Research to Recovery 2026

GF and Vegan Options available

Recovery from substance use is deeply shaped by the social environments in which individuals live, connect, and find meaning. This presentation frames recovery as a social process, focusing on how changes in social networks influence recovery trajectories. Drawing on research on recovery capital and social identity, the talk will highlight how individuals move away from harmful networks and toward recovery-supportive relationships, groups, and roles.
With a strong emphasis on practice, the session will showcase how community-based programs, including peer support, recovery community centers, mutual aid groups, and family- and school-based supports, can foster social recovery capital and support identity change. Attendees will gain insight into how these approaches can be implemented across settings, how to engage individuals with varying levels of readiness, and how to address barriers to access and sustained participation.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how social networks and social identity shape recovery as an ongoing, relational process.
2. Recognize how shifts in social connections and group affiliations can either support or undermine recovery.
3. Identify key components of effective community-based recovery supports (e.g., peer programs, recovery community centers, mutual aid, family supports).

What does it truly mean to be free from addiction — not just with fewer consequences, but completely free? In this talk, Dr. Peter Coleman draws on his personal journey of recovery and the research and reflection behind his book, Complete Freedom from Opioid Addiction: A Guide from a Recovering Physician, to offer a deeply informed and uniquely personal perspective on opioid use disorder. Dr. Coleman will explore what addiction actually is, cutting through common misconceptions to distinguish between physical dependence and the disease of addiction itself — a distinction with profound implications for how we treat, support, and talk about people who struggle with opioids. His perspective as both a physician and a person in recovery gives this presentation a rare combination of clinical precision and lived authenticity.The heart of the presentation focuses on the neuroscience of addiction — specifically, how opioids and other addictive substances cause changes and lasting injury to four critical regions of the brain, and what those changes mean for behavior, decision-making, and recovery. Rather than leaving attendees with only a clinical picture, Dr. Coleman connects this understanding directly to the most reliable pathways toward complete freedom, grounding his message in both evidence and hope. With ample time for questions, this session invites honest, open dialogue about one of the most urgent public health crises of our time, from someone who has lived it and dedicated his career to understanding it.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to distinguish between physical dependence and the disease of addiction, and explain the clinical and practical significance of this distinction for treatment, recovery support, and reducing stigma.
Participants will be able to identify the four key regions of the brain involved in addictive diseases and describe the role each plays in the development and maintenance of addiction.
Participants will be able to explain how drug use causes neurological changes and injury to these four brain regions, and connect this understanding to evidence-based pathways toward complete freedom from opioid addiction.

AnneMoss Rogers and her husband tried to find help for their struggling son, Charles, a creative genius and rap artist. Desperate to escape the darkness of his depression, Charles turned to heroin and died by suicide in 2015 at age 20. How common is suicidal thinking among those who are addicted? How many start using to numb intense and painful feelings or to normalize a mental health condition? And what can families do to help lower the risks and support their loved ones?

• Understand how stigma contributed to Charles’s feelings of low self-worth
• Learn the prevalence of suicide risk for those with addiction and substance misuse
• Recognize signs of depression and suicide, and what to do or say
• Explore strategies families and communities can use to reduce risk and support healing

Graduate Student Presentation Contest: A select number of graduate students will be chosen to give a brief presentation (10-15 min) of their research. These students will be eligible for an additional prize based on their ability to make their research accessible for a general audience.

