MIMH Addiction Science

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our free Substance Use Professional Development Training Day in St. Louis! It was a wonderful day of learning, connection, and building capacity across Missouri.

Our next training is coming up! Join us for Meeting People Where They're At, an OUD Treatment Access Simulation, on June 17 at UMSL. Space is limited, so register today at the link below or link in our bio!
https://tally.so/r/gDZ21d

We're encouraged to share new preliminary data reflecting continued progress in reducing overdose deaths across Missouri in 2025 in partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri Department of Mental Health. This is a promising checkpoint before the final data is released.

Key takeaways from the Preliminary 2025 Missouri Drug Overdose Death Report, covering January through December 2025:

- Statewide overdose deaths declined across age groups, drug types, s*x, and race
- Missouri's decline appears to outpace the national trend
- Opioid deaths fell in all age groups — with the youngest seeing drops of 35–38%

Thank you to everyone across Missouri working to prevent overdose, distribute naloxone, expand access to life-saving resources, and support recovery. This data reflects your efforts, and the momentum is real. Click here to view the full report: https://canva.link/9lbrwp7fggsan6v

We are working hard with our partners like St. Charles City Fire Department to protect Missouri communities and make sure naloxone is available everywhere it's needed to save lives.

Meet Don! 👋 He's out in the community delivering medication storage devices to help more people in St. Louis access Medications for Opioid Use Disorder all as part of our new Medication Access Project grant! Thank you Don!

Join the UMSL-MIMH Addiction Science Team for a unique, simulation-based training about improving care for people in substance use treatment settings! Through two rounds of treatment intake simulation, we’ll explore barriers and generate ideas for how clinical staff can improve their current practice. Learn more about the training and register here:https://tally.so/r/gDZ21d
Seeing this QR code on your phone? Screenshot this post, open it in your Photos app, and tap the code, it'll take you right there!

The Addiction Science Defense Network's six-part congressional briefing series: Protecting Federal Leadership in Addiction Science and Public Health, continues with Part V on June 4th, focused on the essential role community engagement plays in advancing substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery research.

Our own Dr. Rachel Winograd is among the national experts presenting, alongside researchers and practitioners from across the country exploring how genuine community involvement leads to more culturally responsive, effective, and sustainable interventions.

Learn more about the series here: https://www.npscoalition.org/congressional-briefings/protecting-federal-leadership-in-addiction-science-and-public-health?emci=975a05c4-7c54-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=12ed1b90-0f55-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=36816854

Thursday, June 4 | 2–3:30 PM ET | Free & virtual
Register: https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r1stPZblS5qKBDJBTZQlzw
Can't attend live? Register and they'll send you the recording.

Stay up to date on Missouri naloxone access, overdose prevention trainings, and the latest news straight to your inbox.
Scan the QR code or find the sign-up link in our bio. Already on your phone? Screenshot this post and press and hold the QR code, your phone will take it from there. 💙

The UMSL-MIMH Addiction Science Team is hosting free, in-person, full-day substance use trainings for anyone who works with people who use drugs and students and trainees are welcome too! 🙌
Two dates. Two cities.
📍 Springfield — May 15th
📍 St. Louis — June 5th
8:30 AM–4:30 PM | Full and half-day options | Lunch provided for full-day attendees
Topics include overdose education & naloxone administration, medications for opioid use disorder, stimulant education and more.

Space is limited — register today!
Springfield: https://tally.so/r/lbA0YN
St. Louis: https://tally.so/r/XxexXO

$5 million (of $8M) in first responder naloxone funding has been restored in Missouri.

We are grateful for every partner, advocate, and community member who helped keep this funding visible and protected throughout this process.

The budget now heads to the Governor for signature. To learn more about Missouri's first responder overdose prevention programs, visit mofirstresponders.org.

Kansas City recap! 🙌 Dr. Winograd and three graduate student scholars from the ASPIRE Lab just returned from the 14th Annual Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction (CPA) Conference, hosted by the Society of Addiction Psychology. They presented fresh findings from the MO I-STARR study, establishing the first empirically supported measure of barriers to MOUD in recovery housing settings (check out the just published paper - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949875926001293). They enjoyed connecting with researchers and clinicians from across the country working to understand addiction and improve interventions. So proud of this team.