Research to Recovery 2026

GF and Vegan options available.

Pregnant individuals facing substance use disorders (SUDs) encounter a uniquely complex set of medical, social, and systemic barriers that standard obstetric care is often ill-equipped to address. This session features an OB/GYN specializing in Addiction Medicine and a licensed Social Worker who together have developed and implemented an integrated, whole-person care clinic that exceeds standard of care for pregnant people with SUDs.
Presenters will share the clinical and programmatic framework behind their model, including how addiction medicine principles are woven into prenatal care, the role of trauma-informed social work in supporting patient engagement and retention, and how their team navigates the stigma that too often drives pregnant people away from the care they need. Attendees will gain insight into real-world outcomes, lessons learned, and the collaborative dynamics that make this interdisciplinary approach effective.
Topics will include:

• Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) during pregnancy
• Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) and family-centered care planning
• Addressing social determinants of health for pregnant people in recovery
• Strategies for building trust and reducing stigma in clinical settings
• Replicable models for interdisciplinary collaboration between medical and social work providers

This session is ideal for clinicians, social workers, recovery support professionals, and advocates seeking to improve outcomes for one of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in addiction care.
 
 
Objectives:
·      Participants will be able to describe the core components of an integrated, interdisciplinary care model for pregnant people with substance use disorders, including how addiction medicine principles and trauma-informed social work practices are combined to exceed standard prenatal care.
·      Participants will be able to identify evidence-based approaches to Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) during pregnancy and explain key considerations for managing Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) through a family-centered care planning framework.
·      Participants will be able to recognize the role of stigma, social determinants of health, and systemic barriers in limiting care engagement among pregnant people with substance use disorders, and describe strategies for building trust and improving retention within a clinical setting.

A connection between grief, loss and substance use has become a more explored topic to illuminate how layered complicated grief can be. In a 2021 paper, Caparrós and Masferrer looked at the complications and coping skills of individuals who experienced grief and were also using substances and/or in recovery.  The line between loss and grief of individuals and loss and grief in the recovery process is often overlapping therefore raising questions for helpers how to frame grief work.  The session explores a potential framework.    

Objectives: 1) Participants will be able to distinguish the relationship between loss, grief and complicated grief. 2) Participants will explore how their own experiences inform the way they engage with loss and grief 3) Participants will be able to discuss a framework to assist helpers in working with individuals experiencing loss and grief in relation to active substance use and recovery.                                                                                                                                         

This dynamic workshop focuses on the critical role of peer support for pregnant and parenting families navigating substance use disorders. Attendees will explore the gaps in existing peer recovery support training and discuss the necessity for specialized training tailored to meet the unique needs of families at this intersection.
We will delve into the MOMs on a Mission initiative, highlighting the importance of community and support. Additionally, we will introduce the new You Are Not Alone on This Journey website, a vital resource for mothers in recovery. Participants will gain insights into launching MOMs groups across Virginia, fostering a robust network of peer support that empowers families to embrace their parenting journeys while in recovery.
Join us to actively participate in fostering an inclusive community, share your experiences, and learn how to champion the well-being of these families.
Learning Objectives:

• Identify Unique Needs: Recognize the unique challenges faced by pregnant and parenting families with substance use disorders and the need for specialized peer support training.
• Understand MOMs Initiative: Explore the MOMs on a Mission initiative and its impact on supporting mothers in recovery and their families.
• Resource Utilization: Familiarize participants with the You Are Not Alone on This Journey website and how to leverage it as a tool for support and connection.
• Launching Support Groups: Develop a roadmap for starting recovery support groups across Virginia, emphasizing collaboration and community engagement.
• Build Compassionate Communities: Learn strategies for fostering non-judgmental environments that encourage growth and healing for parents in recovery.

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.