Characterization of vaping products confiscated from Virginia school youth between 2022 and 2025

Meredith G. Buckmire, Ankita Gola, Kevin J. Lester, Bayli F. Morton, Kelsey S. Moss, Alaina K. Holt, Jessemia Meekins, Justin L. Poklis, Caroline O. Cobb, Michelle R. Peace

Introduction: Since 2014, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, “vapes”) have been the most reported method of consuming nicotine for U.S. middle and high students. In an effort to curb underage use, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited both the sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, vapes) to persons <21 years of age and flavors other than menthol and tobacco in cartridge-based (pod-based) products. Though recent surveys report a decrease in vaping products use among middle and high school populations, of students who reported vaping, almost 9 in 10 reported using vapes with flavors other than menthol and tobacco. E-cigarettes have been adapted to vaporize drugs other than nicotine (DOTNs), most notably Δ9- and Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) alongside other cannabinoids. Objective: The objective of this study is to characterize vaping trends in the adolescent population of Virginia by evaluating vaping products and their liquids (e-liquids) confiscated from public school students. Methods: Vaping products confiscated from Virginia public school students between 2022 and 2025 were shipped to the Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology Research (LFTR) in Richmond, Virginia. The date confiscated, student grade level, and how the student acquired the device were requested. E-liquids were screened using an untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Volatile compounds were identified and quantified using headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID). Nicotine and cannabinoid concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Microbiological contaminants were identified using 3MTM PETRIFILMTM plates. Results: A total of 1874 vaping devices were received over two collection periods (2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years); only one submission was an FDA-authorized product. The most reported methods of acquisition were receiving the vape from a friend or purchasing themself. Of samples with submission information, most products were collected from high school students and were labeled as fruit-flavored disposable products containing nicotine. Nicotine products (84%) were primarily nicotine-salt formulations with an average of 3% nicotine, and most contained synthetic coolants. The prevalence of cannabinoid vapes (15%) remained constant between 2023-24 and 2024-25, though total cannabinoid concentration (6-77% w/w) increased. Ethanol continued to be detectable (>1% v/v) in a small proportion of products. Yeast, mold, aerobic count, and coliform at or above the United States Pharmacopoeia thresholds were identified in some of the nicotine e-liquids and cannabinoid concentrates, as well as their respective aerosols. Additionally, 18 of the disposable vapes were dual-chamber devices. Discussion/Conclusion: Results suggest that Virginia adolescents continue to have access to unregulated vaping products despite state and federal regulations. E-liquid formulations containing nicotine salt, synthetic coolants, and flavoring chemicals decrease the harsh sensory effects traditionally associated with nicotine inhalation, potentially facilitating initiation and dependence among youth. The identification of increasing cannabinoid concentrations, dual-chamber devices, and microbiologicals in vapes present new concerns for health and safety.

Exclusive and Polysubstance Use Associations with Mental Health and Social Support Among Undergraduate Students
Norhan Botrous*, Sama Monjazeb*

Introduction: Though substance use is highly correlated with mental health and social support, there is more limited data regarding these relationships with polysubstance use. This secondary analysis aimed to explore associations between exclusive and polysubstance use, mental health symptoms, and social support. Methods: In Spring 2025, undergraduates at a large Central Virginia university (n=336) completed an online survey. Participants reported demographics, past 30-day alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use, mental health symptoms (DASS-21), and perceived social support. Individuals were grouped by substance use behaviors (no substances, alcohol-only, alcohol+cannabis, alcohol+tobacco, all three substances). Due to limited sample size, cannabis-only, tobacco-only, and cannabis+tobacco groups (n=20) were excluded. ANOVA and t-tests compared mental health and social support between groups. Correlations between mental health symptoms and social support were assessed. Results: Participants were on average 20.2 years old, 81.8% female, 30.1% White, 24.7% Black/African American, and 14% Asian (remainder identified as other groups). Alcohol-only use was most prevalent (21.5%) followed by use of all three substances (14.0%), alcohol+tobacco (12.2%), and alcohol+cannabis (9.0%). The highest depression and stress symptoms were observed for those who used alcohol+cannabis and/or tobacco which were significantly higher than those using no substances or alcohol-only (ps<.05). For anxiety symptoms, use of alcohol+tobacco or all three substances was associated with the highest levels which were significantly higher than those using no substances or alcohol-only (ps<.05). Social support did not differ significantly between groups, but mental health symptoms were negatively correlated with social support (rs=-0.26 to -0.29; ps<.001). Conclusions: Findings highlight the prevalence of polysubstance use among undergraduates and associated mental health symptoms. Substance use prevention and intervention efforts should leverage protective social factors and provide mental health support.

