The National Rural Alcohol & Drug Abuse Network, Inc.
Celebrating 40 years of promoting excellence throughout Rural America
Countdown to the 2026 NRI - Register below! Early Bird Rates expire soon!
Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Rural Impact
March 4, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 CST
Presented in partnership with NRADAN, Inc. (National Rural Alcohol & Drug Abuse Network)
Lauren Carr is the Opioid Settlement Advisor for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program, seconded to the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo). A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, and a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in Organizational Communication, Lauren was called to advocacy after losing her brother, Justin, to a fentanyl overdose in 2011. Since then, she has led youth prevention and harm reduction initiatives, helping establish one of Western Kentucky’s first syringe exchange programs and the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council. In her current role, she supports counties across the Commonwealth by providing technical assistance on the use of opioid settlement funds to advance best practices and evidence-based strategies that save lives and strengthen communities.
Local governments across the country are receiving opioid settlement funds, presenting a critical opportunity to invest in evidence based strategies that prevent overdose, expand access to treatment, and support long term recovery. Local governments across the country are receiving opioid settlement funds, presenting a critical opportunity to invest in evidence based strategies that prevent overdose, expand access to treatment, and support long term recovery.
This session will provide an overview of opioid settlement funds, including allowable uses, common challenges, and best practices emerging at the local level. Participants will hear examples of how counties and rural communities are using funds to address gaps in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports, with an emphasis on transparency, sustainability, and community-driven decision-making.
Registration is now open!! Get in on the early bird rates!
June 7-11, 2026!
Annual Conference “The Rural”
National Rural Institute on Alcohol, Drugs, and Addictions – Training for Addiction Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Professionals
Hybrid: In-Person and Virtual Options
UW-Stout Memorial Student Center, 302 10th Ave E, Menomonie, WI
NRADAN, Inc. is now a NAADAC Approved Education Provider
What does this mean for you and attending the National Rural Institute?
Institute participants, regardless of whether in-person, virtual, or watching on-demand, are assured that CE Credits will be accepted by toward national credentialing by the NAADC Certification Committee for Addiction Professionals (NCCAP)
2025 Institue Donors and Sponsors:
