Making Sense of the Current Drug Supply and Overdose Trend Changes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Livestream Webinar
Target Audience
This program is designed for behavioral health and healthcare professionals who work with individuals affected by substance use disorders and overdose risk, including licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical mental health counselors, licensed clinical addiction specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, primary care providers, peer support specialists, case managers, and public health professionals.
Program Description
Dr. Dasgupta will present laboratory and epidemiological findings about the state of American drugs. He will share insights into emerging trends, fentanyl replacements, and regional variations. He will also discuss causes for the current decline in overdose deaths in a national and historical context. This fast-paced talk will be heavy on data and stories and pictures, with analogies to help the audience understand the bigger picture of the synthetic soup that is the ever-changing drug supply.
Registration Fee
$20.00
Agenda
12 p.m. Welcome
Geography in Understanding Drug Trends
Emerging Trends
Decline in Overdose Rates in the US
1 p.m. Adjourn
Speakers
Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta is a street drug scientist at the University of North Carolina, whose passion is telling true stories about health with numbers. At the UNC Opioid Data Lab his team has analyzed over 20,000 street drug samples donated via front line public health organizations, health departments, and clinics. He pairs the resulting nuanced understanding of the illicit drug supply with large database analytics on overdose deaths to make sense of shifting drug use patterns. From molecules to populations, his work is deeply rooted in community engagement and amplifying lived experience. Since 2002 he has done pioneering work in overdose prevention and addiction treatment, including co-founding two non-profits that distribute the overdose antidote naloxone: Project Lazarus and Remedy Alliance For The People. He is also an editor at the American Journal of Public Health. He is a recipient of the 2025 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. In 2023 he was placed on the TIME100 Next list of rising global leaders, and in 2026 the TIME100 Health list of the most influential leaders in health. Sign up for his team’s newsletter (opioiddata.org) to stay on top of the latest drug trends.
Objectives
- Describe the importance of geography in understanding drug trends using one example.
- Identify and describe two adulterants currently found in the US drug supply.
- Discuss possible causes of the decline in overdose rates in the US.
Credit
C.E.U.: .1
Contact Hours: 1.0
NCASPPB: Approved by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board for up to 1.0 hours of credit.
NC Psychologists Category A: The program will provide 1.0 contact hours (category A) continuing education credit to NC Psychologists.
Substitutes/Refunds/Transfers
• Cancellations must be in writing (email or mail).
• Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee.
• No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
• No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
• No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.
• Transfers/substitute(s) welcome (notify in advance of the program).
Attendance at this activity grants permission for Southern Regional AHEC to use any photographs, audio, video, or other images from this activity for promotional or educational purposes. Please notify an AHEC staff member if you have concerns.
ADA Services
Americans with Disabilities Act Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the ADA coordinator at least five days prior to the event at (910) 678-7305 or mariah.williams@sr-ahec.org.
Contact Us
Jasmine Harris, Director of CPD, Behavioral Health / (910) 678-7218 / jasmine.harris@sr-ahec.org
Mariah Williams, Project Specialist / (910) 678-7305 / mariah.williams@sr-ahec.org