Addictions 2025
- Continuing Education
Explore cutting-edge, evidence-based strategies to treat addiction and comorbid disorders in this dynamic course led by top experts from McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
- Live Online; In Person
Participants may attend either virtually or in person.
Mass General Brigham, Somerville, MA
Continuing Education Credits
Earn up to:
14.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
14.00 ANCC contact hours
13.75 NBCC hours
13.50 Social Work hours
View All
On This Page
Overview
In 2023, an estimated 48 million Americans experienced a substance use disorder, underscoring the urgent and ongoing national crisis of addiction. The opioid epidemic, in particular, has fueled devastating consequences, including skyrocketing overdose deaths. Addiction impacts nearly every facet of life—it contributes to numerous health problems, fractures families and relationships, and leaves individuals isolated, depressed, and at heightened risk of suicide. The bidirectional relationship between addiction and comorbid disorders further complicates treatment, as each condition can exacerbate the other.
Compounding these challenges, individuals with addiction often minimize or deny the severity of their struggles, resisting treatment. Yet, every year, countless Americans overcome addiction with the support of healthcare professionals and evidence-based interventions.
McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric hospital of Harvard Medical School, is proud to present this annual conference, which brings together leading experts in the addiction field. This comprehensive program will highlight the latest evidence-based treatments, strategies for addressing the complexities of comorbid disorders, and approaches for working with special populations.
Participants will also benefit from smaller, interactive breakout sessions each afternoon, designed to deepen understanding and enhance practical skills in an engaging format. Join us for an invaluable opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a distinguished and accomplished faculty in advancing the care and outcomes for individuals facing addiction.
Learning Objectives
- Outline comprehensive treatment strategies for substance use disorders integrating medications and psychosocial treatments
- Customize treatments for special populations, including women and adolescents
- Describe current, scientifically accepted uses of medical cannabis
- Explain how to identify and treat gambling disorder
- Identify and incorporate mindfulness techniques in addiction treatment
- Offer treatment strategies for different forms of nicotine use disorder
- Discuss treatment strategies for people with comorbidities such as PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders
- Implement motivational interviewing techniques with patients
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Mclean Hospital.
Participant Types
Psychiatrists, Primary Care Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Specialty Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Counselors
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Friday, September 19, 2025
Welcome and Introduction
Christopher Palmer; Roger Weiss; Shelly Greenfield
7:45-8:00 am
Update on Psychedelics for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Joji Suzuki
8:00-9:00 am
Keynote Address: Scientific Advances in the Addiction Field
Nora Volkow
9:00-9:55 am
Break
9:55-10:10 am
Gambling Disorder
Tim Fong
10:10-11:05 am
Treating Anxiety in People with Substance Use Disorders
R. Kathryn McHugh
11:05 am-12:00 pm
Lunch Break (on your own)
12:00-1:15 pm
Workshop
1:15-2:45 pm
Women and Substance Use
Shelly Greenfield
1:15-2:45 pm
Marijuana
Tim Fong
1:15-2:45 pm
Break
2:45-3:00 pm
Workshop
3:00-4:30 pm
Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Roger Weiss
3:00-4:30 pm
Motivational Interviewing
Joji Suzuki
3:00-4:30 pm
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Advances in Treatments for PTSD and SUD
Denise Hien
8:00-9:00 am
Mindfulness in Addiction Treatment
Zev Schuman-Olivier
9:00-10:00 am
Break
10:00-10:15 am
Stimulant Use Disorders
Richard Rawson
10:15-11:15 am
Question and Answer Panel Discussion
Denise Hien; Zev Schuman-Olivier; Christopher Palmer; Richard Rawson
11:15 am-12:00 pm
Lunch Break
12:00-1:15 pm
Workshop
1:15-2:45 pm
Adolescent Substance Use
Marisa Silveri
1:15-2:45 pm
Biomarkers in Alcohol Use Disorder
David Garza
1:15-2:45 pm
Break
2:45-3:00 pm
Workshop
3:00-4:30 pm
Smoking Cessation
Eden Evins
3:00-4:30 pm
Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Sarah Wakeman
3:00-4:30 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Christopher Palmer, MD
Course Director
- Founder and Director, Metabolic and Mental Health Program, McLean Hospital
- Director, Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education, McLean Hospital
- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Roger Weiss, MD
Course Director
- Chief, Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction
- Director, Alcohol, Drug, and Addiction Clinical Research Program, McLean Hospital
- Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Shelly F. Greenfield, MD, MPH
Course Director
- Chief Academic Officer, Kristine M. Trustey Endowed Chair in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital
- Chief, Center of Excellence in Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital
- Director, Alcohol, Drug and Addiction Clinical and Health Services Research Program, McLean Hospital
- Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Lela Dalton-D'Andrea
Eden Evins, MD, PHD
Cox Family Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Addiction Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Addiction Medicine
Tim Fong, MD
Professor of Psychiatry
Steering Committee, UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids
President Elect, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
David Martinez Garza,
Assistant Professor, The University of Miami
Denise Hien, PhD, ABPP
Senior Vice Provost for Research, Chancellor’s Office, Rutgers-New Brunswick
Helen E. Chaney Endowed Chair in Alcohol Studies
Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
R. Kathryn McHugh, PhD
Chief of Psychology, McLean Hospital
Director, Stress, Anxiety and Substance Use Laboratory, McLean Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Richard Rawson, PhD
Research Professor, Vermont Center for Behavior and Health at UVM
Professor Emeritus, UCLA Department of Psychiatry
Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD
Founding Center Director, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Director of Addiction Research, Interim Medical Director, Outpatient Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance
Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Marisa Silveri, PhD
Director, Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Joji Suzuki, MD
Director, Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Program Director, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Gail Tsimprea, PhD
Nora Volkow, MD
Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health
Sarah Wakeman, MD
Senior Medical Director, Substance Use Disorder at Mass General Brigham
Medical Director, MGH Substance Use Disorder Initiative
Director, Program for Substance Use and Addiction Services, MGH Division of General Internal Medicine
Location Information
This program may be attended in person or live online. You will choose an attendance option when you register.
Venue
Mass General Brigham
399 Revolution Drive
Somerville, MA 02145
Hotel Reservations
Participants are invited to book rooms for the following hotels, which are both within walking distance of the conference center.
- The Row Hotel at Assembly Row, Autograph Collection
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boston Somerville
Request Information
Interested in learning more about this program? Sign up for details.
Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, breakfast, and electronic syllabus. Printed syllabus will be available for purchase to in person attendees for a fee of $75; we are unable to ship printed syllabi orders. Course material will be electronically available to all attendees.
| Role | Standard Price |
|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $575.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $395.00 |
| PA | $395.00 |
| Psychologist | $575.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $395.00 |
| Social Worker | $395.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $395.00 |
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.00 ANCC contact hours, of which 11.75 is eligible for pharmacology credit.
McLean Hospital is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. McLean Hospital maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Participants meeting requirements will receive 13.75 CE credits. Psychologist must attend 100% of the conference in order to receive APA credit.
McLean Hospital has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP™ No. 6085. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. McLean Hospital is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This offering meets the requirements for up to 13.75 NBCC hours.
An application has been submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification for 13.75 credit hours.
The sponsor of this program has been approved to offer 13.75 hours of Continuing Education credit for Certified Addiction Specialists (CAS) in accordance with the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders. Approval #25-1440.
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 13.75 credits of Risk Management Study. This includes:
1.50 credits of Opioid Education and Pain Management Training
1.50 credit of Medical Marijuana Training
Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.
This program has been approved for 13.5 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, D93072.