HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Boston, Massachusetts, USA or Virtually from your home or work.
7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Neuroanatomy of Substance Dependence
Neuroanatomy of Substance Dependence
Substance dependence is deeply rooted in the brain's neuroanatomy, particularly involving the reward system, which includes the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area. These structures regulate pleasure, motivation, and impulse control. Drugs like cocaine, opioids, and alcohol hijack this system by artificially increasing dopamine levels, reinforcing addictive behaviors. Over time, chronic use leads to structural and functional changes, such as reduced gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, impairing decision-making and self-regulation. Neuroplasticity plays a dual role in dependence and recovery, with targeted therapies focusing on rewiring these neural circuits to restore normal functioning.
Committee Members
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 GAB 2026 Speakers
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