HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Orlando, Florida, USA or Virtually from your home or work.

6th Edition of Global Conference on

Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry

October 20-22, 2025 | Orlando, Florida, USA

GAB 2023

Mohammad Zare, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Mohammad Zare, UTHealth and Harris Health System, United States

Harris Health is the largest safety net care system in Texas and the fourth largest safety net in the nation. The patient population is comprised of a high rate of uninsured/underinsured patients and justice-involved individuals, of which many have chronic diseases, including sub [....] » Read More

Denis Larrivee, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Keynote Presentation (Virtual)
Denis Larrivee, Loyola University Chicago, United States

Neural mechanisms for self regulation feature prominently in studies of addiction, which is characterized by the inability to resist compulsive behavior. Such neural mechanisms involve not just top down processes needed in the execution of decision making events, but also the neu [....] » Read More

Elizabeth Dale Gilley, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Keynote Presentation (Virtual)
Elizabeth Dale Gilley, The Elle Foundation, United States

Introduction: In this genomic era of addiction medicine, ideal treatment planning begins with genetic screening to determine neurogenetic antecedents of the Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) phenotype. Patients suffering from endotype addictions, both substance and behavioral, and [....] » Read More

Jennifer LaHue, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Jennifer LaHue, Harris Health System, United States

Harris Health is the largest safety net care system in Texas and the fourth largest safety net in the nation. The patient population is comprised of a high rate of uninsured/underinsured patients and justice-involved individuals, of which many have chronic diseases, including sub [....] » Read More

Kathryn Crary, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Kathryn Crary, Harris Health System, United States

Harris Health is the largest safety net care system in Texas and the fourth largest safety net in the nation. The patient population is comprised of a high rate of uninsured/underinsured patients and justice-involved individuals, of which many have chronic diseases, including sub [....] » Read More

Mia W McNary, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Mia W McNary, Artist and Visual Storyteller, “Picture Recovery”, United States

Picture Recovery is a visual roadmap through the journey of alcohol recovery. It's much easier to remember a picture than words, and with 65 percent of the population identifying as a visual learner, this is the only book of its kind in the alcoholism recovery category. This [....] » Read More

Andrew H Hahn, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Andrew H Hahn, Life Centered Therapy Training Institute, United States

To heal addictions, we must be able to do 7 things. 1. Heal the trauma. 2. Heal the way we protect ourselves from ever experiencing the trauma again. 3. Contexts. 4. Triggers. 5. The habit itself. 6. Elators. 7. Anticipatory fears we will focus on the first two of these. we will [....] » Read More

Ange Weinrabe, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Ange Weinrabe, The University of Sydney, Australia

Addiction. Labeled a disease by the dominant Medical Explanatory Model, it remains a phenomenon that is widely debated by authors who contest this concept using reductive models that claim it to be a physical-level disorder. Treating the manifestation of behaviour and not address [....] » Read More

Santhosh Kumar J, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Santhosh Kumar J, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India

Background: Substance abuse is a significant public health concern in India, like in many other parts of the world. It involves the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. India has a limited number of treatment and rehabilit [....] » Read More

Sindu Padmanabhan, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Sindu Padmanabhan, Bharathiar University, India

Addiction and behavioral health are two intertwined domains with profound implications for public health and individual well-being. This abstract provides an overview of the critical importance of integrating addiction and behavioral health services to address the complex and mul [....] » Read More

Moshe Bensimon, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Moshe Bensimon, Bar Ilan University, Israel

Substance craving may be triggered in people recovering from substance use disorder when listening to the same music genres they had listened to during active addiction. Given the limited research on the topic, the current study examined how the combination of music and drugs fac [....] » Read More

Jeffrey Lozon, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Jeffrey Lozon, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Substance craving may be triggered in people recovering from substance use disorder when listening to the same music genres they had listened to during active addiction. Given the limited research on the topic, the current study examined how the combination of music and drugs fac [....] » Read More

