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ORN Justice and Public Safety Interest Group Launches Series on Sharing Successes

Join Us for an ORN Diversion and Deflection Community Roundtable 

Thursday March 19, 2026 12 – 1 PM ET

Presenters: Victoria Butler, Executive Director of Plymouth County Outreach; Michael Davenport, Commander of the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force and Quick Response Team; and Meagan Guthrie, Director of Addiction Response for Hamilton County

Meet up with ORN's Justice and Public Safety Interest Group for a roundtable discussion focused on diversion and deflection. It will be an opportunity to learn about innovative approaches to diversion and deflection programs across the country, current problems encountered and how they are being solved. Free educational resources will be introduced that are available to support community-led efforts.

This ORN Justice and Public Safety Interest Group Roundtable Discussion is the first in a new monthly series being moderated by ORN Consultant Tara Kunkel, MSW. This effort brings together partner organizations to share expertise, resources and best practices that strengthen justice and public safety responses to the opioid and stimulant crisis. Register here. Questions? Email orn@aaap.org

Caregiver Involvement in Adolescent Substance Use Treatment: Core Principles and Applied Techniques

Upcoming Webinar in a New ORN Series 

Wednesday April 22, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

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

Caregiver involvement in adolescent substance use treatment is consistently linked to better outcomes. This presentation will summarize parenting practices that raise or lower adolescents' risk for opioid, stimulant, and other substance use, describe the mechanisms through which caregivers can both amplify and reduce that risk, and present the primary targets of caregiver-focused interventions using a core-elements framework for family therapy. Additionally, concrete, evidence-informed techniques to engage caregivers in treatment and to structure productive family discussions during sessions will be reviewed. By the end of the presentation, participants are expected to better understand why caregivers are a critical influence on youth substance use, how parental behaviors and family processes shape risk, and practical strategies to increase caregiver engagement and support positive treatment outcomes. Register here.

Contingency Management Training for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Take Advantage of this New Training Opportunity

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Washington State University PRISM Collaborative

Working with Washington State University, ORN is providing free training and ongoing implementation support for contingency management (CM) to address stimulant use for all interested American Indian/Alaska Native communities and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees. Training for communities consists of a 10 module, self-paced overview of CM and ongoing coaching calls. Share with your colleagues as appropriate. Interested parties should email prism.cm@wsu.edu. Learn 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.

Between the Leaves: Prevalence, Withdrawal and Approaches to Care for Kratom Use

Tuesday March 17, 2026 10:00 - 11:00 AM ET

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

This training aims to increase learners’ understanding of kratom prevalence, misuse patterns and clinical management. The activity provides evidence-based content that enables healthcare providers to accurately characterize kratom use, recognize signs and symptoms of kratom intoxication and withdrawal and understand associated health risks. Improved knowledge is expected to reduce under-recognition of kratom-related concerns and promote more informed, consistent and patient-centered care across interprofessional practice settings. Register here.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Pediatric Care: A National Office Hour

Friday March 20, 2026 12:30 - 1:30 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

This session is part of AAP's Practical Guidance from Pediatricians: Treating Opioid Use Disorders in Adolescents. It will highlight how individuals with lived experience can support treatment adherence, care coordination and recovery planning for adolescents with opioid use disorder. The session will also introduce office hours designed to help pediatric providers troubleshoot clinical challenges, discuss cases and strengthen their skills in pediatric medications to treat opioid use disorder. Register here.

Mindfulness Monday - Practicing Nervous System Resilience for Mind, Heart and Body Alignment

Monday March 23, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 

Join us for our Mindfulness Monday training series dedicated to fostering mindfulness and self-care for those working in or supporting individuals with substance use disorders. In this series, our trainers will present practical, research-based mindfulness strategies designed to support calm, clarity and balance in daily life. Each session offers simple yet powerful practices that engage the mind, heart and body to reduce stress and build resilience. Register here.

Evidence-Based Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders Among Populations at Elevated Risk for HIV

Friday April 3, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: National Alliance for HIV Education and Workforce Development (NAHEWD)

This lecture will review safety optimization strategies and evidence-based treatments for stimulant use disorders, including special attention to populations at elevated risk of HIV. The session is part of NAHEWD's national webinar series Bridging HIV and SUD: Innovations in the Field. The series is highlighting various innovative models and approaches to treating substance use disorder (SUD) in people at risk for and living with HIV. Register here.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) for People with HIV and a Substance Use Disorder

Friday May 1, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: National Alliance for HIV Education and Workforce Development (NAHEWD)

This lecture will explore the basic tenets of MBRP and the application of this approach with people living with HIV. The session is part of NAHEWD's national webinar series Bridging HIV and SUD: Innovations in the Field. The series is highlighting various innovative models and approaches to treating substance use disorder (SUD) in people at risk for and living with HIV. Register here.

Update on the Diversification of Kratom-Derived Products: 7-Hydroxymitragynine, Pseudoindoxyl and Beyond

Wednesday May 6, 2026 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM)

This session will provide a background on traditional kratom and an overview of the recent proliferation of novel, kratom-derived products. Industry marketing and media coverage will be described as all influence public health responses. Next steps for developing a better epidemiological understanding will be identified along with the roles clinicians play. The pharmacology of kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl will be explained in a manner geared at helping clinicians understand how pharmacology influences addiction potential. Patient-level factors that may influence substance use disorder or adverse event trajectories will be articulated. Use motivations will be discussed alongside risks. Register here.

Medetomidine Impacts on Clinical Management and Systems of Care

Wednesday May 13, 2026 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM)

Medetomidine, a highly potent veterinary alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, has recently emerged as a significant adulterant within the U.S. illicit opioid supply. This presentation will review the introduction of medetomidine in the U.S. drug supply, the pharmacology and clinical effects of medetomidine, and the distinguishing features of medetomidine toxicity and withdrawal. We will outline emerging treatment strategies emphasizing early, aggressive alpha-2 agonist therapy; nuanced antiemetic approaches; when and how to escalate to IV dexmedetomidine; and approaches to concurrent opioid withdrawal management. Participants will gain insight into diagnostic challenges, observation and disposition considerations, and strategies for system-level preparedness. Register here.

orn@aaap.org

OpioidResponseNetwork.org

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.