March 19th Collaboration Forum: National Fentanyl Awareness Day 2026 & Fentanyl + Beyond
Thursday, March 19, 2026 9–10:00am PST / noon–1:00pm EST
PRESENTATIONS
National Fentanyl Awareness Day 2026 – Ed Ternan, Song for Charlie, Founder
Fentanyl + Beyond – Marcia Lee Taylor, Strategy Consultant, Song for Charlie; Former President and CEO, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids; Fred Muench, Chief Science Officer, Clear30; Associate Professor, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
National Fentanyl Awareness Day 2026
This year marks the 5th annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day—and our continued push to move from awareness to action. Whether you're a parent, an educator, a clinician, or a community organization reaching families in culturally relevant ways, including Spanish-speaking communities, NFAD is your opportunity to take concrete steps to protect young people. We'll share what's working, what's new this year, and how to activate in your community.
Learning Objectives:
How to activate on NFAD: resources, tools, and ideas you can use immediately
Practical ways to be part of the solution within your own role or setting
How to have informed, fact-based conversations that help keep young people safe
Fentanyl + Beyond
The drug landscape keeps evolving—and our prevention work has to keep pace. In this session, we'll look at the "chemical soup" reality of today's counterfeit prescription pills, where fentanyl and other substances can appear in unpredictable combinations. Our guest speakers will also break down what kratom is and why it's often marketed/perceived as "natural" or low-risk, and how to talk about it with young people using facts rather than fear. Additionally, they'll cover how today's cannabis differs from previous generations—including high-THC potency, new forms and increased accessibility—and what that means for how we talk about it.
Learning Objectives:
Understand how the chemical drug landscape continues to evolve in addition to fentanyl
Gain clarity on the "chemical soup" in today's counterfeit prescription pills
Get the facts on kratom and high-potency cannabis
Walk away with accurate, actionable information to share on NFAD and beyond
For questions, please contact: Denise Mariano, Vice President, Partnerships dmariano@songforcharlie.org