Research to Recovery 2026

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.

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 

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.                                                                                                                                         

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.

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.