7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Neural Circuits in Substance Dependence
Substance dependence alters neural circuits involved in reward, motivation, and self-control. The mesolimbic pathway, involving the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens, becomes hyperactive, reinforcing drug-seeking behaviors. The prefrontal cortex, which regulates impulse control, often shows reduced activity, leading to impaired decision-making. Chronic substance use also affects the stress-response system, mediated by the hypothalamus and amygdala, perpetuating cycles of craving and relapse. Advances in neuroimaging have illuminated these disruptions, paving the way for innovative treatments like deep brain stimulation (DBS) and neurofeedback. Understanding these circuits is key to developing targeted therapies for addiction.
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 : Integrating bibliopoetry therapy and digital health technologies for inflammation management: A neuropsychosomatic perspective
Nile Stanley, University of North Florida, United States
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 : Creative exploration of the complexity of the pre-lapse experience in the addict to add retrospective insight
Eric A Kreuter, Cornerstone of Rhinebeck, United States
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Jorja Jamison, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Kayla Albers, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States