The 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit

June 15, 2026 to June 16, 2026

The Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of overdose prevention evidence-based public health approach that extends beyond syringe service programs. The Summit will highlight the full continuum of overdose prevention strategies, including risk reduction strategies and response, disease testing and prevention, safe use education, and linkage to addiction treatment and recovery services. Participants will explore current trends, data, and emerging issues related to the drug overdose epidemic in Kentucky and examine promising and evidence-based practices that improve health outcomes for people who use drugs (PWUD) and individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Through expert-led sessions, practical examples, and collaborative discussion, the Summit aims to increase awareness, strengthen partnerships, and support the implementation of comprehensive risk reduction and overdose prevention strategies across communities statewide.

The 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of cooperative agreement 1 NU17CE010186 totaling $16,222,256 with 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit CDC.gov.

Target Audience

Overdose prevention navigators: peer navigators, certified peer recovery specialists, peer support specialists, case managers, patient navigators (Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses, Social Workers, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor), community health workers, persons with lived experience, and other individuals who link people who use drugs to overdose prevention resources, substance use disorder treatment, and/or recovery support services.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to:

Identify the need for, and types of, recovery support and overdose prevention services.
Describe how the Social Determinants of Health framework informs community-based overdose prevention approaches and strategies.
Apply evidence-based policies, programs, practices, and procedures when training and supporting overdose prevention care navigators.
Explain the role of overdose prevention care navigators, including adult peer support specialists, within comprehensive overdose prevention programs.
Develop strategies to promote community-centered and accessible approaches for vulnerable, at-risk, and underserved populations receiving community-based overdose prevention strategies and services (including but not limited to individuals who are experiencing homelessness, mothers, survivors of gender-based violence, and individuals with mental health disorders).
Describe integrated prevention and treatment models that support health access, linkage to care, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), prevention education, and infectious disease testing through community-based overdose prevention programs.

Course summary

Available credit:

7.50 ACPE
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This knowledge-based activity will award 7.50 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number:
7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
7.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 7.50 nursing contact hour(s).
7.50 ASWB
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.
Social workers completing this course receive 7.50 clinical continuing education credit(s).
7.50 Certified Community Health Work
This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 7.50 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
7.50 Certified Health Education Specialist Credit (Western Kentucky University Department of Public Health)
Sponsored by Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 7.50 total Category I continuing education contact hour(s). Maximum advanced-level continuing education contact hours available are 0. Provider ID# 105862, Event ID# .
7.50 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 7.50 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number:

Course opens:

04/13/2026

Course expires:

07/16/2026

Event starts:

06/15/2026 - 8:00am EDT

Event ends:

06/16/2026 - 4:15pm EDT

Add to calendar:

Rating:

Day 1 — Monday, June 15, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 AM
Exhibitor Registration Check-In and Set-Up

8:00 – 9:00 AM
Attendee Registration, Exhibitor Viewing, and Networking

9:00 – 9:10 AM
Welcome, Review of ER Procedures, & Intro of Opening Remark Speaker
Phoebe Wheeler-Crum, MPA, MA

9:10 – 9:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Lori Calioa, MD, MPH

9:30 – 10:40 AM | Opening Keynote
Overdose Measures Matter: A Data Collection Guide for Community-Based Organizations, Health Departments, and Funders
Ellen Lycan, DrPH & Sarisa Roe, MPH

10:40 – 11:00 AM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Disrupting the Cycle: Community Health Workers at the Front Lines of Overdose Prevention
Kyle Burnett, CCHW & Josh Adams, CCHW, APSS

Building Civil Legal Aid into Overdose Prevention Strategies
Justin Apperson, JD & Casey Michalovic, JD, MS

From Crisis to Connection: Louisville's Community-Based Approach to Overdose Response
Cillian Browne, APSS

Quality Recovery Housing as Overdose Infrastructure
Jonathan Philpot, MA

Transforming Reentry: How Peer-Led Learning Communities Are Rewriting Overdose Prevention and Recovery
Margaret McGladrey, PhD (Moderator) | Brooke Hiltz, JD; Rebecca Gray; Brittany Herrington, RADPSS; Savvy Shabazz, APSS; Susannah Stitzer, JD, MPA (Panelists)

12:00 – 12:45 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Buffet Service Opens

12:45 – 1:15 PM
Lunch

1:15 – 1:45 PM | Learning Activity
Public Health Career Pathways in Kentucky
James "Jim" House, MEP

1:45 – 2:00 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

2:00 – 3:00 PM | Concurrent Breakout Sessions

No One Recovers Alone: Group Prenatal Postpartum Care for Women in Recovery
Angela Chisholm, DPN, BSN, RN, IBCLC

Plan of Safe Care: The Collaboratives Approach to Regional Support and Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Rachel Ratliff

