Substance Use and Gambling Prevention 2026

The 2026 Prevention Summit: Substance Use and Gambling is an inaugural collaborative initiative of the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council (ARPG) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, designed to strengthen prevention knowledge, enhance professional competencies, and build a more prepared prevention workforce. As substance use and gambling continue to evolve within today's behavioral health landscape, prevention professionals must be equipped with evidence-based knowledge, practical skills, and collaborative strategies to address these interconnected public health challenges.

Through in-person and virtual learning experiences, participants will explore the foundations of prevention science, substance use prevention, gambling prevention, the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), ethical practice, and emerging trends that influence individuals, families, and communities. The summit brings together prevention professionals, behavioral health providers, educators, students, community leaders, and those interested in pursuing prevention careers to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote effective prevention practices.

Participants will leave with practical tools, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of how comprehensive prevention approaches can reduce risk, strengthen protective factors, and improve community well-being.

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the principles of prevention science and the public health approach to substance use and gambling prevention.
• Describe evidence-based strategies that reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors across diverse populations.
• Apply the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to prevention planning and community initiatives.
• Recognize the ethical responsibilities and professional standards that guide prevention practice.
• Identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to address substance use and gambling-related harms.
• Explore professional pathways and workforce development opportunities in the prevention field.

Please direct any inquiries about this event to prevention@midsouth.ualr.edu or (501) 451-9218.

Fee Breakdown

Category	Description	Amount
Course Fee (Basic)	In-Person - No Fee	$ 0.00