Nicotine and Other Substance Vaping and Mental Health Indicators Among Young Adults
Authors: First M. Last (Affiliation#)Rabia Imran (1)
Mary Carrico (2)
Elizabeth Ogunleye (2)
Darren Farmer (3)
Sama Monjazeb (2)
Norhan Botrous (2)
Caroline Cobb (2)

Introduction: The use of electronic delivery systems to vape nicotine and other substances is rising among young adults. While strong correlations between cigarette smoking and mental health conditions are well documented, less is known regarding these associations for vaping behaviors. This study aimed to characterize links between vaping nicotine and other substances and mental health indicators. Methods: From March 2025-June 2025, undergraduate students at a large university in Central Virginia (n=375) completed an online survey. Participants reported their demographics, past 30-day vaping behaviors and mental health indicators (DASS-21). Vaping nicotine and/or nicotine-free liquids, cannabis-containing liquids, and liquids containing other substances (e.g., caffeine, herbal supplements) were assessed, and individuals were categorized into exclusive subgroups based on their use behavior and distribution of responses. Differences in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms by vaping subgroups were tested using ANOVA and independent samples t-tests. Results: The sample was ~20 years old with 82.6% female and 30.2% White, 24.0% Black or African American, 18.1% as multiracial, and 27.7% identified as other groups. Past 30-day exclusive nicotine/nicotine-free vaping was most common (15.2%) followed by nicotine/nicotine-free and cannabis/other substance vaping (10.1%) and exclusive cannabis/other substance vaping (6.9%). Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were relatively low but differed significantly across vaping subgroups (ps<0.05). Nicotine/nicotine-free vaping, whether exclusive or in combination with cannabis/other substance vaping, was associated with significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms compared to those who did not vape (ps<0.04). Descriptively, individuals who vaped nicotine and cannabis/other substances had the highest scores for all three symptom categories. Conclusions: Findings highlight the relative prevalence of vaping behaviors by substance category. Vaping nicotine or nicotine-free liquids alone or in combination with other substances was linked to poorer mental health. While temporality is unknown in the present study, these findings highlight the need to address mental health in vaping prevention and intervention efforts. Given the broad availability of diverse vaping products, behavioral and survey assessments should consider vaping behaviors beyond nicotine-containing products.

Cocaine induces differential regulation of ‘jumping genes’ across the mouse brain
Shelbey Strandberg*(1) and Dr. Peter Hamilton (1)
Background/Objective: Transposable elements (TEs) comprise about half of the mammalian genome and are commonly called ‘jumping genes’ for their ability to be transcribed and re-integrated elsewhere in the genome. This process, termed transposition, can cause permanent disruptions to protein coding and regulatory regions of the genome. Cocaine use is increasingly appreciated as able to alter brain TE transcript expression, but the exact time-course, brain region specificity, and transposition capacity of affected TEs remains under-explored. We investigated these points by creating a cocaine-induced brain TE transcript time-course from public RNA-sequencing datasets. Methods: We identified transcriptomic studies of nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsal striatum (DS), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in cocaine exposed mice via self- or investigator-administered paradigms. Using the Python package TEtranscripts, we aligned the datasets to the reference genome mm10 and used an adjusted p-value cutoff of <0.05 to determine differential TE expression produced over the course of cocaine exposure. Results: Across the brain regions, we see time- and dose- dependent changes in TE transcript expression. Surprisingly, despite involvement in reward/addiction, each region has unique TE expression profiles. We identify predominantly downregulated TEs in NAc, whereas DS is primarily upregulated, and PFC displays TE profiles sensitive to the route of cocaine administration (self- or investigator-administered). Conclusion: TEs, a portion of which retain transposition capacity, experience dynamic and distinct brain-region expression following cocaine exposure. These insights may add an additional dimension of the brain molecular mechanisms involved in cocaine use disorder.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Inaccuracies in Labels and Microbiological Contamination of Cannabis Products
Logan N. Petersa, Alaina K. Holta, Justin L. Poklisb, Ankita Golaa, Michelle R. Peacea,b
Introduction The rapid expansion of cannabis products has outpaced regulatory oversight, raising concerns about product safety and labeling accuracy. This study investigates discrepancies between labeled and actual cannabinoid content as well as assesses potential contamination in commercial cannabis products. Semi-synthetic cannabinoids, such as Δ8-THC and HHC, often appear in unregulated products and pose unknown health risks. Various other contaminants such as solvents, pesticides, and vitamin E acetate have been linked to adverse effects. As consumer access to cannabis products increases, robust product surveillance is essential to protect public health and inform evidence-based regulation. Objectives This project aims to analyze the chemical composition of various commercially available cannabis products purchased in Washington, D.C., and to assess potential microbial contamination in order to evaluate consumer health risks associated with inadequate production, handling, or storage practices. Methods Samples were opened and sampled immediately for volatile compound and microbial contamination analysis. Products were analyzed for volatiles using a Shimadzu headspace gas chromatography system (HS-20, GC-2030AF). Known standards were analyzed alongside the samples to identify common compounds. A 100 µg/mL stock of each sample was prepared for microbiological analysis. One milliliter of this solution was plated on Thermo Fisher Petrifilm microbiological plates (yeast and mold, aerobic count, E. coli). Positive controls were prepared using Thermo Fisher Culti-Loops. A 40 µg/mL stock of each sample was analyzed on a Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system using an untargeted screening method to identify cannabinoids. Cannabinoids present in the sample were quantified using a Shimadzu LCMS-8050 liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Results Of seventy-two products analyzed, only forty-six (63.8%) disclosed cannabinoids contained through product packaging or publicly available certificates of analysis. Of the forty-six with labels, thirty-five (76%) were found to contain compounds not disclosed on the label or certificate of analysis. Fourteen (30%) of these products did not contain one or more of the cannabinoids disclosed on the label or certificate of analysis. Microbiological contaminants were not detected in any vape or edible products. Microbial contamination above threshold limits were detected in 94.1% of plant material products (16/17). Aerobic bacteria were detected in 12 plant material products (220-9800 cfu/g). Yeast and mold were detected in 10

