Objectives are (1) Describe HIV/HCV prevalence in TN and Central Appalachia; (2) Understand syringe access in pharmacy settings. Identify and refer clients to local syringe service programs.

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Tennessee is ranked second in the nation for pain relievers also known as "opioid" prescriptions and it's affecting individuals, families and communities. Please join us as Tennessee Commissioner of Health Dr. John Dreyzehner kicks off this session with a plenary presentation of our health status as a state, an overview of the main challenges we are facing in this multifaceted issue, and ways we can work together to shape our environment for a healthier future. In conjunction with Governor Haslam's Prescription for Success initiative for Tennessee, partners across the state are supporting the efforts of the lead agency, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service, to improve the health and safety of our residents. The panel participants will discuss current and future efforts to secure additional drug disposal options, revise and improve state and local legislation, develop proactive workforce programs, and more.

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Northeast Tennessee has been disproportionately burdened by a high prevalence of opioid prescribing, prescription drug abuse, addiction, overdose, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. The East Tennessee State University Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse Working Group (PDAMWG) formed upon recognizing an urgent need for a collaborative, multi-faceted response to reduce prescription drug abuse. Composed of over 100 members from various agencies, organizations, and institutions, members of this highly interprofessional, university-sponsored working group include academic scholars, healthcare providers, pharmacists, elected officials, students, community members, and more. This collaboration has successfully generated multiple funded research projects and numerous evidence- and community-based initiatives targeting prescription drug abuse. This seminar will focus on substance abuse prevention, specifically the prevention of prescription drug abuse. In addition to providing a data supported summary of the epidemic in the region, this seminar will outline the historical development of the PDAMWG and describe past and present research and community-based initiatives. An emphasis will be on the continuous commitment of the PDAMWG to the development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce prescription drug abuse and improve population health in the region. This seminar will also document research as well as community-based outcomes of PDAMWG efforts. Consequently, participants will recognize the effectiveness of strong, cross-sector partnerships for population health improvement. Relatedly, participants will develop a concrete understanding of a collaborative approach that bridges academic research and community-based practice. Perhaps most importantly, participants will discover its potential for replication in other communities to support the achievement of maximum, evidence-based outcomes for various health concerns. Lastly, participants will be introduced to the underlying model of the PDAMWG, which visually depicts evidence-based strategies along the disease continuum. As a result, participants will appreciate the complexity of public health problems and the subsequent importance of a multi-pronged, evidence-based response to addressing them