United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention recently hosted the highly successful 2nd Annual National Addiction Solutions Summit at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, bringing together national, state and local leaders in behavioral health, policy, and addiction prevention to discuss innovative solutions in combating substance use disorders.
The Summit was moderated by Dr. Stephen Loyd, Director of West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy and was also the inspiration for the hit series Dopesick which airs on Hulu. Dr. Loyd is a leading advocate in the opioid crisis and during the Summit hosted a number of engaging discussions on the cost of preventable overdoses, prevention strategies, and groundbreaking approaches in addiction treatment. The keynote speaker Dr. Rahul Gupta, Former Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (2021-2025), discussed the tremendous progress that has been made in the U.S. and Broward County resulting in a decline of overdose deaths and what is working in terms of solutions. Attendees included community organizations, local, state and national public health leaders, policymakers, and industry professionals who collaborated on data-driven strategies to tackle the ongoing crisis.
During the opening remarks, Maria Hernandez, Chief Program Officer at United Way of Broward County shared, “This Summit serves as a catalyst for groundbreaking collaboration and that declining overdose death rates show our collective efforts are making a difference, but there is still work to be done. We must continue pushing for innovative, evidence-based strategies to combat addiction.”
- The U.S. recorded the largest decline in drug overdose deaths over a 12-month period according to the latest CDC data.
- In Broward County, there was a 16.2% decrease in overdose deaths.
- At the state level, CDC provisional data from September 2024 showed 5,732 overdose deaths, a 24.2% decrease from 7,558 in September 2023.
- Synthetic opioid deaths, primarily driven by illicit fentanyl, also saw a notable 29.5% decrease in Florida, with 3,525 deaths in September 2024, down from 5,001 in September 2023.
- Nationally, while 2021 saw a 31% increase in overdose deaths, 2024 experienced a 22% decline, a hopeful indication of the effectiveness of prevention and treatment efforts.
Summit Highlights: Exploring Innovative Solutions
The event featured panel discussions on States Sharing Data, First Responder Policies for Addiction, Innovative Solutions to Addiction Treatment, and Prevention Strategies for Substance Use, among other crucial topics. Notable speakers and panelists included:
- Dr. Rahul Gupta, Former Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (2021-2025)
- Silvia Quintana, CEO, Broward Behavioral Health Coalition
- Mark York, Founder, Addiction Abatement, Inc.
- Jonathan Board, West Virginia First Foundation Opioid Abatement Commission
- Dave Aronberg, Former State Attorney for Palm Beach County
- Harold Pryor, Broward County State Attorney
- Mark Skeffington, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Miami Field Division, Drug Enforcement Agency
These thought leaders emphasized data-driven approaches to overdose prevention, including public-private partnerships, emerging treatment methods, and policy reforms to better address addiction at both local and national levels.
The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Scandia Wellness Systems, HCA Florida Healthcare, RSA Consulting Group, LLC, Fifth Street Counseling Center IV, GATC Health Corp., and AddictionAbatement.org.
For more information on United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention and its ongoing efforts, visit www.drugfreebroward.org or follow them on social media at @UWBC_Commission.
About United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention
United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health and Drug Prevention is a broad-based substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion coalition dedicated to reducing negative consequences on individuals, families, and communities. Today, its primary role is to serve as a coalition-building organization that brokers partnerships between federal, state and local agencies to foster, develop, and enhance integrated behavioral health efforts throughout Broward County, while searching for innovative and effective ways to address the issue of substance misuse. The Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention is a vital component of United Way of Broward County’s three impact areas (health, education and financial prosperity) focused on the solutions to close gaps in services and create a better life for all. For more information, please visit www.drugfreebroward.org.