Description:
Pregnant and postpartum people navigating substance use disorders face a uniquely complex intersection of medical, legal, social, and systemic challenges — and the systems meant to support them are too often fragmented, punitive, or simply absent. This panel brings together four expert voices from across the continuum of care to examine what it truly takes to build effective, equitable support for this population.
Panelists include a Peer Recovery Specialist with lived experience working alongside pregnant women with SUDs, a reproductive rights attorney examining the legal landscape shaping care access and patient autonomy, the CEO of a recovery housing organization serving pregnant and parenting women, and a PhD, MSN nurse researcher specializing in the neurodevelopmental impacts of prenatal substance use and maternal psychiatric conditions. Together, they will explore how individual-level care, community-based services, housing stability, and policy reform must work in concert to meet the full range of needs facing this population.
The panel will address gaps in the current system, center the voices of those with lived experience, and offer attendees concrete frameworks for advancing both systemic change and person-centered care in their own communities and organizations.
Objectives:
·      Participants will be able to identify the barriers pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorders face across medical, legal, housing, and social systems, and describe how integrated, trauma-informed approaches can address these gaps across the continuum of care.
·      Participants will be able to explain the neurodevelopmental and psychiatric impacts of prenatal substance use and maternal mental health conditions, and recognize how this clinical knowledge should inform both individual care planning and broader systems design.
·      Participants will be able to describe models of peer integration, recovery housing, and legal advocacy that support pregnant and parenting people in recovery, and identify strategies for implementing or strengthening these approaches within their own organizational or community context.

Nicotine and cannabis vapes have proliferated in our communities at staggering rates. Both industries created and advertised a narrative for consumers about their use and safety that have been largely accepted. While signs of the negative impacts to public health have existed in communities, data is emerging that describes potential short- and long-term health implications of vaping. This session will describe what we know about the design of vapes and the chemical formulations that could precipitate negative health outcomes. Adverse events and the emerging scientific data that demonstrate these health outcomes will be discussed. Community proliferation of vapes and evolution of products will be described.
1. Discern the myths and untruths of vaping and cannabis use that have been promulgated by the industries.
2. Describe the scientific data that counter the myths and untruths generated by the industry stakeholders
3. Describe the scientific data that demonstrates the potential for more significant long-term negative health implications than was originally thought.
4. Describe the proliferation of vapes in communities and be able to identify novel vapes.

