma, how it manifests in the context of substance use, and its implications for people who use substances. Webinar participants will learn about key communication concepts related to stigma and evidence-informed communication strategies for reducing stigma. Register here.

Partnering With Crisis Services in Early Serious Mental Illness (ESMI) Programs Webinar


Sponsor: SAMHSA's National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Early Serious Mental Illness (SAMHSA ESMI TTA Center) 


Wednesday September 3, 2025 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET


This webinar will review how ESMI clinics can partner with crisis services. Participants will gain knowledge of bidirectional collaboration between ESMI programs and community crisis programs. The presentation will share information on how to establish pathways for referral to and from crisis services. Participants will also learn about best practices for addressing crises that may emerge in ESMI care. Register here.

Factsheet: Taking Care: Promoting Well-being for Recovery and Behavioral Health Care Providers


Sponsor: SAMHSA


SAMHSA has released a fact sheet titled: "Taking Care: Promoting Well-being for Recovery and Behavioral Health Care Providers", offering tips and resources for better health and wellbeing among the behavioral health workforce. The fact sheet elevates the importance of organizational support for effective self-care practices for individuals and teams to support the over half of behavioral health care providers reporting they have experienced symptoms of burnout. Access here.

Media Toolkit: #EndOverdose


Sponsor: Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional center (ROTA-R)


The #EndOverdose Social Media Toolkit is designed to help share knowledge about the dangers of opioid use, learn how to prevent opioid overdose/poisoning, and provide education on naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. The toolkit is available for anyone to download during the 4 weeks leading up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The toolkit was created to raise awareness of opioid overdose prevention and provide the necessary tools and instructions to create, share, and amplify content across various social media platforms. Access here.



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Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI088037 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.