Addiction Medicine 2012

Welcome from the Conference Directors

This year’s conference will again attend to a number of core clinical issues related to substance abuse treatment but will also continue to expand the scope of the addiction-related issues addressed. It will open with plenary presentations on non-chemical behavioral addictions like compulsive gambling and current thinking on sex and food addictions and end with an examination of benzodiazepine misuse and abuse, a major prescription medication problem. In addition to the large-group plenaries, the core of the conference will be a variety of skill-based two-hour seminars, allowing participants to select clinical learning opportunities of their own particular interest.

Some of these workshops can be sequenced to allow for more in-depth learning if desired.  This includes a 6-hour sequence on Basic and Advanced Addiction Medicine, and two four-hour workshops on Buprenorphine Prescribing and Pain Management Skills.  Other seminars will focus on regulatory and legal issues, toxicology, pregnancy and traumatic brain injury.  This format and content will make the conference useful both for Addiction Medicine specialists as well as Primary Care clinicians looking to expand their skills in these areas.

Speakers and workshop leaders are drawn from outstanding regional as well as national experts, facilitating valuable networking and post-conference contact.

Please join us in beautiful, springtime Asheville for what we believe will be another outstanding annual conference.  Registration begins January 5, 2012.

Sincerely,

Sara McEwen, MD, MPH Conference Co-Director Executive Director, Governor’s Institute

Jim Finch, MD Conference Co-Director Director of Physician Education, Governor’s Institute President, NC Society of Addiction Medicine Medical Director, Changes by Choice, Durham, NC