Risk Drinking Levels During Pregnancy: Associations Across SAMHSA Recovery Domains
Amber R. Green(1), Nicole Boss(2,3), Kevin Xu(4,5), Caitlin E. Martin(1,3)

Introduction: No level of alcohol use is recommended during pregnancy, yet some continue to drink and women with alcohol use disorder (AUD) require targeted support. Reduced drinking relates to better outcomes in non-pregnant people, though no studies have examined how reductions during pregnancy relate across recovery domains. This study examined associations between WHO drinking risk levels across SAMSHA domains among pregnant women. Methods: This analysis from the 2021-2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health included women reporting current pregnancy. Average daily alcohol consumption in the past 30 days was coded into WHO drinking risk levels (none: 0 drinks; low: 1-1.4 drinks; moderate: >1.4-2.9 drinks; high: >2.9-4.3; very high: >4.3 drinks). Hierarchical linear regression models assessed associations of drinking risk across the SAMHSA recovery domains: number of emergency room (ER) visits (Health), difficulty participating in social activities (Community), difficulty completing household responsibilities (Home), and functional impairment (Purpose). Models included age, race, sexual identity, education level, and employment. Results: The sample (n=2,051) was 26-34 years old (43.8%), 55.3% White, 85.4% heterosexual, and 60.9% had some college. Decreased alcohol use was a significant predictor of fewer ER visits (β=.140, p=.031) and less difficulty completing household responsibilities (β=.099, p=.042). Drinking risk levels were not a significant predictor for functional impairment (p=.074) or social activities (p=.17) models. Sexual identity was a significant predictor in all models (p<.001). Conclusions: Abstinence during pregnancy is the safest o

The days of "just say no" and fear-based health messaging are behind us. Today’s college students navigate a complex landscape of social pressures, digital influence, and diverse identities that require a more nuanced, inclusive, and empowering approach to their health. This session explores how VCU is reimagining public health outreach by showcasing a model centered on health equity, fun, and student agency. Attendees will dive into the strategies used to tackle sensitive topics—including sexual health, substance use, and mental health—through a lens that validates student experiences rather than pathologizing them. Participants will also get an in depth look in the "behind the scenes" of VCU's Stall Seat Journal, an award winning public health campaign.

Learning Objectives: 

Participants will learn:

• Learn how to use data in a fun & compelling way to address students’ misperceptions about their peers’ health behaviors.
• Discuss using a social norms marketing approach to foster a healthier campus culture.
• Practice creating positive, intentional, & empowering messages to encourage safer health behaviors among diverse students.

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping health care, and addiction services are no exception. This talk explores how AI can responsibly support screening, documentation, treatment planning, recovery support, and population-level insights—without replacing clinical judgment or human connection. We’ll look at practical applications such as risk stratification, workflow automation, and decision support, while separating realistic capabilities from hype. The focus is not on shiny tools, but on how AI can reduce administrative burden, expand access, and strengthen quality of care when used with clear clinical boundaries.
At the same time, addiction treatment carries unique ethical risks: privacy concerns, stigma, bias in predictive models, overreliance on automation, and the potential erosion of therapeutic trust. This session will examine core principles—transparency, informed consent, data stewardship, equity, and human oversight—and apply them to real-world scenarios faced by providers. Participants will leave with a grounded framework for evaluating AI tools, asking better questions of vendors, and integrating technology in ways that protect client dignity while enhancing outcomes.

Analyzes new and emerging AI-based behavioral health tools.
 
Analyzes the way these tools have changed the way individuals access and receive services.
 
Analyzes how these tools and trends impact behavioral health ethical considerations.
 
