The Colombo Plan is proudly serving as the Diamond Sponsor of the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, taking place from 21 – 24 April 2025 at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. This premier event, which gathers the nation’s most influential leaders in the fields of drug addiction and recovery, will provide a platform for collaboration and innovative solutions.

The Colombo Plan delegation, led by His Excellency Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes, along with Mr. Thom Browne, CEO, is also present at this pivotal event. The Colombo Plan is pleased to be hosting an exhibition booth (415) in partnership with the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) at the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation (FRFF).

On the opening day of the summit, 21 April 2025, the Colombo Plan delegation attended the Opening Plenary, which featured keynotes by Hon. U.S. Congressman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY, 5th District), Jay Bhattacharya MD, PhD, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. The plenary highlighted the important findings from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (CDC), which reported a nearly 24% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths, underscoring the significance of continued efforts to combat this crisis. It also featured discussions on recent legislative efforts, including the HALT Fentanyl Act, which would permanently classify all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, acknowledging their high potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use. The importance of regulated drug trafficking programs was also emphasized as a key solution to address the growing challenges in drug abuse prevention.

In the evening of the first day, 21 April 2025, the Colombo Plan delegation attended the “Advisory Dinner,” an exclusive event offering the opportunity to network with influential leaders in the field. During this important gathering, the Colombo Plan delegation also had the privilege of meeting with U.S. Congressman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY, 5th District).