7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Reward System Dysfunction
The brain's reward system plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. In individuals with addiction, the reward system may become dysregulated, leading to a heightened response to substances and a diminished ability to feel pleasure from non-addictive activities. Dysfunction in key areas, such as the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, can alter the release and processing of dopamine, reinforcing addictive behaviors. This dysregulation can create a vicious cycle where the individual continually seeks the substance or behavior to achieve the pleasurable feeling, even in the face of negative consequences. Treatment often involves therapies aimed at restoring balance within the reward system, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and mindfulness practices.
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