Community is at the heart of Rhode Island’s statewide CODE Initiative.

Since 2017, the Governor’s Overdose Task Force, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department of Health (RIDOH), the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), and the Health Equity Zones (HEZ) Initiative has partnered with local communities to work together and address the overdose crisis.

These efforts began with a call to action for Rhode Island’s 39 municipalities to develop and implement comprehensive overdose prevention plans based on the state’s Strategic Plan. The goal was to help communities build capacity to make data-driven decisions to better respond to the overdose crisis.

The 2026 Community Conversation and CODE Summit continues this important collaboration. It brings together more than 300 state and muncipal leaders, community partners, peer recovery specialists, healthcare professionals, treatment providers, and other key stakeholders. The summit aims to address challenges, break down stigma, build on existing strengths, and share local resources.

Access the 2026 CODE Summit Presentation. Spanish version and audio to be added shortly.