The American Medical Association forecasts the opioid epidemic is far from over, estimating that overdose deaths will continue to rise over the next six years, reaching 82,000 annually by 2025. Opioid use disorder isn’t contained by a hospital, community health setting, treatment center, or even jail—and our interventions can’t be either.

Join community leaders and local innovators for a solution-driven summit meant to spark new ideas and new collaborations. Hosted by Challenge of Tarrant County along with community partners Fort Worth Safe Communities and the DEA, this symposium will provide insights into what’s working on the local level, introduce successful models and policies, and identify potential barriers. Information will be presented via an outstanding lineup of speakers who will provide the latest research, real-world knowledge, and practical solutions aimed at reducing opioid deaths in our community.

The speaker line-up includes:

• Experts from US Public Health Service and DEA with snapshots of the opioid crisis on the national, state and local levels

• Physicians from Cook Children’s Hospital, Baylor Scott and White and UT Southwestern Medical Center speaking to the opioid epidemic’s impact on and prevention strategies for children, adults and seniors respectively

• Commander and officers from the Tarrant County Sherriff’s Officeoffering perspective on the role of law enforcement in combating the epidemic/community impact of epidemic

• Community directors from MHMR (My Health My Resources)addressing local treatment responses and emerging best practices in treatment + a Narcan demonstration