Submit your proposal for a 2026 AMERSA podcast episode, toolkit, or workshop by December 7, 2025.
AMERSA is excited to announce the upcoming launch of two new learning series in 2026. These series will bring together voices from across the spectrum of care—including practitioners, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and people with lived or living experience—to advance innovative, evidence-informed approaches to substance use care and offer practical insights for improving health outcomes.
We are accepting proposals from individuals and multidisciplinary teams engaged in activities related to emerging topics or substance use care across the lifespan (e.g. in pediatrics, pregnancy/parenting, adolescence, adulthood, or older adulthood). The two series will be promoted widely and offers professionals a national platform to share their work and insights with a multidisciplinary audience.
Frontiers in Substance Use Care: Emerging Topics and Evidence
This series will feature an eight episode podcast series sponsored by Provider’s Clinical Support System – Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (PCSS-MOUD).
This series explores the evolving landscape of substance use and addiction care. Each 30-45 minute episode will highlight emerging research and real-world strategies in areas such as:
- Withdrawal management and treatment of people using emerging substances (Kratom, Nitazenes, etc.)
- Exploring the evidence for novel treatments and medications (GLP-1 Agonists, Psychedelics, etc.)
- Models, key components, and practical advice for contingency management
- Technology integration (Leveraging EMRs, AI etc.)
- Innovative approaches to care team well-being and burnout prevention
- Evolving policy, regulation, and ethical considerations in substance use care (Drug Courts, etc.)
Through these conversations, listeners will gain tools and insights to translate evidence into action—strengthening care, supporting teams, and improving outcomes across disciplines and settings.
For Frontiers in Substance Use Care: Emerging Topics and Evidence we are seeking proposals for standalone podcast episodes.
Sponsored by:
Substance Use Across the Lifespan: Supporting Every Stage
This series, sponsored by the Opioid Response Network (ORN), will feature five workshops and five episode podcast series paired with a downloadable toolkit.
This series explores how substance use care changes across the lifespan—from childhood through older adulthood. The series highlights the developmental, social, and clinical factors that shape care at each life stage.
In each 30-45 minute podcast episode, listeners will gain practical strategies and evidence-based insights to the unique needs of each stage of life.
Each podcast episode will be paired with a brief practical toolkit designed to help learners apply podcast insights into real-world practice. Toolkits may include key takeaways, reflection questions, planning templates, checklists, and other hands-on materials that reinforce learning and support implementation.
1 hour workshops will expand on each topic through interactive trainings that deepen participants’ understanding of how to deliver responsive, evidence-informed care throughout the lifespan.
Together, the podcasts, toolkits, and workshops bridge evidence and action—equipping professionals across disciplines to translate new insights into meaningful improvements in care.
For Substance Use Across the Lifespan: Supporting Every Stage you may submit a proposal for a standalone podcast episode and toolkit, a stand-alone workshop, or a connected podcast, toolkit, and workshop unit.
Sponsored by:
Submission Details
Priority consideration will be given to proposals that include elements of the following:
- Connect people, ideas, and knowledge across disciplines
- Integrate data and evidence with human stories and lived/living experience
- Advance the tangible application of evidence in the field
- Highlight approaches that expand the reach and impact of resources
- Feature initiatives that address the needs of rural communities to strengthen substance use care
- Advocate for meaningful, evidence-informed change
Details:
- Time commitment:
- Podcasts- Approximately 5 hours per person (inclusive of emails, prep time, preparation meetings, and recording time).
- Toolkits- Approximately 7 hours per team
- Workshops- Approximately 5 hours per person (inclusive of emails, prep time, preparation meetings, and presentation time).
- Compensation will be provided to contributors
- Deadline to submit proposals: 11:59pm PT on Sunday, December 7th, 2025.
