Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Symposium

Symposium Description

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education is hosting a first of its kind, 2-day symposium on the status of the Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) crisis in the United States.

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This symposium will examine the NPS crisis in the United States with a focus on synthetic cannabinoids, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants and hallucinogens.  Topics to be presented range from manufacture and distribution, efforts at interdiction and disruption, understanding motivations for their use, to public health impacts in both the ER and morgue.  The latest trend data and emerging patterns of use as well as challenges facing analytical and forensic laboratories will also be discussed.   The symposium design and panel discussions will create an international forum that will foster open dialogue regarding all aspects of the NPS phenomenon while tying together the impact on common public health and public safety interests.

The event is based on the model of the International NPS Symposium held in various European Centers over the last seven years.

Location:

This symposium will be held at the beautiful Science History Institute in the heart of Olde City, Philadelphia, mere blocks away from historical landmarks such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. This area also hails renowned restaurants and shopping, LOVE Park, City Hall, and many more.

Program:

The symposium will open and close with a thought-leaders panel, featuring:

Dr Roumen Sedefov, Head of Unit, Supply Reduction and New Drugs, EMCDDA, Lisbon Portugal Conor Crean, UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Section, Vienna Austria

Dr Grant Baldwin, Director of the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, CDC, Atlanta GA

Dr Michael Bauman, Chief – Designer Drug Research Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore MD

Dr Ornella Corrazza, Reader in Substance Addictions and Behaviours, University of Hertfordshire, UK Dr Paul Dargan, Professor of Clinical Toxicology, King’s College, London, UK

SAIC Raymond Donovan, Special Operations Division, DEA, Washington DC

Dr Robert DuPont, President of the Institute for Behavior and Health, Rockville, MD Dr Rachel Christie, EMCDDA, Lisbon, Portugal Dr Tegan Boehmer, CDR, US Public Health Service, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr Roy Gerona, Assistant Professor, University of California San Francisco, CA

Mr Alex Krotulski, Research Scientist, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Willow Grove PA

Dr Barry Logan, Executive Director, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, VP of Forensic Science Initiatives, NMS Labs, Willow Grove PA   Dr Alex Manini, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Mt. Sinai, New York City, NY

Dr Jane Maxwell, Research Professor, Steven Hick School of Social Work, UT Austin, TX

MJ Menendez JD, National Opioid Coordinator, OCDETF, DOJ, Washington DC

Dr Mark J. Neavyn, Director of the Fellowship Program in Medical Toxicology, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Dr Julie O’Donnell, CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Atlanta GA Mr Scott Oulton, Associate Deputy Administrator, DEA, Washington DC

Ms Donna Papsun, Toxicologist, NMS Labs, Willow Grove PA

Dr Justice Tettey, Chief of the UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Section, Vienna, Austria

Dr István Ujváry, Budapest University of Technology & Economics, iKem BT, Budapest Hungary Dr Denise Paone, Sr. Director of Research and Surveillance, NYCDOHMH, Long Island City, NY Dr Roger Mitchell, Chief Medical Examiner, Washington DC Mrs. Patricia Hawes-Coleman Sherri Kacinko, Toxicologist, NMS Labs, Willow Grove, PA