Welcome

Kelly Garcia and Marissa Eyanson

Emerging Drug Threats in the United States

John Eadie, MPA

This presentation will examine the role of fentanyl in the changing landscape of drug overdose deaths, including its involvement in overdoses associated with other substances. Participants will explore the relationship between law enforcement drug seizures and overdose mortality, including how changes in the availability and interdiction of illicit substances may influence overdose trends. The presentation will also examine changes during the early COVID-19 pandemic, when increases in overdose deaths coincided with temporary reductions in law enforcement drug seizures.

Cannabis and CBD in 2023

Kevin Hill, MD, MHS

Cannabis policy and availability continue to evolve across the United States, while the use of cannabis and cannabinoid products, including cannabidiol (CBD), has become increasingly common. Patients may use these products without a clear understanding of their potential therapeutic benefits, adverse effects, or impact on mental health. This presentation will examine the current scientific evidence regarding cannabis and cannabinoids, with emphasis on FDA-approved cannabinoid medications and their clinical indications, the effects of cannabis on common psychiatric conditions, and the potential risks and benefits associated with CBD use.

Substance Use and Suicide Risk Among LGBTQ Youth
Keygan Miller, MA

This presentation will examine the relationship between substance use and suicide risk among LGBTQ youth using findings from The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. Participants will explore factors associated with increased substance use and suicide risk, as well as strategies for reducing harm and addressing modifiable risk factors. The session will also highlight protective factors and supportive practices that healthcare and behavioral health professionals can use to promote the mental health, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ youth.

1A: Supporting LGBTQ Youth

Facilitator: Keri Neblett
Speaker: Keygan Miller, MA

This presentation will provide a foundational understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and the unique challenges they may experience at home, at school, and within their communities. Participants will review relevant LGBTQ terminology, explore experiences associated with coming out, and examine allies' role in supporting LGBTQ youth. The session will also identify practical strategies for creating safer, more inclusive, and supportive environments that promote LGBTQ youth well-being.

1B: Re(dis)covered: A Recovery Journey

Facilitator: Cody Crawford
Speaker: Kim Govak, NCPRSS, CPRS

This presentation will explore the lived experience of recovery, including the challenges, turning points, and sources of support that can influence an individual’s journey. Through a personal recovery story, participants will examine the complex nature of substance use and recovery, the impact of stigma and other barriers to seeking help, and the importance of supportive relationships and recovery-oriented services. The session will encourage healthcare and behavioral health professionals to consider how empathy, person-centered care, and connection to appropriate resources can support individuals throughout recovery.

1C: Emerging Trends in Gambling and Today's College Student

Facilitator: Katrina Bee
Speaker: Daniel Trolaro, MS    

This workshop will examine the rapidly changing gambling landscape, with particular attention to the growth of legalized sports betting and its potential impact on youth and emerging adults. Participants will explore current and emerging gambling trends in Iowa and across the United States, factors that may increase vulnerability to problematic gambling among college-age individuals, and the psychological and behavioral consequences associated with gambling. The session will also address practical harm-reduction and prevention strategies and identify resources available to support individuals experiencing gambling-related concerns.

1D: Understanding Addiction Stigma: Iowa's 2022 Data and Implications for Stigma Reduction Efforts

Facilitator: Liz Sweet
Speaker: Rachael Cooper, MFS

This presentation will examine addiction stigma in Iowa using findings from a 2022 statewide survey conducted by Shatterproof in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Survey Research at Indiana University, and Ipsos. Participants will explore different forms of addiction stigma, compare findings from Iowa with national trends, and consider how stigma can affect individuals with substance use disorders, their families, and access to treatment and recovery services. The session will also examine how these findings can inform current and future strategies to reduce addiction stigma across Iowa.

2A: CRUSH RCC and the Recovery Community

Facilitator: Monica Wilke-Brown
Speakers: Phil Valentine, Cindy West, MBA, and Rod Courtney, BSW    

This presentation will introduce the CRUSH Recovery Community Center and examine the role recovery community centers play in supporting individuals throughout recovery. Participants will learn how CRUSH was established, how its services and community presence have evolved, and the impact of peer-based recovery support on individuals, families, and the broader community. The session will also explore why recovery community centers are an important component of the recovery continuum and how connection, peer support, and accessible resources can help individuals build and sustain long-term recovery.