Sushil Jha, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Sushil Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

Non-rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, in both stages, together or  individually, helps in memory consolidation. For example, short sleep deprivation (5-6 hours) soon after fear-conditioned training (cued and contextual fear conditioning) and [....] » Read More

Paul Raj, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Paul Raj, Jyoti Nivas College, India

Reading is a fundamental skill crucial for success in various aspects of life, including social interactions, academic achievement, emotional regulation, and professional pursuits. However, reading impairments, a prevalent neurodevelopmental issue impacting approximately 5-10% of [....] » Read More

Ramesh Nagarajappa, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Ramesh Nagarajappa, The Oxford Dental College, India

The prevalence of opioid use in India is three times the global average. The impact of substance abuse often reaches beyond the abuser to family members, friends, co-workers, and society at large. While biological factors are mainly responsible for progression to dependent use fr [....] » Read More

Traci A Owens, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Traci A Owens, Attorney at Law, United States

Proper representation requires a thorough examination of a client's social history. What appears to be pathological behavior is often, upon closer examination, adaptive behavior. Criminal defendants who manage addictive and neurodiverse features are often a reflection of [....] » Read More

Michele M Mahr, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Michele M Mahr, California State University, United States

The purpose of this presentation is to educate participants on the fundamental components of neurobiology   of addiction. The presenters will examine neurobiology concepts related to addiction and treatment. Research has been conducted over the past decade revealing the [....] » Read More

Robert Paul Maddox II, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Robert Paul Maddox II, University of Wyoming, United States

The purpose of this presentation is to educate participants on the fundamental components of neurobiology   of addiction. The presenters will examine neurobiology concepts related to addiction and treatment. Research has been conducted over the past decade revealing the [....] » Read More

Juan Sanabria, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Juan Sanabria, California State University, United States

The purpose of this presentation is to educate participants on the fundamental components of neurobiology   of addiction. The presenters will examine neurobiology concepts related to addiction and treatment. Research has been conducted over the past decade revealing the [....] » Read More

Hayrunnisa Unlu, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Hayrunnisa Unlu, Mayo Clinic Arizona, United States

Background: Recent studies suggest that alcohol consumption is increasing in adolescent females but little is known about AWS in this population. Adolescent females may have unique, unknown vulnerabilities as prior studies of AWS focus on males. Objective: To characterize the [....] » Read More

Kelsey Whitus, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Kelsey Whitus, Drexel university college of medicine, United States

For the past 5 years, the United States has been experiencing an opioid epidemic. Patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), especially with opioids, are at an increased risk of death compared to patients without SUD. It is estimated that 11.1% of adult ED patients have a SUD. I [....] » Read More

Thersilla Oberbarnscheidt, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Thersilla Oberbarnscheidt, University of Pittsburgh, United States

Along with the legalization of marijuana throughout the U.S., there is an increase in use of delta products as well. While these delta-THCs are widely available and advertised, little information about the effects and possible risks are broadcast to the public. Marijuana is feder [....] » Read More

Keith Klostermann, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Keith Klostermann, State University of New York at Fredonia, United States

The results of numerous studies over the past four decades have consistently revealed the effectiveness of couple and family-based approaches for drug and alcohol abuse. Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is a conjoint approach which has been consistently shown to produce fewer sub [....] » Read More

Matthew Hanauer, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Matthew Hanauer, CleanSlate Centers, United States

In substance abuse settings no-show rates are correlated with higher mortality rates.  The reasons behind no rates are multifactored and complex, limiting insights gained from traditional statistical models.  Machine learning models can handle more features but are diff [....] » Read More

Matthew Beattie, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Matthew Beattie, University of Oklahoma, United States

The Gateway Hypothesis, originally formulated in 1975 by Denise Kandel, claims that drug use evolves in stages. It starts with either tobacco or alcohol use, progresses to the use of the other, then to marijuana, and then to other more dangerous illicit substances. Use of a [....] » Read More

