Recent reporting from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted growing concern about kratom-related harms in southwestern Pennsylvania. The article reported that mitragynine was involved in 24 deaths in Westmoreland County since 2019 and appeared in 15 Allegheny County cases from 2024 to the present, including two known Allegheny County deaths attributed to mitragynine alone. The reporting comes as Pennsylvania lawmakers consider proposals to regulate […]
News
IRETA Participates in National Behavioral Health Quality and Best Practices Voluntary Pledge Event
IRETA was pleased to participate in the National Behavioral Health Quality and Best Practices Pledge event at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., on July 29th. HHS convened healthcare leaders, medical societies, providers, and behavioral health experts who pledged to strengthen the nation’s behavioral health system by advancing best practices to improve patient care and outcomes […]
IRETA Presents OSPRI Workshop at National Opioid Settlement Conference
IRETA Executive Director, Dr. Eric Hulsey, recently presented at the National Opioid Settlement Conference, held June 17–19, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. The conference brought together leaders from across the country who are responsible for managing and implementing opioid settlement funding in their states and communities. On June 18, Dr. Hulsey co-presented the workshop, “Making Settlement Funds Count: Using the […]
IRETA to Deliver a Workshop at the National Opioid Settlement Conference in Denver
IRETA will participate in the National Opioid Settlement Conference, taking place June 17–19 in Denver, Colorado. The conference will bring together leaders, practitioners, advocates, and community partners working to support effective, transparent, and evidence-informed use of opioid settlement funds. IRETA is looking forward to connecting with others who are helping communities make thoughtful decisions about settlement investments and overdose […]
IRETA, Onala Partner With Pittsburgh Hotels to Support Recovery During 2026 NFL Draft
As Pittsburgh prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the 2026 NFL Draft, IRETA is proud to partner with Onala Recovery Center on an initiative that ensures recovery and public health are part of the city’s game plan. Large-scale events can be especially challenging for individuals in recovery or those struggling with substance […]
Avoiding Industry Influence in Opioid Settlement Spending: Key Principles for Decision-Makers
IRETA’s work on neuromodulation devices was recently featured as part of a poster presentation at the Rx Summit in Nashville, TN. The poster, Avoiding Industry Influence in Opioid Settlement Spending, outlines key principles to help guide how opioid settlement funds are allocated—emphasizing that investments should be grounded in comparative effectiveness, cost-efficiency, equity, and demonstrated impact on overdose outcomes. […]
KFF Health News Covers Neuromodulation Devices and Opioid Settlement Spending
IRETA’s Executive Director was quoted in a recent article published by KFF Health News: “Maker of Device To Treat Addiction Withdrawal Seeks Counties’ Opioid Settlement Cash”. The article explores the rapid consumption of opioid settlement dollars by a manufacturer of a device designed to treat opioid withdrawal. The reporting also highlights questions raised by researchers […]
Making Opioid Settlement Funds Count: Dr. Hulsey Presents the OSPRI Tool at Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative Partners Meeting
Last month, Bloomberg Philanthropies held its 2026 Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative Partners Meeting in New York City. Dr. Hulsey delivered a workshop with colleagues from the CDC Foundation entitled, “Evaluating impact – Using web-based tools to assess state and local overdose prevention programs and investments”. Overdose prevention planning efforts, especially with opioid settlement funds, often struggle with […]
IRETA Congratulates Dr. Peter F. Luongo on Receiving the James H. Tharp Award
We are proud to share that Peter F. Luongo, Ph.D, former Executive Director of IRETA, has been selected to receive the 2025 James H. Tharp Award from the James H. Tharp Charitable Trust. Dr. Luongo was nominated for the award by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This annual trust award is given to the individual that has contributed most toward advancing research and […]
IRETA Presents Opioid Settlement Planning Tools at CCAP 2025
IRETA Executive Director Dr. Eric Hulsey presented at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) 2025 Annual Conference on Monday, November 24th. His session, “OSPRI: Opioid Settlement Principles Resource and Indicators,” introduced county leaders to practical tools for planning, evaluating, and strengthening opioid settlement investments. The presentation was part of CCAP’s efforts to support counties as they navigate evolving challenges. Dr. Hulsey […]