2B: A Deeper Dive into Cannabis and Psychiatric Illness

Facilitator: Sarah Vannice
Speaker: Kevin Hill, MD, MHS    

This presentation will examine the current scientific evidence regarding cannabis and cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), as cannabis policies and patterns of use continue to evolve across the United States. Participants will review FDA-approved cannabinoid medications and their clinical indications, explore the potential effects of cannabis use on common psychiatric conditions, and evaluate the known and potential risks and benefits associated with CBD use. The session will provide evidence-based information to help healthcare professionals better understand cannabis and cannabinoid products and support informed discussions with patients.

2C: The Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program: Recent Updates and Continued Progress

Facilitator: Kayla Sankey
Speakers: Mitchell Barnett, PharmD, MS and Cathy Lillehoj, PhD  

This presentation will examine recent developments in the Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), including legislative changes and their implications for reporting requirements and clinical practice. Participants will review prescription drug use trends in Iowa, with particular attention to increases in stimulant prescribing and their implications for prevention efforts. The session will also explore PMP integration initiatives and the relationship between integration into clinical workflows and increased use of patient PMP queries to support informed prescribing and patient care.

2D: Suicide Prevention Strategies in Iowa

Facilitator: Leslie Mussman
Speaker: Drew Martel, LISW, CADC

This presentation will examine the current epidemiology of suicide in Iowa and the prevention and intervention strategies being implemented across the state. Participants will review current suicide trends and populations at increased risk, explore existing state and national prevention initiatives, and consider approaches designed to reduce suicide risk and strengthen protective factors. The session will also examine emerging priorities and opportunities to advance suicide prevention and intervention efforts in Iowa and nationwide.

Harm Reduction and Recovery: Lived Experiences Grounded in Equity

Haner Hernandez, PhD, CPS, CADCII, LADCI 

This presentation will examine harm reduction as a pathway to recovery, with emphasis on reducing disparities and improving equitable access to services and support. Participants will explore the multiple pathways individuals may take toward recovery and how harm reduction approaches can help people engage in and sustain recovery. The session will also highlight the value of lived experience in the helping professions and examine how individuals with lived experience can contribute to effective, person-centered prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services.

SAMHSA Updates

Kim Freese, LAC, MPA

This presentation will provide an update on federal priorities, funding initiatives, and policy developments affecting professionals who serve individuals with mental health and substance use conditions. Participants will examine current federal activities and their potential implications for behavioral health programs, service delivery, workforce needs, and access to care. The session will also highlight emerging priorities and considerations for organizations and professionals as they respond to changes in the behavioral health policy and funding environment.

Bureau of Substance Use Update

DeAnn Decker

This presentation will examine the role of Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) and state-supported programs in addressing substance use disorders across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery. Participants will explore how state programs and resources support individuals, families, providers, and communities affected by substance use disorders. The session will also highlight the importance of incorporating the perspectives of individuals with lived experience into program planning, service delivery, and quality improvement efforts to strengthen substance use disorder services throughout Iowa.

New Federal Efforts to Promote Recovery

Paolo del Vecchio, MSW

This presentation will provide an overview of the National Recovery Action Plan developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of Recovery. Participants will examine the Office of Recovery's goals and priorities, review the four major dimensions that support SAMHSA’s definition of recovery, and consider national data on Americans who identify as being in recovery. The session will highlight the role of recovery-oriented systems and services in supporting individuals as they pursue health, wellness, and meaningful lives in their communities.

2022 CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline Update and Ongoing Opioid Challenges

Robert Kruse, MD, MPH, FAAFP

This presentation will examine the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain and its implications for clinical practice. Participants will review key updates to the guideline and explore evidence-based approaches to prescribing opioids for patients with pain, including considerations when initiating, continuing, modifying, or discontinuing opioid therapy. The session will also address strategies for maximizing potential benefits, minimizing risks, and reducing harms associated with opioid use while supporting safe, effective, and individualized pain management.

How Equity Impacts Outcomes

Ashley Stewart, PhD, MSSW, LSW

This presentation will define equity within the context of behavioral health and examine how inequities can affect access to services, quality of care, and outcomes for individuals with behavioral health conditions. Participants will explore actionable strategies to create more inclusive practices and reduce inequities in direct service delivery. The session will also introduce an ecological approach to positive culture change, emphasizing how individual, organizational, and community-level efforts can contribute to more equitable behavioral health services.

3A: Deeper Dive: How Equity Impacts Outcomes

Facilitator: Monica Wilke-Brown
Speaker: Ashley Stewart, PhD, MSSW, LSW  

This session will examine the real-world impact of inequities on individuals with behavioral health conditions and the communities they live in. Participants will explore how disparities in access, resources, services, and systems can influence behavioral health outcomes and experiences of care. The session will also provide practical strategies for recognizing and addressing inequities within direct service delivery, helping participants develop approaches that promote more equitable access, experiences, and outcomes for the individuals and communities they serve.

