CAMP HILL, PA — More than 400 substance use disorder professionals gathered this past week as Pennsylvania officials outlined new strategies to address a rapidly changing drug landscape and improve access to treatment and recovery services.
What This Means for You
- State officials are expanding access to addiction treatment and recovery services
- New strategies focus on overdose prevention and faster access to care
- Additional support is planned for people leaving incarceration to reduce relapse
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs hosted the Emerging Drug Trend Symposium to help providers adapt to evolving drug use patterns and improve prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Substance use disorder refers to a medical condition in which a person cannot control their use of drugs or alcohol despite harmful consequences.
What Officials Said About the Crisis
Department leaders said the symposium reflects a coordinated, statewide response involving health care providers, law enforcement, and community organizations.
“We are all in this together—fellow agencies in the Shapiro Administration, treatment providers, and all who provide direct supports and care,” DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones said. “As drug use patterns change, treatment providers and other SUD professionals must have the knowledge they need to adapt their services.”
Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said the state must continue focusing on harm reduction — a public health approach that aims to reduce the negative consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence.
“We face a volatile and toxic drug supply in Pennsylvania,” Bogen said. “Harm reduction isn’t just a policy—it is a moral imperative and a frontline defense.”
Key Topics Covered at the Symposium
Officials said the event included more than 30 sessions addressing emerging risks and treatment approaches.
Topics included:
- Changes in Pennsylvania’s drug supply and overdose trends
- Reducing youth vaping and substance use risks on college campuses
- Prenatal care for pregnant women with substance use disorder
- Treatment strategies for people involved in the criminal justice system
- The impact of severe weather and environmental hazards on vulnerable populations
- The connection between brain injuries and substance use disorder
- New approaches to recovery support services
Dr. Yngvild Olsen, a former federal substance use treatment official, discussed national trends and policy changes affecting treatment access.
“These efforts are making a real difference,” Olsen said, pointing to growing coordination among providers across Pennsylvania.
New and Ongoing State Initiatives
Officials highlighted several initiatives aimed at expanding access to treatment and preventing overdoses.
Those efforts include:
- Distributing naloxone — a medication that reverses opioid overdoses — and drug testing strips through a statewide prevention program, resulting in more than 15,000 overdose reversals
- Expanding telehealth-only treatment services to improve access in underserved areas
- Licensing nearly 450 recovery houses across Pennsylvania
- Approving mobile opioid treatment programs to bring care directly to communities
- Launching a workforce training partnership with Carlow and Waynesburg universities to address provider shortages
- Creating a free online learning series for families affected by substance use disorder
Focus on Reentry and Medicaid Changes
State officials said the proposed 2026-27 budget includes an initiative to support individuals with substance use disorder as they prepare to leave incarceration.
Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said the plan would allow individuals to leave correctional facilities with medications and scheduled treatment appointments already in place.
“These proven strategies ensure individuals return home with medications in hand and appointments made, reducing overdose deaths, improving public safety and reducing recidivism,” Arkoosh said.
How to Get Help
Officials said individuals seeking help for substance use disorder can call the PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
A live chat option is available at https://www.firstchoiceservices.org/pachat, and residents can also text 717-216-0905 to connect with support services.
The department said the symposium and related initiatives are part of an ongoing effort to expand access to evidence-based treatment and reduce overdose deaths statewide.
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