BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will host two events to address the opioid crisis and substance use prevention on Dec. 9 and 10 at the Bismarck Event Center. Both events are open to in-person and virtual attendees, providing stakeholders an opportunity to collaborate, learn from experts and develop action plans to address substance use challenges in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Opioid Best Practices Summit will be held on Monday, December 9th from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. It will focus on strategies to prevent opioid abuse, reduce overdose deaths, and improve support for treatment and recovery.

On Tuesday, December 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., North Dakota Prevention Day will provide helpful information on prevention strategies, community engagement, and evidence-based approaches to reduce substance use, abuse, and related outcomes.

Attendance is free, open to all, and intended for behavioral health professionals, public health personnel, educators, law enforcement, policy makers, recovery service providers, coalition leaders, and students in related fields. Both events offer continuing education units approved by the North Dakota Boards of Addiction Counseling, social work examiners and certified peer support specialists.

More information is available by contacting the Department of Health and Human Services.