2019 International Drug Policy Reform Conference

RTI International expert and Distinguished Fellow Alex H. Kral, PhD, will speak on a panel at the 2019 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, hosted by the Drug Policy Alliance and held from November 6–9 in St. Louis, MO.

The biennial conference brings together people from around the world who believe that the war on drugs must end. Over the course of three days, participants will have the opportunity to interact with individuals committed to finding alternatives to the war on drugs and attend sessions given by leading experts from around the world.

Kral will join four other experts on a panel titled: “The Moral Hazards of Drug Policy Research: How Do We Overcome Systemic Bias,” at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 9.

Drug policy research can be used to justify both progressive and regressive drug policies surrounding topics such as naloxone access and supervised consumption sites. The panel will address that dichotomy by exploring systematic constraints and biases in drug policy research, illustrating how the media and policymakers can politicize poor research, and discussing what can be done to overcome those challenges.

Multiple, evidence-backed approaches are critical to understanding and solving the complex and highly politicized opioid epidemic. RTI’s work in the area expands beyond drug policy research and focuses on creating solutions through intervention methods, prevention efforts, and various treatment programs. More specifically, Dr. Kral has researched cutting-edge treatment programs for habitual opioid users and has discussed the evidence behind harm reduction strategies, including supervised consumption sites and overdose education and naloxone distribution programs.

Learn more about how RTI is working to fight the opioid epidemic and about Dr. Kral’s work.