Detailed Instructions and Rubrics
Podcast Proposal Instructions and Rubric (For Frontiers in Substance Use Care or Substance Use Across the Lifespan Series)The series’ podcasts are intended to spark curiosity, raise awareness, and lay a foundation of knowledge and motivation for further exploration. AMERSA Podcasts are recorded in a conversational interview format. Each episode features a host and one or two guests. The host serves as the interviewer and the guests serve as the subject matter experts who respond to the interview questions. Guests and hosts should represent a broad range of disciplines and present a multidisciplinary perspective. Proposals should include:
- Names of guest(s)/presenter(s)- guests typically prepare the majority of content for the episode. Episodes are limited to no more than 2 guests.
- Name of suggested host (optional, but highly encouraged)- Hosts are often AMERSA members working in a field related to the episode’s topic; however, in some cases may be a member of the presenters’ team. Hosts coordinate with presenters to prepare the interview questions. AMERSA can suggest a host if you do not have one in mind.
- A working title for the episode
- A description of the topic and the main talking points to be featured in the podcast episode.
- Explain the significance of your topic to the field of substance use care and its relevance to AMERSA members, including how it addresses current needs, challenges, or innovations in practice.
- At least one actionable takeaway aimed at improving health, such as recommendations for clinical practice changes, policy or legislative considerations, or system-level interventions within health care settings that will be included in the content of the podcast episode.
- A summary of the current evidence base that will be referenced for the episode.
- A description of any relevant experience in conversational-type presentations that demonstrate knowledge of engaging audiences in this medium.
Download Frontiers in Substance Use Care Podcast Proposal Rubric
Download Substance Use Across the Lifespan Rubric
Toolkits should translate podcast insights into active reflection and learning, helping participants critically engage with the material and apply it to their work. Each toolkit should be short (2–6 pages), practical, and designed for real-world use. In addition to key takeaways, examples of components of the toolkit might include reflection questions, checklists, quick guides, implementation tips, planning templates or worksheets. Proposals should include:
- The name of the proposed toolkit author(s). This should be one (or both) guest(s) of the podcast.
- A description of the content and components to be included in the toolkit.
- A description of how the toolkit will support listeners in applying insights from the podcast in their work.
Workshops in the series should enable participants to apply and adapt new ideas, skills, or tools within their professional settings. Workshops may allow participants to further engage with concepts from the series podcasts and toolkits, but should include enough background information to stand alone as self-contained, educational experiences. Proposals should include:
- Names of presenter(s)- Workshops are limited to no more than 3 presenters.
- A working title for the workshop
- A description of the content and structure of the proposed workshop using a timeline. The timeline should specify how much time the presenters anticipate spending on each subsection of the workshop and the teaching methods that will be employed.
- Describe the potential impact of the proposed workshop including potential learning objectives and how the materials may be implemented by participants in their work.
- Explain the significance of your topic to the field of substance use care and its relevance to AMERSA members, including how it addresses current needs, challenges, or innovations in practice.
- At least one actionable takeaway aimed at improving health, such as recommendations for clinical practice changes, policy or legislative considerations, or system-level interventions within health care settings that will be included in the content of the podcast episode.
- A description of the current evidence base that will be referenced for the workshop.
- A description of any relevant experience presenting workshops, workshops or similar skill-based presentations.
Important Note on Federal Funding Requirements
These series are supported by the Opioid Response Network (ORN) and the Providers Clinical Support System for Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (PCSS-MOUD) through federal grants from the SAMHSA. As a result, AMERSA is required to comply with current federal guidance and executive orders that limit discussion of certain topics and terminology in federally funded materials. Specifically, these podcast episodes, toolkits, and workshops may not include explicit references to harm reduction or discussions framed around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This includes references to specific population groups and use of certain terms is restricted.
We understand that these limitations may not align with every participant’s preferred language or approach. Our team will work closely with presenters to ensure that their ideas and expertise can still be effectively communicated within the current parameters. AMERSA remains deeply committed to fostering collaboration, compassion, and evidence-informed dialogue that supports the health and well-being of all communities.