Joey Pagano, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Joey Pagano, Author, SPHS, The Traveling Social Worker, United States

The session will examine the stigma of addiction from unique real-life perspectives while also focusing on harm reduction treatment related to persons who suffer from substance use disorder and mental health. Social work core values, such as self-determination, will be centralize [....] » Read More

Cornel Stanciu, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Cornel Stanciu, New Hampshire Hospital, United States

This workshop will serve to provide an up-to-date all-around coverage of Kratom, a botanical with a rapidly increasing prevalence among our patient population. A tremendous gap of knowledge exists at the intersection of “therapeutic” use and the risks associated with [....] » Read More

Brandon Lucke Wold, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Brandon Lucke Wold, University Of Florida, United States

Craniofacial encephaloceles are rare, yet highly debilitating neuroanatomical abnormalities that result from herniation of neural tissue through a bony defect and can lead to death, cognitive delay, seizures, and issues integrating socially. Consensus on the proper approach to tr [....] » Read More

Sara Haddadi, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Sara Haddadi, University of Miami Miller, United States

Alcohol abuse along with difficulties in communication has led to increased morbidity and mortality among patients with psychiatric disorders. This issue has a higher importance during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection such as self [....] » Read More

Baitubaev Dyussengali, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Baitubaev Dyussengali, Psychiatrist-Narcologist, Kazakhstan

The report shows that the current level of physiology does not reveal the biological mechanisms for increasing tolerance in dependence on psychoactive substances. Like, for example, opium (heroin) the addict uses doses repeatedly, almost 10 times, exceeding the lethal f [....] » Read More

Elena DeSanti, Speaker at Elena DeSanti
Poster Presentation (In-Person)
Elena DeSanti, Brown University School of Public Health, United States

In 2015, 99% of those classified as having a substance use disorder had not received substance use treatment. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing barriers to accessing substance use treatment and created others. The purpose of this research was to examine the [....] » Read More

Tom Alexander, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Poster Presentation (In-Person)
Tom Alexander, Purdue University Global, United States

Therapy treatment in substance use disorder (SUD) facilities across the United States has evolved over the past decade—most notably with the advent of trauma-informed care for addiction. However, the exact prevalence and changes of trauma-informed care across SUD facilities [....] » Read More

Hyun Sue Kim, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Poster Presentation (Virtual)
Hyun Sue Kim, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, United States

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant belonging to the class of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) that is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat and manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders in adults. Phencyclidine (PCP) is a [....] » Read More

Nikita Mehdiratta, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Poster Presentation (Virtual)
Nikita Mehdiratta, Smell and Taste Treatment & Research Foundation Ltd, United States

Introduction: Opioids have been documented to induce tinnitus. However, tinnitus exacerbation with opioid withdrawal and relief upon re-administration of opioids has not been described.  Methods: Case report: A 37-year-old male presented with a persistent ringin [....] » Read More

Nikita Mehdiratta, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Poster Presentation (Virtual)
Nikita Mehdiratta, Smell and Taste Treatment & Research Foundation Ltd, United States

Introduction: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) has been described in those undergoing opioid withdrawal as a factor exacerbating heroin dependence. RLS, however, has not been described as involving more than the legs. Therefore, a case of generalized Restless Body Syndr [....] » Read More

Reshma Paul, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Poster Presentation (Virtual)
Reshma Paul, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, United States

Background: There is an epidemic of Psychostimulant Use Disorders (PUD) in the United States. In addition to the dopamine transporter (DAT), cocaine also exerts its effects via the sigma receptors, and sigma receptors may represent a promising pharmacotherapeutic target. However, [....] » Read More

Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Curry College & NEALAC Clinic, United States

This presentation will address the multidisciplinary neuropsychological assessment and intervention services for youth with Long Covid (PASC) coupled with sustaining recovery involving substance use disorder. However, since the impetus of COVID-19 as of March 2020, many children [....] » Read More

