The Rapidly Changing Composition of the World's Drug Supply and Its Effects on High-Risk for COVID-19

It is our pleasure to announce two presentations by Thom Browne Jr. (MA Criminal Justice, CEO of Colombo Plan) on the emerging and rapidly-changing properties of illicit drugs and their cutting agents that put substance users worldwide at high-risk for near- and long-term chronic health problems, overdose (fatal & non-fatal), and increased vulnerability to both the acquisition of viruses like COVID-19 and more severe complications from the virus.

These presentations offer information you can use to more adequately diagnose and protect your client populations.

About Thom Browne Jr. 

Thom Browne Jr., MA Criminal Justice, is the CEO of the international organization Colombo Plan. He is an internationally-recognized expert in the demand reduction and criminal justice fields, having created substance use treatment systems and prevention programs in over 70 countries and international law enforcement academies on 5 continents during his twenty-five-year career at the U.S. Department of State/INL. Earlier in his Federal career, Browne served at the Drug Enforcement Administration where he developed strategies, designed programs, and authored research/intelligence reports addressing the original fentanyl /synthetic heroin and crack cocaine epidemics in the 1980s. He finished his DEA service as Chief of the Latin American Intelligence section where he authored the Reagan Administration’s cocaine strategy.

At INL, Browne also supported the formation of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM), the regional therapeutic community federations (AFTC, FLACT), and the Drug Prevention Network of the Americas (DPNA). In 2014, Browne was a finalist for the prestigious Service to America Medal for Career Achievement in the Federal government. Upon his retirement from INL in 2015, he was given a Career Achievement award by the Secretary of State.

His recent research with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Colombo Plan has helped re-define the opioid and stimulant epidemics in the U.S. and regional epidemics worldwide, uncovering emerging trends in illicit drug formulation that jeopardize the health of substance users worldwide.

How to register for the events

Registration for ISSUP webinars is free and we highly recommend signing-up for both presentations using the links below 

The first presentation will cover illicit drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine) that place users at risk for COVID-19 and the changing patterns of drug cutting agents (adulterants) over the last decade that have negatively effected user health.

Date: 26th June 2020
Time: 9am Mountain Standard Time (MST) / 12pm Eastern Time / 5pm London
Duration: 1 hour

The second presentation will provide an in-depth look at the specific cutting agents/adulterants that put drug users at high-risk for COVID-19 and related infections.

Date: 2nd July 2020
Time: 9am Mountain Standard Time (MST) / 12pm Eastern Time / 5pm London
Duration: 1 hour

Click here to register for both presentations

Please note that only registered users will have access to the webinar. After you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email instructions with instructions on how to join the webinar. We look forward to you joining us for the presentations. Please contact info [at] issup [dot] net (info[at]issup[dot]net) if you have any questions.