Harm Reduction at a Crossroads: Science, Treatment, Politics, and the Words We Choose
with Jeremy Dubin, DO, FASAM, Don Stader, MD, FACEP, FASAM, Elizabeth Pike
Harm Reduction at a Crossroads: Evaluating Evidence, Treatment Integration, and Clinical Communication is a 60-minute interactive educational webinar examining the current evidence, clinical applications, limitations, and controversies surrounding harm-reduction approaches to substance use.
The activity will distinguish the broader concept of harm reduction from the individual interventions commonly…
grouped beneath it. Faculty will critically examine the strength, limitations, and clinical relevance of the evidence regarding naloxone distribution, comprehensive syringe-services programs, drug checking and fentanyl test strips, and safer-smoking supplies. Areas in which evidence is developing, limited, or disputed will be clearly identified.
Faculty will discuss when reducing immediate risk may support engagement in treatment and longer-term recovery, how clinicians can respond to concerns that harm-reduction practices may enable continued substance use, and what risks, limitations, and unanswered questions should inform clinical decision-making.
The program will also examine how language and stigma influence clinical engagement and public understanding, including whether the term harm reduction facilitates or impedes effective communication with patients, healthcare professionals, and communities. Faculty will distinguish conclusions supported by scientific evidence from developments in political, regulatory, and funding environments.
Following an approximately 20-minute evidence-focused presentation, the moderator and guest faculty will participate in a structured clinical discussion, followed by audience questions and a concise summary of key findings, evidence limitations, and practical considerations.
This activity is designed to support critical clinical analysis and informed decision-making. It will not advocate for or against a political position or promote a predetermined view of harm reduction as a broad category.
Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for an interprofessional audience of healthcare providers, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, MFT's, nurses, medical doctors, and dietitians.
Live interactive webinar
Online · join from anywhere
Meet the speakers
Jeremy Dubin, DO, FASAM
Chief Medical Education Officer
Dr. Dubin graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 2002 and completed his Family Medicine Residency in Colorado Springs, CO in 2005. Dr. Dubin has been board-certified in Addiction Medicine since 2006 and teaches locally, nationally, and internationally in the field of Addiction Medicine. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine and a Clinical Faculty Adjunct at Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVCOM). He is a past member of the Opioid Advisory Panel in the Office of Behavioral Health for the state of Colorado.
Dr. Dubin is proud to be behind the over 35 medical providers at Front Range Clinic who challenge stigma and remove barriers daily to provide nonjudgmental, up-to-date medical care.
Dr. Dubin is an official U.S. Ski Team Physician and a past NAUI Scuba Instructor.
Don Stader, MD, FACEP, FASAM
Don Stader, MD, FACEP, FASAM is a board-certified emergency and addiction medicine physician, opioid expert, film producer & social entrepreneur. Don is also the founder and Executive Director of the Naloxone Project, a 501c3 organization committed to addressing the opioid overdose epidemic through stigma reduction and intelligent distribution of the overdose antidote Naloxone. Don is also the founder and CEO of Epifluence, a minor-owned small business that focuses on evidence-based approaches to addressing the opioid crisis, addiction treatment, pain management, and quality improvement. Don currently serves as the President of the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine and is the former President of Colorado ACEP and the Emergency Medicine Residents Association. Through these roles, Don has participated in and led multiple initiatives on state, regional, and national levels.
In addition to medicine, Don enjoys filmmaking and is an Emmy Award Winning Film Producer. He has produced 3 documentaries: 24|7|365 - The Evolution of Emergency Medicine, Palliative and Dying in Your Mother’s Arms, as well as dozens of shorter medical pieces. He has produced two books, serving as the Editor-in-Chief of ACEP's 50th Anniversary Book, Bring EM' ALL: Chaos. Care. Stories from Medicine's Front Lines and the medical reference book and app, EMRA and AAED Nerve Blocks and Procedural Pain Management Guide.
He lives with his wife, Andi, and their three daughters, Josiphine, Audrey & Morgan, in Denver, Colorado.
Elizabeth Pike
Director of Prevention Services
Izzy Pike serves as the Director of Prevention Services at the Colorado Health Network (CHN), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing harm reduction and sexual health initiatives across Colorado. In this capacity, she supervises prevention services in key regions, ensuring the highest standards of quality assurance and program effectiveness.
Izzy’s career is built on a solid foundation, with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Her professional journey began at CHN, where she initially worked in HIV case management. It was during this time that she discovered a deep passion for harm reduction, which has since shaped her career trajectory.
Over the years, she has held various leadership roles, including Associate Director of Prevention at CHN, Assistant Director of the Housing Navigation Center, Program Director at Behavioral Health Group, and Prevention Services Manager at CHN. Each of these positions has honed her expertise in community health services and strengthened her commitment to making a positive impact on underserved populations.
Izzy is deeply passionate about educating both professionals and the wider community on harm reduction, sexual health, and the importance of eliminating stigma. She believes that fostering greater understanding and empathy is essential to improving health outcomes and creating a more equitable and healthier Colorado.
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Biography
By the end of this session, you'll be able to
1
Differentiate the strength and clinical implications of current evidence supporting naloxone distribution, comprehensive syringe-services programs, drug checking/fentanyl test strips, and safer-smoking supply interventions.
2
Describe at least two ways that risk-reduction interventions can be integrated with evidence-based SUD treatment and recovery rather than conceptualized as alternatives to treatment.
3
Apply patient-centered, nonstigmatizing language when discussing substance use, nonabstinence, overdose risk and harm-reduction interventions with patients and other stakeholders.
4
Distinguish scientific evidence from policy, funding, terminology and value judgments when evaluating controversial or evolving substance-use interventions.
CE Info
1
CE credit hours
Live interactive webinar · 1 hour
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
CE Learning Systems is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hour by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org. CE Learning Systems designates this activity for 1 continuing education credits.
CE Learning Systems designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Successful completion of this program qualifies for 1 contact hours for nurses.
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #0060.
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists. #PSY-0016.
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0045.
CE process
Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.
Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:
Complete evaluation forms for the event
Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format
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Policies & CE process
Technology
1. This virtual event will be hosted via Zoom Webinar, and you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi connection will be required for best quality.
2. We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature.
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CELS Grievance Policy
If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Tyler Gibson via confidential email to tyler@celearningsystems.com as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.