“Craving Management: A New Look at Relapse”

February 24, 2012   9:00 AM-4:45 PM

Description:

For many people with addiction, before there is time to engage the “thinking brain”, something can trigger the “go” circuit leading to cravings. Individuals with weaker “brakes,” may have much greater difficulty managing cravings which increases the risk for addiction, and/or relapse. Better understanding of the brain mechanisms associated with addiction, emotion and motivation are challenging some of the long held beliefs about why people with substance use disorders relapse. This workshop will examine scientific research, the “emotional brain”, the recovery process and effective craving management interventions. Participants will learn new treatment options and skills that enhance and compliment traditional cognitive behavioral interventions to manage cravings.

 PDF Brochure 

Audience:

Your target audience will consist of mental health professionals including substance abuse counselors, social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, school counselors and other professionals interested in this subject.

Location:

Mountain Area Health Education Center, Pisgah Room, 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville

Faculty:

Jeffrey Georgi, MDiv CSAC CCS

Contact: http://www.mahec.net/AboutUs/re_mental.aspx?a=1

or elizabeth.flemming@mahec.net

1st International US/European Conference

on Alcohol and Drug Abuse:Youths Dying

to Be An Adult

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Algarve, Portugal
Villa Monte Resort Conference Golf & Spa
www.vilamonte.com

Sponsored by Recovery in Reality, Portugal
Sponsored by GECS, United States

(More information on registration will follow)

Why This Conference?

Substance abuse and dependence accounts for one of the major disease groups in Europe within mental health in terms of prevalence as shown in the previous section, but has earned little attention in previous health economic research (Rehm and Gmel, 2001).

Prevalence of addiction in Europe is high and affects more than 10% of the population, with nicotine dependence being the most prevalent, and illicit drug dependence the least prevalent of SUDs. However, data on alcohol and drug dependence are scarce in several European nations, especially in the new admission countries. As SUDs constitute a major public health problem, for healthcare planning as well as for health policy it is indispensable to be able to quantify the problem. Although a fair amount of cost studies exist in addiction in Europe, there is a strong need for further studies in the field. Most studies identified are from the early 1990s and are based on methodology of varying quality. Moreover, most studies are top-down studies incorporating assumptions about the resource use in people suffering from addiction. Moreover, all studies identified were conducted in the major European countries or the Nordic countries, and thus no studies were found from the Central and Eastern European countries.

Five Conference Topics

• Adolescent Brain Development – The Learning Brain
• Review of Problem with Alcohol and Drugs Nationally
• Impact of Alcohol and Drugs
• Treatment and Strategy That Has Worked
• Best Practice For Adolescent Treatments (How Adolescent is Defined)

If you would like to be a sponsor for this conference please contact GECS at jeff@georgicounseling.com.