Carroy Ferguson, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Carroy Ferguson, University of Massachusetts-Boston, United States

Dr. Ferguson will discuss how culture influences perceptions and how to recognize and move beyond self-limiting and addictive cultural scripts that are not serving humanity well.  He will provide a definition of culture and discuss how we can best manage what he calls the &l [....] » Read More

Roy F Baumeister, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Roy F Baumeister, Harvard University, United States

Popular stereotypes of addiction emphasize loss of free will, sometimes based on irresistible urges. The recently popular “brain disease” theory of addiction likewise emphasizes on the inability to stop using despite wanting to quit. This talk reviews a massive litera [....] » Read More

Meera Vaswani, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Keynote Presentation (In-Person)
Meera Vaswani, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India

India, which has a vast and long cultural heritage, interestingly, does not fit into the usual conceptualization of cultures as abstinent, ambivalent, permissive or over-permissive cultures. Traits of both abstinence and permissiveness towards drinking have always existed across [....] » Read More

Dawn Duhaime, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Keynote Presentation (Virtual)
Dawn Duhaime, Spring Green Foundation, United States

Attendees will have the opportunity to view a clip from the award-winning documentary ONE, which touches on the opioid crisis in our nation, underlying a major fundamental truth about addiction; our culture will do almost anything to avoid pain.  This film uses the philosoph [....] » Read More

Kimberley Berlin, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Kimberley Berlin, Compassionate Beginnings, LLC, United States

Alcohol and substance abuse disorders have baffled the medical community for centuries. Though these conditions can be arrested, there is no known “cure”: One drink, or one drug, can undo decades of abstinence and return a person to a state worse than when they left o [....] » Read More

Nina Sherman, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Nina Sherman, Podcaster, United States

I created a podcast because I wanted to share my experiences of having a son with addiction with other mothers, so they don’t feel so alone. my son’s an addict and suffers from drug induced Mental Illness. I needed help and felt alone, ashamed and didn&rsquo [....] » Read More

Martin Makela, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Martin Makela, University of Washington, United States

Binge alcohol use is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the under 25 age group.  Nowhere is this more prevalent than the organizations of the college fraternal system.  The author has completed more than ten years of direct interactions withing the local [....] » Read More

Sparkles Ransom, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Sparkles Ransom, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, United States

The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers hospital social workers experience when accessing treatment for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to SUD treatment prevent patients with SUDs from receiving the car [....] » Read More

Stephanie Cross, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Stephanie Cross, WA Department of Children, Youth, and Families, United States

This report is a snapshot of clients who were in either a Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) institution or community facility in Washington State on Aug. 11, 2021 (N=332). While this study does indicate that some clients with high treatment need are receiving treatment, the majorit [....] » Read More

Yihong Yang, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Yihong Yang, National Institute of Health, United States

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized as compulsive drug seeking and taking, as well as repetitive relapse during withdrawal. From a neurocircuitry perspective, SUD is associated with disruptions of multiple brain circuits and networks that [....] » Read More

Alyssa Nieves, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Alyssa Nieves, Cal State University San Marcos, United States

With the opioid epidemic on the rise there has been a significant increase in overdoses and drug related deaths (McMahan et al., 2022). The current study aims to educate participants on the dangers of opioid use and understand the role harm reduction has as a preventative measure [....] » Read More

Ashton Christopher, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Ashton Christopher, Center for Recovery, Canada

The underlying neuroscience of substance use disorder is becoming well elaborated. Nonetheless, some of the more subtle symptomatology is not well matched with underlying organic processes identified to date. The ability to explain mental phenomena with underlying brain processes [....] » Read More

Roshni Gandhi, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Roshni Gandhi, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, United States

The health problems associated with psychostimulant abuse have become an epidemic with huge socioeconomic impacts. Currently, there are no FDA approved drugs for the management of psychostimulant use disorders, and therefore it is important to identify the mechanisms governing ps [....] » Read More