3B: Crisis Services in Iowa

Speakers: Eric Preuss, MA, IAADC, CCS and Julie Maas, LMSW

This webinar will provide an overview of crisis services available throughout Iowa for individuals and families experiencing mental health concerns, suicide risk, substance use disorders, or problem gambling. Participants will learn about crisis response resources, including mobile crisis services, crisis stabilization services, Access Centers, Your Life Iowa, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The session will explain how to access these resources and how healthcare and behavioral health professionals can connect individuals and families with appropriate crisis services when support is needed.

3C: Introduction to the Iowa State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (IASUDORS)

Facilitator: Sarah Vannice
Speaker: Kiara Stutts, MPH

This presentation will introduce the Iowa State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (IASUDORS) and examine how its data can inform overdose prevention and response efforts across Iowa. Participants will learn about the purpose and scope of IASUDORS, review current patterns and characteristics of unintentional drug overdose deaths captured by the system, and explore how surveillance data can be used to identify trends, populations at risk, and opportunities for targeted prevention and response strategies.

3D: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: Promoting Integrated Care in Iowa

Facilitator: Lori Hancock-Muck
Speaker: Joshua Rubin, MPP

This presentation will provide an overview of the federal Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) initiative and examine its continued expansion across the United States. Participants will learn about the CCBHC model and how Iowa Health and Human Services is using the initiative to strengthen behavioral health services across the state. The session will also explore opportunities to use the CCBHC model to promote comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated care and improve connections among mental health, substance use, and other healthcare services for Iowans.

4A: Integrating Harm Reduction in Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

Facilitator: Liz Sweet
Speakers: Joshua Radke, MD, Deborah Krauss, and Andrea Weber, MD, MME, FASAM

This session will introduce harm reduction as both a social movement and a philosophy of care and examine its application in community and healthcare settings. Participants will explore strategies for creating low-barrier access to harm reduction services and substance use disorder treatment while reducing barriers that may prevent individuals from engaging in care. The session will also address how to incorporate harm reduction principles into individualized treatment plans, including those involving medications for addiction treatment (MAT), to support safer practices, treatment engagement, and recovery.

4B: Managing Stigmatizing Language in Substance Use Prevention

Facilitator: Leslie Mussman
Speaker: Laura Hinds, LCSW

This presentation will examine how language and communication can influence the experiences of individuals seeking substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support. Participants will explore how word choice, assumptions, and messaging may unintentionally reinforce stigma, create barriers to services, or contribute to negative experiences for individuals affected by substance use. The session will encourage prevention professionals to reflect on their communication practices and use person-centered, respectful language that promotes dignity, engagement, and access to care. Participants will also consider ways to respectfully incorporate lived experiences into prevention efforts and community messaging.

4C: Youth Suicide and Gambling

Facilitator: Katrina Bee
Speaker: Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW

This webinar will examine the relationship between suicide risk and gambling disorders, including common myths, terminology, and factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Participants will review research related to suicide and gambling disorders, including the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore screening and assessment tools that can be used with individuals who may be at risk for suicide. The session will also address risk and protective factors associated with suicidality among individuals experiencing gambling-related problems to support earlier identification, appropriate intervention, and connection to care.

4D: Certified Community: Behavioral Health Clinics: Promoting Integrated Care in Iowa 

Facilitator: Lori Hancock-Muck
Speakers: Joshua Rubin, MPP, Bre Degelau, Charlie Woodcock, and Lindsay Stack, LMHC, CADC, EMDR-C

This presentation will examine how Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are being implemented within organizations to promote comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated behavioral healthcare in Iowa. Participants will learn about practical approaches to implementing the CCBHC model, including organizational changes and strategies used to integrate mental health and substance use services. Presenters will discuss challenges encountered during implementation, progress made in addressing those challenges, and outcomes and successes resulting from the CCBHC model.

Leading the Way from Within

Robb Holman

This presentation will explore the relationship between personal purpose, perspective, and professional fulfillment, with particular attention to preventing and addressing burnout. Participants will examine how perspective can influence responses to professional and personal challenges, why effective leadership begins with self-awareness and self-leadership, and how identifying personal values and purpose can contribute to greater fulfillment. The session will provide practical strategies for aligning daily choices and professional responsibilities with an individual’s sense of purpose and well-being.