WASHINGTON - The Howard University College of Pharmacy will hold the second Howard University Opioid and Naloxone Administration Training Symposium on Friday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.

Regina LaBelle, acting director of National Drug Control Policy, will virtually attend the symposium to talk about the role pharmacists can play in addressing the overdose epidemic, eliminating inequities, and – most importantly – saving lives. Acting Director LaBelle will also discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's First Year Drug Policy Priorities and actions taken to address addiction and the overdose epidemic.

The virtual symposium is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies. The grant, awarded last year, provides resources to educate the region’s pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on the dangers of opioid addiction. The event is free for all students and Howard faculty and staff.

To register for the conference, click on the appropriate link below: Pharmacists and non-pharmacy technician attendees should to register here. Pharmacy Technicians can register here.

The grant, which was awarded to the Office of Continuing Professional Education in the college, originated as a result of a mandate from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The overdose and addiction epidemic is one of the most significant public health crises facing the U.S. today.

This year's symposium will be virtual and includes internal and external VIPs.  Internally, we have comments by the University Provost, Dr. Anthony Wutoh and Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Toyin Tofade. 

The symposium program will also feature past and former chairs of the DC Board of Pharmacy sharing their perspectives on the opioid epidemic during their respective tenures.  All are women of color and remain affiliated with Howard University:

• Dr. Beverly Mims, Associate Professor at the Howard University College of Pharmacy
• Dr. Daphne Bernard, Howard University Associate Provost
• Dr. Tamara McCants, Assistant Professor and Clinical Faculty, Howard University College of Pharmacy and Current Chair of the DC Board of Pharmacy

Other distinguished speakers include Physician and Howard University Alumnus, Dr. Edwin Chapman; Professor and Chair of Behavioral Health, HUH (Howard University Hospital), Dr. Richard Schottenfeld; and, Dr. Careen-Joan Franklin, Assistant Professor and Clinical Faculty, Howard University College of Pharmacy. The Symposium will be moderated by Dr. Bisrat Hailemeskel, Professor and Vice Chair,  CAPS (Clinical and Administrative Pharmaceutical Sciences) Dept., Howard University College of Pharmacy.

Participants at the symposium will earn continuing education credits that can be counted toward professional license renewals. Additionally, those participants will receive overdose prevention and naloxone training. The registration cost is $15 for pharmacy technicians, $25 for Howard alumni, $20 for Howard University Preceptors and $50 for attendees not affiliated with Howard University.

In 2011, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) mandated that pharmaceutical manufacturers provide funds to educate health care professionals on the dangers of opioid addiction. These manufacturers, known as REMS Program Companies (RPCs), are the commercial source of grant funding for Opioid Analgesic REMS-Compliant Continuing Education; and served as grant sponsors. One of the main goals of the symposium will be to introduce participants to available clinical tools and resources meant to help patients at risk of  substance use disorder.

Anthea V. Francis, R.Ph., coordinator of the Office of Continuing Professional Education, said her office has received this award twice (2019 and 2020) and initially sought the grant after noticing that no pharmacy school in the nation had received this award despite the fact pharmacists were among the healthcare professionals the FDA listed should receive opioid addiction continuing education.  The Howard University College of Pharmacy is the only pharmacy school in the District of Columbia.

For more information about the symposium and the grant, contact Anthea Francis via anthea.francis@howard.edu

Pictured: Regina LaBelle, acting director of National Drug Control Policy.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges in Washington D.C. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Howard University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.