Analyzes internal and external obstacles and motivators for AI-based behavioral health tools.

In this orientation session, "Faith Responders Program: Strengthening Communities for Compassionate Recovery," we will provide an overview of the Faith Responders initiative, which is designed to empower faith communities as advocates for individuals and families in recovery.
Recognizing that many seek to integrate their faith into their recovery journeys, the Faith Responders Program is grounded in the understanding that religious or spiritual involvement significantly protects against substance use. However, we also acknowledge that faith communities often lack the tools and resources necessary to effectively address issues of addiction and recovery.
This session will highlight the Faith Responders Recovery Ally Training, which equips participants with the knowledge, strategies, and skills needed to respond to addiction challenges in a compassionate and holistic manner. Attendees will explore how this training can enable faith communities to create supportive environments for those in recovery and encourage open dialogue around sensitive issues related to addiction.
Join us to discover how the Faith Responders Program and its Recovery Ally Training can enhance your community’s efforts to address addiction and foster healing. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of the program’s goals, the critical role faith plays in recovery, and practical tools for engagement within their congregations and communities.

ObjectivesUnderstand the Faith Responders Framework: Participants will gain an overview of the Faith Responders Program, exploring its foundation in the protective association between religious involvement and substance use prevention and recovery.
Identify the Role of Faith Communities: Participants will learn about the unique position faith communities hold in supporting individuals facing addiction and how they can contribute to holistic recovery efforts.
Explore Tools for Compassionate Engagement: Participants will discover key tools and strategies within the Faith Responders Recovery Ally Training that help communities address addiction and recovery compassionately and effectively.

This presentation will provide an overview of the Re-Entry and Recovery Specialist Program within Public Defender Offices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. This program is unique in its approach to treating addiction as a disease within the criminal justice system. We begin with briefly introducing how the Opioid Abatement Authority came to be and how it contributed to the initiation of the Re-Entry and Recovery Specialist program in The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. We will share how the program is implemented, and the ways in which our specialists assist our clients throughout their legal journey. We will also show how they address SUD and support recovery beyond the resolution of clients’ legal matters. The presentation will highlight the ways in which these specialists’ experience and training benefit the Public Defenders by appropriately addressing SUD and supporting recovery in conjunction with their legal circumstances.

Learning Objectives
Classify the various roles within Public Defender offices and distinguish between the responsibilities of each role and how they work together to provide holistic support. 

Discuss how differences in training/experience between these roles helps our defense teams address recovery in a more meaningful way during incarceration/community supervision, the courtroom and re-entry. 

Explain how the Opioid Abatement Authority came to be and led to the creation of the Re-Entry and Recovery Specialist Program. 

Differentiate the role of Re-entry and Recovery Specialists in Public Defender Offices from other probably more familiar roles outside of the criminal justice system e.g. recovery coaches, case managers, social workers etc. 

Demonstrate how to use skills such as OARS, active listening, and eliciting, as well as interview/assessment/resource navigation/goal-setting tools (with examples provided) to aid human services professionals in supporting their clients/patients/participants. 

Examine legal and recovery outcomes as shown in data collected throughout the program’s lifespan.

Check out our student poster presentations while you enjoy a box lunch from Apple Spice Junction.

Open All Recovery Meeting

In my years of practice, it was not unusual for me to hear another clinician say “I don’t treat substance use disorders”.  What they may not realize is that it is often present; if not as the primary concern, it may be the obstacle that slows or impedes progress in therapy.  Regardless of the specialty, it is critical that mental health (and medical) practitioners have the basic knowledge to “sniff it out”.  Whether you contract around honesty and abstinence to resume your course of treatment or refer to someone who treats SUD’s and resume your therapy at a later date, it is not fair to the client when “the elephant in the room” is not addressed.  
      This session will address ways to “sniff out” problematic use, to start the conversation in a non-threatening manner and to assist the client with options for resuming treatment for their presenting concerns.   
Learning objectives: 
1. Participants will be able to identify at least 3 questions that could help to tease out problematic substance use 
2. Be able to articulate ways in which continued use can impede progress in therapy 
3.  Identify 3 options for a clinician when a client’s substance use may get in the way of therapy 