Join us as we come together to honor the strength, resilience, and growth of those in the recovery community, along with the allies who walk beside us in support. Our Recovery Celebration Lunch will feature a delicious meal catered by Midnight Soulfood & Catering, a heartfelt recognition of our recovery allies, and a recovery time countdown to celebrate milestones and progress.
We will also hold space for remembrance through a special Memorial Tribute Table, created to honor students, friends, and loved ones who have passed due to substance use-related deaths or other circumstances while in recovery. This memorial offers a chance to remember, reflect, and keep their stories alive.
If you’d like to contribute to the memorial:
Submit a Photo Tribute: Email 1–2 pictures, your loved one’s name, and any significant dates you'd like displayed to Omri Morris at [email protected]. These will be included in a slideshow presentation at the event.


We’ll also have chairs set up for anyone who would like a quiet moment of reflection at the memorial table.
Let’s continue to share their stories and celebrate the journey of recovery together. We look forward to seeing you there.

Ga-ZYN-tite! Bless us all for finally talking about nicotine in recovery. Come and get the update on nicotine products! Learn the neurobiology that expands self-compassion and makes the recovery journey more successful. Explore the concepts of hypofrontality in relation to continued use of addictive substances in recovery.

Learning Objectives:

1.  Participants will be able to explain why neurobiology suggests cessation of nicotine use improves outcomes in recovery from other addictions.
2.  Participants will develop understand the concept of hypofrontality and its role in addiction.
3.  Participants will apply the concept of hypofrontality to the use of novel nicotine products.

This session delves into the need for clinicians and peers understanding of intergenerational and historical trauma within Turtle Island (USA). Where does the healing start and when did the trauma begin? Informative information to help clinicians and peers to navigate working with the Native American Indians. This session dives into the elements of trauma that affects the Native American community, colonization, forced displacement, Trail of Tears, treaties being broken, and multi layers of a wounded communities due to the Indian Removal Act in the 1800s. We will examine ways to promote wellness of healing for Native communities, "The Native Way", and become more informed of how history and generational trauma played a HUGE role in how the Native American Indian have been affected and our future seven generations.

Identify the effects of intergeneration and historical trauma within Native American communities.
 
Explore the need for clinical awareness when treating individuals within Native communities due to intergenerational and historical trauma.
 
Discuss techniques for promoting wellness and healing from generational and/or experienced trauma.

The Healthcare Affordability Roundtable is a small, interactive discussion designed to bring together leaders across behavioral health, recovery services, research, and community organizations to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing the field today: the rising cost and accessibility of care. Participants will engage in a candid conversation about the real drivers of healthcare affordability in behavioral health and substance use recovery — including barriers to treatment, gaps in care coordination, and opportunities to better support individuals and families on their recovery journeys.
 
This informal roundtable will focus on sharing perspectives, identifying practical opportunities for collaboration, and elevating the voices of providers, peer recovery specialists, researchers, and advocates working on the front lines. The goal is not a presentation, but a facilitated dialogue that surfaces ideas and insights that can help strengthen access to care and improve outcomes for the communities we serve. Space is limited to encourage meaningful discussion.
 

A Richmond-centered panel on Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) funding, using harm reduction as a case study into excellent interorganizational collaboration. The panel will discuss how city, state, and community organizations can use these funding opportunities to build a collaborative continuum of care, exemplified through the implementation of Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Richmond. The panel will also reflect critically on who benefits from these funds, what's missing, and how to sustain collaborative efforts.
 
Objectives:
 
·      Participants will be able to describe the structure and purpose of Opioid Abatement Authority funding and explain how city, state, and community organizations can leverage these resources to build a collaborative continuum of care for people who use drugs.
·      Participants will be able to identify the key elements of successful interorganizational collaboration, using the implementation of Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Richmond as a model for translating OAA funding into community-level harm reduction initiatives.
·      Participants will be able to critically evaluate equity considerations in OAA funding distribution, including who benefits from current allocations, what populations or services remain underserved, and what strategies can sustain collaborative harm reduction efforts over time.