Katherine Reavis, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Katherine Reavis, University of South Florida, United States

Introduction: The opioid epidemic has underscored the need for sustained and effective medication-assisted treatments. Buprenorphine, traditionally used in its immediate-release formulation, has been a pillar in opioid use disorder treatment. This study delves into the game-chang [....] » Read More

Berhanie Getnet Gebresilus, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (In-Person)
Berhanie Getnet Gebresilus, University of Gondar, Ethiopia

Aim: This study was aimed at testing an established model, indicating co morbidity of alcohol misuse with psychological symptoms (PTSD and depression) and its association with cumulative trauma.   Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 562 adults were randomly selected fro [....] » Read More

Hesham Elnazer, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Hesham Elnazer, University of Sussex, United Kingdom

The presentation titled "Quantification of Severity of Brain Injury and Its Implications on Personality Change and Long-Term Outcome" discusses the assessment of brain injury severity, as well as the challenges associated with long-term outcome prediction and management [....] » Read More

Kimberley D Ryan, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Kimberley D Ryan, Brandon University, Canada

The prevalence of youth substance use disorders has increased exponentially and with it so too has mental health services utilization. Since traditional approaches to the treatment of adult substance use disorders are ineffective with youth, alternative treatment approaches must [....] » Read More

Sam Vaknin, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Keynote Presentation (Virtual)
Sam Vaknin, Southern Federal University, United Kingdom

Our experience of reality is comprised of data from both the external and the internal environments. These inputs are mediated, structured, and reframed via constructs which activate introjects to produce automatic thoughts. These thoughts affect behaviors intended to modify t [....] » Read More

Temitope Labinjo, Speaker at Addiction Medicine Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Temitope Labinjo, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

Mental disorders are a public health challenge with a lack of understanding, great institutional neglect and widespread stigma in Nigeria. There is also a dearth of secondary review studies exploring knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards persons with mental health disorde [....] » Read More

Vijayan Gurumurthy Iyer, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Vijayan Gurumurthy Iyer, Bihar Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development, India

The present study is conducted towards sustainable medicine, behavioral health and psychiatry for sustainable national development. The process of applying climate impact assessment (CIA) and sustainable development in addiction treatment plans, programs, polices, and legislative [....] » Read More

Soewadi, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Soewadi, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

Significant changes occurring in the adolescent brain create an opportune time for poorly thought-out decisions and also involvement in potentially harmful behaviors. A time when the "plasticity" and malleability of the brain allow for interventions to reinforce or alte [....] » Read More

Nico Morales, Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Nico Morales, No Halo LLC, United States

There are many forms of expressing pain and hurt. It may be a learned behavior; replicating the actions and behaviors of a respected individual. It may be unconscious, each time hurt happens it is relieved with a specific food, drink, substance or action. It may be a cultura [....] » Read More

Vincent Colucciello, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Vincent Colucciello, Greenville School of Medicine, United States

There are currently many internal barriers that adolescents face which hinder the treatment of depression. While stigmatization of depression is still the primary internal barrier, a new and opposite phenomenon has emerged in recent years. Some teenagers have begun to romanticize [....] » Read More

Anita V Handore, Speaker at Psychiatry Conferences
Oral Presentation (Virtual)
Anita V Handore, Founder and Director,Phytoelixir Pvt.Ltd., India

According to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020, Oral Cancer (OC), the  subgroup of head and neck cancer, is one of the most common malignancies globally. The Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and progressed  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of all [....] » Read More

Anacleto Clent Banaay , Speaker at Behavioral Health Conference
Poster Presentation (Virtual)
Anacleto Clent Banaay , Southwestern University PHINMA, Philippines

High relapse rate was seen among drug dependents after rehabilitation. Poor motivation is one of the reasons why patients do not engage in drug rehabilitation programs. Outcomes in the treatment of Drug addiction can employ the stages of change model to assess patients’ mot [....] » Read More

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