2026-2027 | Live Session | Working Together to Reduce Harm and Improve Safety for People Who Use Substances

2026-2027 | Live Session | Working Together to Reduce Harm and Improve Safety for People Who Use Substances | August 2026

Availability

Registration Required

Online Meeting

Aug 05, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM CT

Cost

$0.00

Included with ACAAM membership. Join ACAAM to access this and other educational offerings.

ACAAM Members, select "Get Started" to register for this session.

This live session provides a focused overview of harm reduction principles in addiction medicine, emphasizing practical strategies to improve safety, reduce substance-related harms, and strengthen patient engagement.

What This Includes

• Core harm reduction principles, including patient-centered care and meeting people where they are
• The role of harm reduction in reducing morbidity, mortality, and barriers to care
• Practical interventions such as naloxone distribution, syringe service programs, overdose education, and drug checking
• Emerging risks, including fentanyl contamination, polysubstance exposure, and overdose prevention strategies
• Integration of harm reduction into clinical practice through safety planning and community partnerships
• Approaches to improving outcomes and supporting people who use substances across a range of care settings

What to Expect

• Live, faculty-led instruction delivered in an interactive online format
• Real-world examples demonstrating the application of harm reduction strategies in clinical practice
• Structured content aligned with the ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum and ABPM content areas
• Discussion of current challenges and emerging trends affecting substance use–related harms
• Practical guidance for incorporating harm reduction approaches into addiction medicine care and patient engagement practices

Alexander Y. Walley, MD MSc

Dr. Walley is an addiction medicine specialist and primary care physician at Boston Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. His clinical and research work focuses on the medical complications of substance use, including HIV and overdose, with an emphasis on integrating addiction care into general medical settings.

He is the founding director of the Grayken Addiction Medicine Fellowship and established both the inpatient addiction medicine consult service and a low‑barrier walk‑in substance use care clinic at Boston Medical Center. He also serves as Medical Director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and Overdose Prevention Program and is the immediate past president of ACAAM.

Joined by
Theresa Rolley, CAC, Boston Med Center Addiction Consult Service
Kimber King, SafeSpot Overdose Hotline at Boston Medical Center

The session recording will be made available in the corresponding On-Demand course after processing. Access the recording through the On-Demand section of the ACAAM Learning Portal.

To support a meaningful learning experience and recognize your participation:

After viewing a minimum of [60] minutes of the session, the evaluation will become available
We encourage you to complete the evaluation to reflect on the content and provide valuable feedback
Upon completion, a Certificate of Participation will be issued for your records