Integrating Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) is an evidence-based strategy that transforms the "revolving door" of emergency care into a path of sustained wellness. Research shows that patients supported by peers are 45% more likely to start treatment (MOUD) after an overdose and experience significantly fewer repeat crises and hospital readmissions. By reducing stigma and improving trust—especially in high-stakes areas like EMS response and postpartum care—peer integration lowers overall healthcare costs while significantly increasing patient engagement and hope.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify Critical Gaps: Pinpoint specific "disconnects" in traditional medical trajectories (from EMS arrival to hospital discharge) where the absence of peer support leads to higher recidivism and patient disengagement.
2. Analyze the Pre-Hospital Peer Model: Describe the operational benefits of integrating peers into EMS and 9-1-1 response, specifically regarding de-escalation, trust-building, and "warm handoffs" to clinical settings.
3. Evaluate Hospital-Based Peer Integration: Discuss strategies for implementing peer support within specialized clinical environments, such as the Emergency Department and Postpartum Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).
4. Apply the "Continuum of Connection" Framework: Utilize a modified Sequential Intercept Model to map out peer-led touchpoints within their own local healthcare systems to improve long-term recovery outcomes.

Child welfare professionals routinely work with families affected by alcohol and other substance use disorders (AOSUDs), yet many report feeling underprepared, unsupported, or uncertain about their role when substance use is present. These challenges can undermine caregiver engagement, increase stigma, and contribute to difficult decisions with long-term consequences for children and families. Funded by a National Institutes of Health grant, the Child Welfare and Addiction Fellowship (CWAF) is a two-year, cohort-based professional development program designed to address these gaps through sustained, practice-based learning. Now in its third cohort, CWAF supports child welfare professionals statewide through weekly clinical group supervision, monthly multidisciplinary case consultations, and quarterly foundational workshops focused on substance use, recovery, and child welfare decision-making. This session will share lessons from a mixed-methods evaluation of CWAF, highlighting evidence of increased practitioner confidence, clearer professional role identity, reduced stigma, and strengthened capacity to engage caregivers affected by substance use. Findings underscore the importance of supervision and peer consultation as key mechanisms supporting practice change. Distinctively, this presentation will be co-led by inaugural CWAF participants, who will offer firsthand reflections on how the Fellowship shaped daily practice, case planning, and engagement with families. Together, presenters will explore how longitudinal training models can support child welfare professionals, improve alignment between child safety and recovery-oriented care, and offer a scalable approach to workforce development. This session is designed for practitioners, supervisors, administrators, and educators seeking practical strategies to strengthen recovery informed practice within child welfare systems.

1. Assess the feasibility of implementing multi-component addiction training models within child welfare agencies given workload demands, organizational constraints, and workforce well-being considerations.
2. Identify actionable takeaways for adapting or scaling addiction-focused workforce development initiatives to different child welfare or recovery-oriented service settings.
3. Explain why strengthening addiction-informed, recovery-oriented capacity among child welfare professionals is essential to improving caregiver engagement, supporting family preservation, and reducing preventable system involvement and long-term harm for children and families.

This session will provide space for an open discussion of peer supervision by experienced practitioners.

This presentation explores peer-led community outreach practice and case examples from Health Brigade CHR demonstrating how low-barrier harm reduction services (syringe access, naloxone distribution, overdose prevention education, safer use supplies, and peer navigation) function as consistent engagement points across active use, early recovery, long-term recovery, and periods of transition or recurrence. Harm reduction is an evidence-informed, recovery-oriented approach that sustains connection to healthcare, treatment, recovery supports, and social services over time, supporting outcomes such as ongoing engagement, stability, and wellness without requiring abstinence as a prerequisite for access to care.


By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the role of peer-led, street-level outreach in engaging individuals at all stages of recovery
• Explain how harm reduction services function as entry points, mid-term supports, and long-term recovery resources
• Identify common breakdowns in the continuum of care and peer-informed strategies to address them
• Apply harm reduction principles to strengthen collaboration between outreach, treatment, and recovery services