Understanding Substance Use with UCLA’s Virtual Conference

Co-sponsored by Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and Pacific Southwest ATTC, a key message of the Conference was that SUD is an illness rather than a choice, with distinct causes and ideologies behind its existence. The conference is a place where organizers and speakers can share methods of accommodating Indigenous values and experiences when tackling substance use, with SUD presenting issues for many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The Virtual format of the conference allowed these issues to be properly amplified, transcending COVID-19 restrictions to spread awareness on emerging concerns – such as substance use among young people – and bring the latest guidance in substance use services to a global audience. Sessions offered included: ‘Becoming Trauma Informed’, ‘Practicing Sustainable Well-Being’, and ‘Sustaining Prevention’, illustrating the roles of trauma and sociocultural issues within SUD.

Through the use of All In The Loop’s custom virtual web-based platform, attendees could easily navigate the Conference and its content, with a skilled Live Team able to push presentations and footage, edit information and design the platform as was appropriate for their needs. An array of interactive digital features such as Live Streams, a Q+A feature, and Live Polling via Chat helped to diversify discussion and data, achieving better overall insight.

All In The Loop were honored to support UCLA’s crucial Conference and create a space where strategies for the wellbeing of those affected by substance use can be improved. Attendees can continue to learn and receive knowledge gained at the Conference through recorded sessions, available through All In The Loop as a central resource.