United Against Fentanyl brings families to Washington for Hill Day and Walk for Lives

United Against Fentanyl will bring families, advocates and experts to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25-26 for Capitol Hill meetings, a National Mall walk and a synthetic-drugs summit. The weekend is designed to push Congress on fentanyl deaths while amplifying families affected by the crisis.

Why it matters: - United Against Fentanyl is using a two-day Washington event to turn family grief into direct pressure on federal policymakers. - The effort comes as the group tries to keep attention on fentanyl and other synthetic drugs as a public-health and policy crisis. - The weekend combines advocacy, remembrance and education in one place, which could broaden its reach beyond a single rally or meeting day.

What happened: - United Against Fentanyl will gather families, advocates, community leaders and experts in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25-26 for the 2026 UAF Washington, D.C. Weekend. - The event is built around three parts: Hill Day on Capitol Hill, Walk for Lives on the National Mall and the Summit on Synthetic Drugs at Georgetown University’s Capitol campus. - Paul Martin, UAF founder and CEO, said hundreds from nearly 40 states had already booked, with more registering daily. - Martin said the weekend is meant to bring families together as “not as statistics, but as families, communities and Americans asking for meaningful action.” - UAF said the weekend will be held under the banner “ONE WEEKEND. ONE MISSION. ONE MOVEMENT.”

The details: - On Friday, Sept. 25, families and advocates will meet with congressional offices to urge federal leaders to confront illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. - Participants will share personal stories and advocate for policies aimed at preventing future deaths. - Families and advocates who cannot travel can submit letters through UAF’s “Dear Washington” initiative. - UAF is organizing those letters by state and carrying them to Washington for delivery to congressional offices during Hill Day. - On Saturday, Sept. 26, Walk for Lives DC will culminate the 2026 Walk for Lives campaign. - The national walk was previously hosted on July 11 in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. - UAF said more than 100 walks nationwide drew over 9,000 participants. - Walkers on the National Mall will carry the names, photographs and stories of people lost to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. - Survivors, families and advocates will speak during the gathering to raise awareness, reduce stigma, promote prevention and demand action. - “The Shoes They Left Behind” will serve as a memorial representing lives lost and families changed by the crisis. - The Walk for Lives gathering is intended to bring the voices from local July events together in the nation’s capital. - UAF will hold the Summit on Synthetic Drugs from 4-8 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Georgetown University Capitol Campus. - The summit will bring families and advocates into discussion with experts and leaders about the synthetic-drug landscape and possible policy, prevention and public-awareness responses. - The summit is free for registered participants, but advance registration is required and seating is limited. - UAF is inviting families, advocates, policymakers, community organizations, prevention leaders and members of the public to participate. - Credentialed and working media can attend, with interview opportunities including UAF leadership, families, advocates, state leaders and subject-matter experts. - UAF describes itself as a nonpartisan organization focused on advocacy, awareness, education, collaboration and action around the fentanyl and synthetic-drug crisis. - More information is available in the organization's announcement. - UAF also shared social links for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.

Between the lines: - UAF is pairing policymaker access with public-facing remembrance, a strategy that can help translate personal testimony into political urgency. - The presence of a DEA partnership on the earlier national walk suggests the organization is trying to build a broader coalition around synthetic-drug prevention. - By adding a summit after the walk, UAF is framing the weekend as both a protest-style mobilization and a policy discussion.

What's next: - Families, advocates and other participants will head to Washington on Sept. 25-26 for the Hill Day, Walk for Lives DC and summit. - UAF says registration remains open for the summit, with seating limited. - Media coverage and congressional meetings are expected to be a key part of the weekend’s impact.