2026 West Virginia Polysubstance Summit: Comprehensive Solutions to Complex Substance Use
The 2026 West Virginia Polysubstance Summit, hosted by West Virginia Department of Human Services' Bureau for Behavioral Health in partnership with Marshall University, Opioid Response Network, and CAMC Vandalia Health, is a one-day virtual event featuring national and state experts, advocates, and professionals addressing the evolving challenges of polysubstance use. Polysubstance use is the use of more than one substance, either simultaneously or over time, which increases health risk and complicates treatment. Participants will gain practical knowledge of current evidence-based treatment approaches proven effective in addressing rapidly changing substance use patterns. Sessions will explore the complexities of polysubstance use, including mental processing, coercion, grief and loss, and addictive process behaviors such as eating disorders and gambling. The summit will highlight real-world strategies that support protective factors, promote gold-standard behavioral health practices, and center the voices of individuals with lived experience. The event is designed to equip attendees with actionable tools and strategies they can implement in their communities, including screening for multiple dependencies, adopting emerging therapies and holistic models of care, and applying trauma-informed approaches to treatment and recovery support.
