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Rx and Illicit Drug Summit taking place from 21 – 24 April 2025 at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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).
The Colombo Plan at Rx Summit 2025 – Day 02 Highlights
The Colombo Plan is proudly serving as the Diamond Sponsor of the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit 2025, taking place from 21 – 24 April 2025 at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
On Day 02 of the Rx Summit 2025, the Colombo Plan, in collaboration with the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE)/NMS Labs at the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation (FRFF), presented an insightful session on the topic, “U.S.-Based Open-Access Drug Early Warning System: Implementing Real-Time Drug Checking and Toxicosurveillance to Positively Impact Public Health Efforts”, moderated by Richard Sanders, MSCJ, Chief of Police – Jeffersontown Police Department. The session was led by Mr. Thom Browne, CEO of the Colombo Plan, alongside Dr. Barry Logan and Dr. Alex Krotulski from CFSRE/NMS Labs. Dr. Krotulski provided an in-depth overview of the CFSRE-NPS Discovery Programme and the collaboration between the Colombo Plan and CFSRE on the development of an open-access drug early warning system. He highlighted the importance of monitoring and responding to emerging trends in the New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) market, including the growing challenges posed by Fentanyl analogues, Nitazene analogues, synthetic cannabinoids, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Dr. Krotulski also discussed medetomidine as a novel and concerning emerging adulterant.
Mr. Browne followed with the presentation on “Adulterants & A Complex Drug Supply,” where he explored the increasing complexity of illicit drug markets and their devastating public health impact. He touched on the critical history of the Colombo Plan and its ongoing efforts to address the challenges posed by adulterants. He discussed about acetaminophen in fentanyl pill mixtures—a combination that poses unique risks due to their similar infrared (IR) spectrums. Mr. Browne also addressed the prevalence of novel synthetic opioids and the increasing prevalence of toxic compounds in street drugs, urging the need for heightened public health vigilance.
Dr. Logan shared several case studies, including the rapidly shifting patterns of fentanyl trafficking and the growing threat posed by BTMPS, a new industrial chemical adulterant emerging in the last few months. He also discussed the rise of Tulsi/Pink Cocaine in street drugs, underlining the urgent need for real-time drug testing and early warning systems to protect public health.
That evening, Mr. Browne delivered a Vision Session titled, “A Critical Look at the Newly Emerging Lethal Synthetics and Complex Drug Mixtures That Threaten to Undermine Recent Progress in Overdose Reduction.” This highly interactive session provided a deep dive into the alarming trends of lethal drug mixtures, which combine both synthetic and traditional drugs, along with toxic adulterants that have contributed to the surge in overdose deaths.
Mr. Browne illustrated the complexity of the situation with concrete examples from ongoing street drug analysis, showing that while current media and research focus on drug mixtures as the primary cause of overdoses, much remains unknown about the precise makeup of these dangerous compounds.
The Day 02 Exhibition Booth, presented in collaboration with the Colombo Plan and CFSRE, was a resounding success, attracting a steady stream of visitors eager to learn about emerging drug adulterants, and the vital public health alerts provided by the Colombo Plan and CFSRE. The discussions were lively, with attendees seeking valuable insights.
Links to published Public Health Alerts:
The Colombo Plan: https://colombo-plan.org/public-health-alerts/
The Colombo Plan at Rx Summit 2025 – Day 03 Highlights
The Day 03 Exhibition Booth, also presented in collaboration with the Colombo Plan and the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE)/NMS Labs at Fredric Rieders Family Foundation (FRFF), continued by a resounding success. Building on the momentum of Day 02, the booth attracted a steady stream of visitors eager to learn more about emerging drug adulterants and the critical public health alerts issued by the Colombo Plan and CFSRE.
Discussions remained lively and insightful, with attendees showing strong interest in emerging drug trends and the growing complexity of toxic adulterants. The engagements underscored the increasing recognition of the importance of the collaborative efforts between the Colombo Plan and CFSRE—particularly the Sentinel Project, funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which has been instrumental in issuing timely alerts. This initiative is helping to empower law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and communities to take swift, informed action in response to emerging drug threats.
Links to published Public Health Alerts:
The Colombo Plan: https://colombo-plan.org/public-health-alerts/
