Supporting the Health of People Who Use Drugs Virtual Conference
June 2-3, 2026 | 12pm-4pm PT | Register here
Join ADAI’s Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology & Research (CEDEER) to learn more about practical strategies and programs that support the health of people who use drugs in Washington State.
We hope you can join us online to converse and connect!
Speakers and topics
June 2nd: Health Supports
Core services: syringes, safer smoking supplies, naloxone
Learn about the essential supplies to help people who use drugs stay safe and healthy. Hear from local experts in Washington State on why these supplies are important and how they bring people in.
- Chelsie Porter, Syringe Services Program Coordinator, Washington State Department of Health
- Lari Karan, Prevention Specialist, Harm Reduction Health Center, Clallam County Public Health
Integrating harm reduction and healthcare
Hear from a pharmacy and a community based mental health and substance use treatment program about how they combine healthcare and harm reduction.
- Kathleen Pierce, PharmD, Pharmacy Manager at Capitol Hill Pharmacy, Kelley-Ross Pharmacy, Seattle, Washington
- Kayla Cross, NP, Bloom Psychiatry, Spokane, Washington
Wound care for people who use drugs
Treating wounds can be complicated, and people who use drugs may face extra challenges in getting care. Hear about a compassionate approach to helping people heal.
- Molly Bosch, RN, BSN, CWCN, VITAL Program, Harborview Pioneer Square Downtown Programs, REACH
- Carrie Reinhart, MSN, RN, Public health nurse – Street medicine team | Health Care for the Homeless Network, Public Health-Seattle & King County
- Thea Oliphant-Wells, MSW, Harm Reduction Program Manager, Overdose Prevention & Response, Public Health-Seattle & King County
June 3rd: Partnerships and Supportive Services to Improve Health
Legal services navigation
Learn about legal services navigation, a novel approach that helps people who use drugs access help for their legal issues.
- Leo Beletsky, JD, MPH, Professor of Law and Health Sciences Northeastern University and Faculty Director, The Action Lab
- Betsy Wight, Tacoma Needle Exchange
Providing the basics
Hear from Gather Church about their food program, and how it helps connect people to their other services.
- Pastor Cole Meckle
Community buy-in and partnerships
Sounds Pathways has built support for their harm reduction and drug treatment programs from multiple community partners in their area including the court, law enforcement, and many others. Hear how they did it and why connection is so important.
- Shannon Goforth, Executive Director, Sound Pathways
- Jessica Thornton, Harm Reduction Program Manager, Sound Pathways
