7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Addiction and Behavioral Compulsions
Addiction and behavioral compulsions share many similarities, both involving the inability to control repetitive behaviors despite negative consequences. While addiction traditionally refers to substance use, behavioral compulsions include activities such as gambling, eating, or shopping. Both conditions activate the brain’s reward pathways, reinforcing the behavior and making it difficult for individuals to stop. Behavioral compulsions, like substance addiction, can cause significant impairment in daily functioning and lead to emotional distress. Treatment for compulsive behaviors often mirrors addiction therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices aimed at increasing awareness and reducing impulsivity. Addressing underlying emotional or psychological issues can also be key to managing compulsive behaviors.
Nile Stanley
University of North Florida, United States
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel
Curry College, United States
Edie Raether
NeuroShifts and Wings for Wishes Academy, United States
Sindu Padmanabhan
Bharathiar University, India
Kayla Albers
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Jorja Jamison
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Andrew Drasen
A Vision of Hope Media, United StatesSubmit your abstract Today
Title : The Storm Within: Neuropsychological Insights into Dysregulation and Substance Use in the Adolescent Brain.
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Curry College, United States
Title : Sexualizing anxiety and anxiolytic sex: Misattribution of arousal
Sam Vaknin, CIAPS, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Title : Workplace and occupational mental health: Supporting well-being at work
Sindu Padmanabhan, Bharathiar University, India
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Kayla Albers, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Jorja Jamison, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Identity restoration as a missing variable in relapse prevention
Andrew Drasen, A Vision of Hope Media, United States