SNOAC Ad-Hoc Community Update

Written By Katarina Pulver

Good Afternoon SNOAC Community!

 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! As a reminder, our next meeting is Thursday, April 17th at 10am and will be available in a hybrid format (virtual and in person). Virtually you can access the meeting via Zoom or in-person at Roseman University (1 Breakthrough Way, The Auditorium, Las Vegas, NV 89135). In the meantime, please see some community ad-hoc updates:

 

Community Events and Information:

  • Second Chance 5k

    • Date: Saturday, April 5th at 8:30a

    • Location: Linda Rankin Givens Elementary School (655 Park Vista Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89138)

    • Cost: PACT has slots left over to pay for anyone who is interested in the Second Chance 5k, this Saturday, April 5.  Please email jross@drugfreelasvegas.org if you are interested in attending. 

    • About: Together, we'll unite as individuals and communities impacted by substance use disorders. We'll celebrate second chances, learn about local resources and walk alongside those grieving loss, as well as those bravely taking steps on the journey of recovery. This event is for everyone! No matter your age or fitness level, let’s leave behind the weight of shame surrounding addiction, while taking steps forward towards more healing and love. Your support and participation makes a difference. Every registration supports local recovery efforts, bringing vital resources, support and second chances to individuals and families in need. We invite you to register today. Come walk, jog, bike or run with us. We are so excited to share our favorite morning of the year with you. We believe in second chances. Do you?

    • Learn more: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/100281/second-chance-5k-2025

  • The Fentanyl Crisis: A UNLV Community Response

    • Date: Tuesday, April 22nd from 4p-5:15p (reception starts at 3:30p)

    • Location: UNLV

    • Cost: Free- registration required

    • About: Brookings Mountain West is pleased to host a live panel discussion with UNLV faculty experts and Brookings Senior Fellow, Vanda Felbab-Brown on the critical topic of the fentanyl crisis in America. The devastating impacts of synthetic opioids in the United States cannot be overstated: more than 100,000 Americans are dying of drug overdoses annually, with fentanyl as a major contributor. Health experts have called the fentanyl crisis in North America the most lethal drug epidemic in history. Brookings senior fellow and policy expert Vanda Felbab-Brown and UNLV experts will discuss the impact of the fentanyl crisis in Southern Nevada. Their collective work was recently featured on a popular Brookings podcast series hosted by Felbab-Brown, The Killing Drugs: Synthetic Opioids around the World. The podcast series takes a comprehensive look at the fentanyl crisis nationwide and around the world, and features 2 episodes with UNLV faculty from the UNLV Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine and Department of Criminal Justice at UNLV. In this live panel, faculty will discuss their work to combat fentanyl abuse in our region, and provide policymakers, law enforcement leadership, and community nonprofits an inside glimpse at the obstacles to prevention, education, and treatment faced by those working on the epidemic’s front lines.

    • Learn More and Register: https://www.unlv.edu/event/fentanyl-crisis-unlv-community-response

  • Community Health Assessment (CHA) Prioritization Meeting

    • Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

    • Location: Hybrid (In person at Southern Nevada Health District and virtual via Microsoft Teams)

    • Cost: Free (light refreshments provided at the in-person meeting)

    • About: Please join us at the Community Health Assessment (CHA) Prioritization Meeting on Wednesday, April 30 from 9-12:30 PM! We will be reviewing the CHA findings and voting on the top health issues we will be focusing on for the next few years to come. This meeting is hybrid

    • Learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/2025CHAPriority

  • 4th Annual PrEP Rally

    • Date: Saturday, May 17th from 11a-3p

    • Location: The Center (401 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV)

    • Cost: Free, but space is limited so please register at the link below

    • About: 4th Annual PrEP Rally, a vibrant community event! This year we are celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) HIV Awareness Day. This year, the event will embrace a luau theme and offer a variety of activities and resources to promote health and wellness in our community.

    • Learn more: https://forms.office.com/r/x3uWy5Ndth

  • Save the Date: 6th Annual Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit

    • Date: Thursday, August 14 from 8am-5pm

    • Location: Strip View Pavillion at UNLV (4505 S Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89154)

    • Cost: Registration opening soon and unlimited scholarships will be available

    • About: Substance use and overdose prevention is a syndemic issue that requires us to work across inter-related fields, including psychological health, trauma, disability, suicide, and violence. To effectively serve our community and clients, collaboration across programs, services, and funding sources is crucial, and a multidisciplinary approach is essential to address core issues and provide comprehensive, holistic services for individuals' needs. You are invited to join us for the 2025 Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit, Harmonization: A block party on the corner of healing and collaboration, where everyone has a seat at the table. During this event, engage in thought-provoking discussions, participate in interactive workshops, and gain invaluable insights into how we all bring valuable ideas, perspectives, and knowledge to this work. By working together, we can reduce substance use and ultimately end overdose, fostering a healthier and safer community for all.