Leveraging Partnerships: Expanding Reach
Lauren Passmore

Beyond Reversal: Integrating Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), Behavioral Health, and Gambling Treatment to Strengthen Long-Term Overdose Prevention and Recovery
Regina Padilla, MEd, LPCA, ICGC-I

Connecting People to Care: Understanding Availability and Capacity in Kentucky Using Find Help Now KY and Find Recovery Housing Now KY
Angela Kirby, MPA & Mira Mirzaian, MPH

3:00 – 3:15 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

3:15 – 4:15 PM | Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Are You Grant Ready?
Melissa Vermillion, EdD, MBA, GPC

Every Touchpoint Matters: Perinatal Mental Health and Overdose Prevention
Anna Chamberlain, BSN, RN, IBCLC

From Bedside to Communities: The Power of Peer Support
Tamara Dewees, LPCA & Amber Stepp, CHW, APSS

Redacted: Providing Care and Compassion in a Changing World
Benjamin Goldman & Jennifer Twyman

The Octopus Model: Overdose Prevention-Led, Community-Embedded Care for Rural People Who Use Drugs
Michelle Mathis, Rev. & Jon Zibbell, PhD

4:15 – 4:20 PM
Closing Message

4:20 – 5:00 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

5:00 – 6:30 PM
Exhibitor Round Robin / Mutual Aid Meeting (open to all)

Day 2 — Tuesday, June 16, 2026

8:00 – 8:30 AM
Attendee Registration, Exhibitor Viewing, and Networking

8:30 – 8:40 AM
Welcome, Review of ER Procedures, & Intro of Opening Remark Speaker
Phoebe Wheeler-Crum, MPA, MA

8:40 – 9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Svelta Slavova, PhD

9:00 – 10:10 AM | Opening Keynote
The Impact of an Increasingly Toxic Drug Supply on Growing Morbidity Among People Who Inject Drugs: Epidemiologic Update from the Field
Jon Zibbell, PhD

10:10 – 10:30 AM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

10:30 – 11:30 AM | Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Enhancing Overdose Prevention Services Through Alcohol and Other Drug Entity Licensure
Michael Nix, MSW, LCADC & Sara Shouse, CADC, II

Empowering Resilience: How the McKinney-Vento Act Supports Students Experiencing Homelessness
Zachary Stumbo, PhD & Jennifer White

From Tragedy to Action: Strengthening Communities Through Overdose Fatality Reviews
Jaelin Southerling, MPH; Jennifer Osborne; Twyla Crain

CODE RED: Universal Safety Planning
Beck Whipple, MSW

A Place to Go: Why Every Rural Community Needs a Recovery Community Center
Amy Payne, APSS

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Box Lunch

12:00 – 12:45 PM | Lunch and Learning Activity
Evidence-Informed Response: An Update on Kentucky Drug Overdose Trends
Megan Steel, MPH

12:45 – 1:00 PM
Exhibitor Viewing, Networking & Refreshment Break

1:00 – 2:00 PM | Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Financial Literacy: Empowering Financial Stability in Recovery
Eric Dunn, APSS

Redefining Recovery: Measuring Hope, Healing, and Capital in Recovery Support
Billy O'Bryan, APSS & Chelsea Craycraft, MAEd

From Risk to Resilience: Understanding Youth Opioid Overdose Through Shared Risk and Protective Factors
Samantha Whelan

UK Harm Reduction HUB: A Public Health Initiative for Early Identification of Substances and Additives in Kentucky's Street Drug Supply
Brooke Hiltz, JD & Rachael Vickers-Smith, PhD

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Intervention Strategies
Jim Beiting

2:00 – 2:10 PM
Transition for Awards and Closing Remarks

2:10 – 2:30 PM
Awards, Closing Remarks, and Dismissal

Planner(s)

This activity has been approved for 7.50 hours to meet the continuing education requirements for credential renewal.

Available Credit

7.50 ACPE
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This knowledge-based activity will award 7.50 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number:
7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
7.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)
In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 7.50 nursing contact hour(s).
7.50 ASWB
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course.
Social workers completing this course receive 7.50 clinical continuing education credit(s).
7.50 Certified Community Health Work
This training is approved by the Office of Community Health Workers Program to provide 7.50 continuing education unit(s) for Certified Community Health Workers.
7.50 Certified Health Education Specialist Credit (Western Kentucky University Department of Public Health)
Sponsored by Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 7.50 total Category I continuing education contact hour(s). Maximum advanced-level continuing education contact hours available are 0. Provider ID# 105862, Event ID# .
7.50 EMS (Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services)
The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) certifies that this educational activity is designated for 7.50 KBEMS contact hour(s). Approval Number:

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The 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit

The 2026 Kentucky Overdose Prevention Summit

Target Audience

Learning Objectives

Day 1 — Monday, June 15, 2026

Day 2 — Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Available Credit