Family support is a key form of recovery capital for individuals in substance use recovery. However, for too long, the dominant narrative in recovery has seen family members as a liability in recovery and labeled as codependent or enablers that need to be detached or disconnected from their loved ones in order to “help” a loved one. A shift in perspective is needed to recognize family bonds and relationships as catalysts for change while families are often the first responders to substance use. In this keynote, we will unfold another side of the story of family recovery by sharing the inspiration behind and creation of Together: Family Recovery, a documentary designed to affirm that families have work to do, possess agency, and that their ways of being have a direct influence on recovery outcomes. We will explore how storytelling serves as a modality for shifting belief systems, orienting families to recovery and influencing systemic change. We will also discuss the decision-making and implementation processes throughout the creation and screening of the film, and present evidence of its impact on families who have watched the film. Drawing on selected film clips and evaluation data from the VCU study, we will engage the audience in thought provoking discussions on strategies to challenge stigma and empower families to create environments that support recovery.

Objectives

1. Attendees can differentiate between the traditional "tough love" narrative and connection-based modern recovery models to understand the family's vital role in the recovery process.
2. Attendees can examine how documentary storytelling serves as a mechanism for shifting deep-seated belief systems and validating family agency.
3. Attendees can apply narrative strategies and creative media tools to challenge stigma, engage families, and advocate for systemic reform.

Providing peer support comes from being able to want to support (help others). And the ability to look past a persons faults and see their need isn't always easy especially when I see the violence or the destructive behavior up close . Then being able to sit across from that person and provide support because they are asking for help. Providing peer support to an incarcerated population comes with its own set of challenges that are unique to its population. With that it comes with its own set of unique opportunities which provide to see growth and recovery from a different perspective.

-Recovery Inside of Prison: The Challenges of sobriety
-Peer Support inside of the Department of Corrections
-What does recovery mean for individuals without a substance use disorder
-ACE's: Healing childhood trauma inside of incarceration
-How veterans find support and healing in prison

Join the team from the Together: Family Documentary for an open conversation on support for family members.

Join Tom Jackson for an open conversation about strategies for self care and the importance of individual and organizational wellness.

The Peer Recovery Collective is a panel of individuals dedicated to contributing their lived experience to help improve substance use treatment research and interventions. In this talk, panel members and the project lead will discuss their work preparing to serve as research consultants, the role of lived experience in research collaboration, and ask for feedback from attendees about various ways in which they may contribute to research development and implementation.

This panel will educate people with lived experience about how their experience about ways in which they might contribute to improving substance use treatment services. It will also familiarize researchers with the work of the panel and may spark conversations about the various approaches to including people with lived experience on research teams.

The Peer Recovery Collective has been meeting bi-weekly since January 2025. During this time, the panel has engaged in a wide array of capacity building experiences, including trainings, talks from guest speakers, and group discussions. The topics have included a wide range of substance use topics, from stigma to innovative approaches to providing services, as well as training on a wide variety of research methods.

Objectives
* Hear the perspectives of people in recovery and how they can contribute to research.
* Learn about the work the panel has done to prepare to serve as research consultants.
* Consider how people with lived experience might work with researchers and what would facilitate that work.

This session will equip substance use service providers with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver effective, trauma-informed substance abuse recovery services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Participants will explore the complex connection between trauma, abuse, and substance use.

1. To learn how to prioritize and integrate safety, empowerment and choice in the work that is done with survivors in recovery.
2. To learn how to provide culturally responsive care to survivors in recovery.
3. To learn how substance abuse is connected to the trauma and victimization of survivors.