    • Get your proposals ready!- CALL FOR WORKSHOPS COMING SOON

    • Learn more and sign up to be the first to know when registration opens: https://www.snoac.org/southern-nevada-substance-misuse-and-overdose-prevention-summit

  • Fund for a Resilient Nevada released their 2024 Annual Report

 

Educational Opportunities

  • Local

    • Nevada Public Health Association Annual Conference

      • Date: April 8-9th from 8a-5pm

      • Location: Hampton Inn Tropicana | Las Vegas, Nevada

      • Cost: $275 for members and $325 for non-member professionals

      • About: The statewide NPHA annual conference provides an opportunity for Nevada’s public health professionals to gather together to discuss relevant public health issues, as well as a chance to network, meet, and stay connected with other professionals in Nevada. Continuing education credits are also available for several public health disciplines.

      • Learn more and register: https://npha.wildapricot.org/NPHA-Annual-Conference

    • Harm Reduction Symposium

      • Date: Tuesday, April 29th from 8a-5p

      • Location: Southern Nevada Health District (280 S Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107)

      • Cost: Free

      • About: Join us for a full day training to discuss harm reduction and its role in working with people who use drugs. We will discuss: harm reduction a personal safety strategy, harm reduction as a moment, the principles of harm reduction, risk and protective factors for substance use, drug-related stigma, impact of drug-related stigma on recovery, medicated assisted treatment, and so much more! This full day will be jam packed and interactive for participants. Lunch will not be provided and will be on your own.

      • Learn more and register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dhnvqbz/lp/e1485c62-0343-44ba-9a9e-3ca3f793346e

    • Overdose Response with Naloxone Training of Trainers

      • Date: Tuesday, June 3rd from 1:30p-5p

      • Location: Southern Nevada Health District (280 S Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107)

      • Cost: This training is grant funded and provided at no-cost.

      • About: This training is by invitation only, please reach out to Lori Bryan at bryanl@snhd.org if you are interested in this opportunity. This class is open to trainers who wish to become educated with current information about the illicit drug supply in our community and the current best practices for reversing overdoses. At the end of this training, you should be equipped with the knowledge and tools to train others in overdose response with naloxone, understand opioids and their effects, and educate others on common myths regarding drug overdose and fentanyl. Prerequisite work required and will be sent by email.

      • To learn more, please visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v2wmhev/lp/1d2bebb5-314e-480a-89dc-f99552cceacd

  • National

    • RX and Illicit Drug Summit

      • Date: April 21-24

      • Location: Nashville, TN

      • Cost: starting at $725 (see site for details)

      • About: Rx and Illicit Drug Summit is the largest, most influential event addressing this crisis, where strategies are shared and put into action. Our global community includes multidisciplinary stakeholders "from federal to family." As we enter our 14th year, our mission has become increasingly important—we can't afford to lose more lives. It's time to turn the numbers around.

      • Learn more and register at https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/rx-summit

    • Montana Summer Institute

      • Date: June 17-20

      • Location: Big Sky, Montana (also available via live stream)

      • Cost: $1095 ($399 for live stream)

      • About: Join us at the 2025 Montana Summer Institute for three and a half transformative days dedicated to advancing community well-being. Through thought-provoking keynotes, interactive workshops, and engaging discussions, you’ll explore innovative strategies that leverage positive norms and amplify protective factors. Learn to uncover hidden community strengths, identify untapped opportunities, and craft impactful communications that drive meaningful change. With insights from leading experts and experienced practitioners, you’ll gain practical tools to reimagine your approach to data, messaging, and the people you serve—all through a positive, effective frame. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your expertise, deepen your impact, and shape healthier, more resilient communities.

      • Learn more and register at https://www.montanainstitute.com/msi

 

If you have any questions, wish to update your SNOAC membership, or have important community events or resources related to substance use, overdose or recovery, please don’t hesitate to submit them via the website.

Katarina Pulver
Next

SNOAC Follow Up 2025 Q1 Meeting