[Gettysburg, PA] — March 20, 2026 – RECADEMY, an OPEN MINDS online learning collaborative, has announced a new webinar in its 2026 education series focused on advancing evidence-based opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment across health systems, behavioral health organizations, and payer environments.

The webinar, “Treating Fentanyl & High-Potency Synthetic Opioid Use Disorder: Evidence-Based MOUD Protocols, Induction Strategies, & Harm Reduction In Real-World Care,” will be held on March 31, 2026, from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET. The session will feature Brian Hurley, Medical Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Immediate Past President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

The rapid spread of fentanyl and other high-potency synthetic opioids has fundamentally altered the clinical and operational landscape of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in the United States. Patients now present with higher opioid tolerance, unpredictable withdrawal patterns, and dramatically shorter windows between relapse and fatal overdose — requiring health systems, behavioral health providers, and public programs to reassess traditional treatment protocols and care delivery models.

“Fentanyl has fundamentally changed the way opioid use disorder is present in clinical settings,” says Dr. Hurley. “Patients are arriving with higher tolerance, more unpredictable withdrawal patterns, and far less time between relapse and overdose. Health systems must adapt their treatment protocols to meet the realities of the fentanyl era.”

During the webinar, Dr. Hurley will draw on his leadership experience overseeing one of the nation’s largest public substance use disorder treatment systems to discuss how health systems and public programs are adapting clinical protocols, expanding access to medications, and integrating harm reduction strategies across emergency departments, outpatient clinics, residential programs, and justice-involved settings.

“Fentanyl has compressed the window between relapse and fatal overdose,” says Dr. Hurley. “That means treatment systems must move faster, lower barriers to medications, engage patients immediately, and build care models that keep people connected to treatment during high-risk periods.”

The session will also examine strategies to reduce early treatment drop-off through improved initiation protocols, stronger care transitions, and more consistent patient engagement across the continuum of care.

Key Learning Objectives Include: 

• Understanding how fentanyl exposure has changed the clinical presentation of opioid use disorder

• Examining evidence-based strategies for initiating treatment safely in fentanyl-dominant environments 

• Implementing low-dose and flexible treatment initiation approaches across care settings 

• Embedding harm reduction strategies—including overdose prevention—into core treatment systems 

• Addressing fentanyl use in combination with stimulants and other substances 

• Strengthening treatment engagement and continuity across emergency departments, outpatient care, and justice-involved settings 

This webinar is the third in RECADEMY’s 12-part educational series planned for 2026, addressing system design, clinical models, workforce strategies, payer alignment, and policy considerations in substance use disorder treatment.

Registration is now open and free for members of RECADEMY.  

About RECADEMY 

RECADEMY is a research-based, online learning collaborative focused on improving substance use disorder treatment across clinical settings and payer environments. Through webinars, on-demand education, and curated resources, RECADEMY supports healthcare leaders in implementing evidence-based models of care and strengthening systems that improve treatment access, continuity, and outcomes. 

About OPEN MINDS 

OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the high-needs consumer market – mental health, addiction treatment, cognitive disabilities, chronic health conditions, elder services, health-related social needs, and adjacent markets within the health and human service field. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, pharmaceutical, technology, and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at openminds.com.