ORN Bulletin

August 2026

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Supporting Sheriffs and Communities on Substance Use Response and Recovery

ORN Partner Organization the National Sheriffs' Association Releases New Public Service Announcement

Opioid and stimulant use disorders affects communities across the nation — impacting individuals, families, first responders and public safety systems every day. Sheriffs are often on the front lines of this crisis and understand that prevention, treatment and recovery are essential components of an effective community response. To help them improve access to resources designed to reduce stigma, strengthen prevention efforts and support treatment and recovery, ORN is partnering with the National Sheriffs’ Association. Watch our PSA below and learn more, here.

ORN Events Calendar

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

Sacred Parenting: Reclaiming Culture, Strengthening Families who face Opioid/Substance Use Disorders

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

Wednesday September 9, 2026 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET



This free webinar is designed for SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees, Tribal organizations, individuals, communities and others interested in the needs of Tribal communities. It will explore how the Sacred Parenting approach can support individuals and families impacted by substance use and opioid use disorders by reconnecting with cultural values, traditional teachings and community strengths. Participants will learn how cultural identity, family connectedness, ceremony, storytelling, language, kinship systems, and traditional healing practices can serve as protective factors that promote recovery, resilience, and intergenerational healing. The training highlights practical strategies for strengthening family relationships, restoring healthy parenting practices, supporting recovery journeys, and interrupting cycles of addiction and trauma.

HIV & Addiction: Integrated Care for Patients with Stimulant Use Disorders in Practice

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

Friday September 11, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET



This session is part of NAHEWD's national webinar series for ORN called Bridging HIV and SUD: Innovations in the Field. The series is highlighting various innovative models and approaches to treating opioid and stimulant use disorders in people at risk for and living with HIV. This presentation will provide a practical overview of strategies and models to integrate the treatment of substance use disorders into HIV care settings.

Buprenorphine 101

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

Tuesday September 15, 2026 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET



This training was designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills in initiating buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in the outpatient setting in the context of the widespread presence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. It explores how the potency and prevalence of fentanyl complicates the initiation phase of buprenorphine treatment, leading to potential clinical challenges such as precipitated withdrawal.

Office Hours: Stimulant Focus

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

Thursday September 17, 2026 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET



These are monthly, virtual drop-in office hours that are one hour-long online open forum sessions where clinical providers and staff who care for people with substance use can drop in anytime with addiction and stimulant-related questions or brief de-identified challenging cases for discussion. Each session is moderated by two clinical educators, and the focus is on stimulants.

Beyond the Four Walls of Medical School: Local Poison Control Centers as Curricular Partners

ORN Partner Organization Sponsor: Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders (COPE)

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET



This webinar is built for medical students and professionals shaping how the next generation of physicians caring for people with opioid, stimulant and co-occurring substance use disorders.

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.