7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Psychophysiology of Addiction
The psychophysiology of addiction examines the physiological changes that occur in the body and brain due to substance use, and how these changes influence behavior and mental health. Addiction impacts neurotransmitter systems, particularly those involving dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, which are responsible for regulating mood, reward, and stress responses. The brain’s reward system, when repeatedly activated by substance use, becomes dysregulated, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behavior. In addition to altering brain chemistry, addiction can lead to physical changes in the body, including disrupted sleep patterns, altered heart rate, and increased stress responses. Understanding the psychophysiological underpinnings of addiction provides critical insights for developing effective, multi-faceted treatments that address both the mind and body’s response to substance use.
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