Buprenorphine is a highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder, yet many communities continue to criminalize simple possession of the medication. Decriminalization of buprenorphine has been shown to increase access to treatment and entry into recovery, improve individual outcomes, and save communities money.

At this special edition Opioid Treatment Ecosystem Lunch and Learn, attendees will hear from the panelists listed below about how decriminalization of buprenorphine reduces harm, increases treatment access, improves public health and safety, and facilitates stronger societal reintegration for people released from incarceration.

Panelists:

Dr. Andrew King – Emergency Physician and Medical Toxicologist at Detroit Medical Center, Clinical Consultant at Michigan Poison Center, and Associate Professor at Wayne State University

Brandon del Pozo – Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Substance Use, Drug Policy & Public Health at Miriam Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Eli Savit – Washtenaw County Prosecutor

Maya Doe-Simkins – Co-Founder of Harm Reduction Michigan, Harm Reduction Consultant, and Overdose Researcher

This webinar is presented as part of the Opioid Treatment Ecosystem Community of Practice Lunch & Learn series, made possible by the generous support of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice provides evaluation, support and technical assistance to optimize diversion of individuals from the criminal/legal and juvenile justice systems.