Generation O Exhibits at the 2025 National Rx & Illicit Drug Summit

For 15 years, the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit has been a leading force in the fight against the opioid and addiction crisis. It remains the most influential gathering of stakeholders—where groundbreaking ideas are exchanged, strategies are forged, and action takes root.

The 2025 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit took place in April in Nashville, TN. Generation O attended and hosted a booth in the Exhibitors’ Hall. Our booth was football themed, to illustrate the statistic that nearly half a million children have been born exposed to opioids since the epidemic began — and that’s enough to fill the seats of more than 6 professional football stadiums.

It was an incredible opportunity to connect with organizations from around the country who are working hard to bring a swift end to the opioid epidemic. We were most honored to be one of the very few organizations in attendance that are focused on being a voice for the children of the opioid epidemic.

Members of Generation O photographed with The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Executive Director Eric Nation (L) and Director of Alliance Development, Nikki Romer (R).

L-R: Andrea Bonhiver, Founding Member and Director of Marketing & Creative; Heather Howard, Founding Member and Director of Finance; Lenette Serlo, Founder & CEO; Cammy Livingston Aaron, Founding Member and Director of Strategic Partnerships; Amy Brown, Founding Member & Director of Affiliate Development

One of the greatest highlights of our time at the summit was meeting the legendary Dr. Nora Volkow, longtime Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Volkow's work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a brain disorder. As a research psychiatrist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate how substance use affects brain functions. In particular, her studies have documented how changes in the dopamine system affect the functions of brain regions involved with reward and self-control in addiction.

We were thrilled that Dr. Volkow took the time to have a private meeting with us and to learn more about the children of the opioid epidemic. We had a productive and enlightening conversation, shared our Playbook: The Game Plan for Opioid-Exposed Children with her, and left feeling encouraged and heard by one of the most powerful leaders in the fight against the opioid epidemic in this country.

Dr. Volkow took time out of her morning to meet with us and even swung by our booth in the Exhibition Hall later in the day.

A popular feature in our exhibit space was our Kids of Generation O Case Studies. Each mannequin is dressed in a t-shirt that displays their specific constellation of symptoms that connect to prenatal opioid exposure. Each symptom is backed by scientific studies. Our case studies are all based on actual children of members of our organization and their names have been changed to protect their identities.

We can’t wait to get back to the summit next year — hopefully as featured presenters!

We wore pops of red on Wednesday in recognition of National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day; an initiative led by our new friends at The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children.