AddictionZ 2025

AddictionZ 2025 is organized by Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (ANZMH) and will be held from May 13 - 14, 2025 at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.

Description:
AddictionZ encompasses the A to Z of addiction trends and treatments. Bringing together the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs sector and behavioural health workers in a new format, with a new vision.
Recognising that addiction is more than just drugs, alcohol and gambling, we've put together a bold and inclusive program with collaboration at its core.

AddictionZ Topics:

Cutting-Edge Approaches in Addiction Medicine: From Innovations in Pharmacology to Neurobiological Insights

• Advances in Pharmacotherapy / Medication-Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders
• The neurobiological mechanisms of addiction and how they inform therapeutic interventions
• Innovative approaches to nicotine dependence: beyond traditional methods 
• Exploring new frontiers: Psychedelics in addiction treatment
• Tailoring Pharmacotherapy: Individualised treatment plans based on genetic profiles

Navigating the intersection: Addressing Addiction and Co-occurring Diagnoses/Disorders

• Addressing mental health and substance use comorbidities
• Managing chronic pain and substance use disorders
• ADHD and substance use disorders: Understanding the link
• Disordered eating, exercise addiction, and substance use: insights into treatment and recovery
• Complex trauma and addiction
• The intersection of domestic violence and substance use: strategies for intervention

Behavioural Addictions: Understanding and Addressing Modern Dependencies

• The Vaping Epidemic: Understanding its Rise, Risks and Intervention Strategies
• Gaming addiction: Support strategies and interventions.
• Gambling addiction: Risk factors and effective treatments.
• Technology addiction: Mental health impacts and prevention strategies.
• Sexual addiction: Risk factors, impacts, and evidence-based treatments.
• Eating addiction: Overcoming food-related dependencies.
• Exercise addiction: Impacts and intervention approaches.
• Expanding Beyond Chemsex: Addressing the Growing Trend of Drug Use for Sexual Enhancement Across Diverse Populations
• The Rise of Nitazenes: A Deep Dive into the New Wave of Synthetic Opioids
• Drug availability through cryptomarkets and the dark web.

Cultural Humility and Demographic-specific Treatment Issues

• Supporting marginalised individuals in addiction treatment and Recovery
• Culturally sensitive approaches and community-based programs for all First Nations and Indigenous
• Culturally responsive approaches and community-based programs for multicultural communities
• Addiction in adolescents and emerging adults
• Strategies to support individuals facing economic hardship and homelessness in addiction recovery
• Veterans and military personnel: addiction and recovery
• Racial and ethnic considerations in addiction treatment
• Understanding the intersection of menopause, mental health, and alcohol use

Multiple Pathways to Recovery: Innovative Approaches and Practices

• Residential and in-patient programs: comprehensive care for long-term recovery
• Transformative journeys: personal stories of resilience and recovery
• Mutual aid groups: enhancing recovery through community support
• Family dynamics: supporting recovery through relational health
• Building recovery capital: strategies for sustainable re-entry
• Integrative approaches: yoga and mindfulness in addiction recovery
• Nature-based recovery: exploring outdoor and adventure therapy
• Expressive arts and music therapy: healing through creativity

Supporting Families Affected by Addiction

• Family-based interventions for substance abuse prevention and treatment
• Family-inclusive practices and support for parents in active use
• Family integration in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment
• Addressing stigma and building resilience in families
• Children and adolescents living with parental addiction

Connecting for Recovery: Peer Support in Addiction Services

• The role of peer support in recovery: relationship-based Approaches
• Peer support in addiction recovery: Case studies and success stories
• Trauma-informed care and self-care strategies for peer workers
• Ethical considerations and frameworks guiding peer support in addiction services
• Integrating harm reduction strategies into peer support

Digital Health and Technology Innovation in Addiction Treatment

• Digital therapeutics: Apps, wearables, and online programs for recovery.
• Virtual Reality (VR) in therapy: Immersive environments for addiction treatment.
• Digital peer support: Managing online recovery communities and virtual groups.
• Building a connected ecosystem: Coordinating services and data sharing.
• Virtual care coordination: Enhancing communication among multidisciplinary teams.
• Cybersecurity and privacy: Protecting patient data in digital platforms.
• AI in Clinician Feedback and Coaching: Enhancing Professional Development in Addiction Treatment
• Leveraging AI for Personalised Addiction Treatment: Opportunities and Ethical Challenges

Inclusive and Tailored Approaches to Addiction Treatment

• Aging and addiction: Addressing substance use in older adults.
• Neurodivergent individuals: Best practices and tailored interventions.
• Justice-involved individuals: Recovery strategies and reducing recidivism.
• Disabilities and addiction: Inclusive treatment for diverse needs.
• Immigrant and refugee populations: Unique challenges and interventions.
• Parenting and addiction: Balancing recovery and parental responsibilities.

Workplace and Addiction

• Addressing substance use and psychosocial risks in the workplace.
• Employer-sponsored recovery programs: Supporting employees in recovery.
• Strategies to create supportive workplace cultures around substance use.
• The impact of shift work and non-traditional hours on substance use.
• Remote work challenges: Substance use in a post-pandemic landscape.
• Reducing workplace stigma and promoting open dialogue on addiction.
• Understanding and addressing addiction among healthcare professionals.
• Specialized support for vulnerable workers, including the sex industry.
• Peer support programs: Building workplace networks for recovery.