
#NACCT2025
ACMT Pre-Symposium
Beyond the Beat: Toxicology and Harm Reduction at
Mass Gatherings
ACMT
@ NACCT
ACMT Pre-Symposium
Wed. September 17
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ACMT FIT Roundtable
Fri. September 19
ACMT Practice Symposium: The Great THC Debate
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ACMT Scientific Symposium | The Toxicology of Sleep
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ACMT FIT Visiting Professor Lecture | Who? Me? UME: Medical Toxicologists in Undergraduate Medical Education
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Pre-Symposium | Beyond the Beat: Toxicology and Harm Reduction at Mass Gatherings
Join the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) at the 2025 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) in Chicago from September 17-21. The ACMT Pre-Meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 will explore the fascinating topic of Toxicology and Harm Reduction at Mass Gatherings.
Join us for an engaging full-day pre-symposium exploring the complex toxicological landscape of mass gatherings, from raves to music festivals. As these events continue to draw large crowds with distinct patterns of substance use and environmental stressors, staying informed is critical. This session provides a comprehensive overview of emerging drug trends, environmental risk factors, and harm reduction strategies. Attendees will gain practical insights into evidence-based interventions and strategies designed to reduce harm, manage medical crises, and improve outcomes for attendees. Tailored for healthcare providers interested in clinical toxicology, this pre-symposium is your chance to stay at the forefront of research and practice in this dynamic area of public health and emergency response.
Learner Objectives
- Describe drug trends and risk profiles, including substances encountered at mass gatherings like novel psychoactive substances, synthetic drugs, and recreational drugs.
- Explain how environmental and physical stressors, such as crowd density and temperature, impact toxicological risk and emergency response.
- Outline harm reduction and public health initiatives, including on-site medical services, peer education, and policies that improve outcomes.
- Discuss the medical and legal challenges in managing overdoses and crises, highlighting law enforcement collaboration and event team preparedness.
Registration information can be found on the NACCT website at: www.clintox.org/nacct
ACMT Pre-Symposium Agenda | September 17, 2025
Beyond the Beat: Toxicology and Harm Reduction at Mass Gatherings
All times listed in local (Central) time zone.
9:00-9:05 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | |
9:05-10:05 AM | Managing High-Risk Events | David Obert, DO, Medical Director, UMC Emergency Department; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
10:05-10:35 AM | The Pathophysiology of Heat & Crowds | Kristina Domanski, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
10:35-10:50 AM | Morning Break (15m) | |
10:50-11:20 AM | Toxicology of MDMA | Caitlin Bonney, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque |
11:20-12:05 PM | Other Commonly Encountered Drugs | Benjamin Hatten, MD, MPH, Medical Toxicologist, Toxicology Associates & Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado |
12:05-1:15 PM | Break for Lunch (70m) | |
1:15-1:45 PM | Emerging Psychoactive Substances in the US | Axel Adams, MD, MS, Toxicon Consortium |
1:45-2:30 PM | Current NPS trends in the UK and Europe | Paul Dargan, MD, MBBS, FACMT, Guyโs and St. Thomasโ NHS Foundation Trust |
2:30-3:30 PM | Mass Gathering Harm Reduction and Drug Safety in Action | Chelsea Rose Pires, Executive Director, Zendo Project |
3:30-3:45 PM | Afternoon Break (15m) | |
3:45-4:15 PM | Chemistry of Reagent Field Testing | Sabrina Kaplan, MD, Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety |
4:15-5:00 PM | Legal and Ethical Considerations for Toxicologists in Mass Gatherings | Patil Armenian, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine & Medical Toxicology, University of California San Francisco โ Fresno |