WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
The inaugural 2024 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science aims to bring together researchers at all stages of training and experience to stimulate exchange of ideas and allow for the presentation of cutting-edge research across the spectrum of alcohol and other drug use disorders and affected populations. This is the first national conference specifically dedicated to substance use disorder recovery science.
The Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS) is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to increase our understanding of recovery support services, particularly for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are using or have used OUD treatment medications, through research networking, training students and early career scientists, and building community partnerships.
The second annual 2025 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science aims to bring together researchers at all stages of training and experience to stimulate exchange of ideas and allow for the presentation of cutting-edge research across the spectrum of alcohol and other drug use disorders and affected populations. This is the first national conference specifically dedicated to substance use disorder recovery science.
The Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS) is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to increase our understanding of recovery support services, particularly for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are using or have used OUD treatment medications, through research networking, training students and early career scientists, and building community partnerships.
The National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science will be taking place virtually on:
Early bird and student discounts are available!
The National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science is hosting a research mentor-mentee match system by which students, community members, postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty interested in a research career (as an investigator or research staff) can be matched with more well-established research mentors who are invested in advancing the field of recovery science. We will make every effort to match individuals based on their recovery research interests. We also expect all interactions to be respectful and professional between mentors and mentees. These mentorship meetings are meant to further the career development, research ideas, or potential longer-term collaboration. We will host a research mentor/mentee meet up virtually during 11AM – 12PM ET on the second day of the conference (April 24th) and ask that mentors and mentees meet up virtually one additional time before or after the conference.
Please note sign ups will be forthcoming for folks registered for the conference. You do not need to have a presentation accepted, but we do ask that our mentor-mentees be registered for NCARS.
The broad 2024 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science theme is
The second annual 2025 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science aims to bring together researchers at all stages of training and experience to stimulate exchange of ideas and allow for the presentation of cutting-edge research across the spectrum of alcohol and other drug use disorders and affected populations. This is the first national conference specifically dedicated to substance use disorder recovery science.
The Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS) is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to increase our understanding of recovery support services, particularly for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are using or have used OUD treatment medications, through research networking, training students and early career scientists, and building community partnerships.
Historical information: The broad 2024 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science theme was Building a Foundation of Recovery Science.
The 2024 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science includes several thematic areas within this broader theme. These include:
• Youth, Young Adults, and Family
• Health Disparities
• Defining and Measuring Recovery
• Recovery Capital
• Recovery Milestones
• Recovery Pathways/Phenotypes
• Recovery Services Workforce Development
• Harm Reduction and Recovery
• Recovery Support Services (e.g., Housing, Community Centers, etc.)
• Other topics focused on recovery are welcome
Thank you for submitting your proposals for the 2025 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science. We appreciate your contributions and we are no longer accepting submissions.
See below for details
Word limit for poster submissions is 300 words, and word limit for symposia and roundtables is 700 words. All submissions will be peer-reviewed, and participants will be notified of accept/reject decisions by late January, 2025. Time and space considerations as well as program priorities will factor into acceptance decisions and assignment to oral or poster sessions. As first author, presenters are limited to only one poster presentation and one symposium or roundtable. However, presenters can be co-author on multiple submissions.
The 2025 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science (NCARS) will bring together researchers at all stages of training and experience to stimulate exchange of ideas and allow for the presentation of cutting-edge research across the spectrum of alcohol and other drug use disorders and affected populations. This is the only national conference specifically dedicated to substance use disorder recovery science.
The inaugural 2024 National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science (NCARS) brought together 314 delegates from across 3 countries and 38 U.S. states. The event featured powerful keynote presentations by Nora Volkow, George Koob, and William White, in addition to a distinguished panel with Tom Coderre, Tisha Wiley, Laura Kwako, Paolo del Vecchio, and Peter Gaumond. The program included 42 breakout sessions, comprised of 11 symposia, 7 roundtables, and 24 poster presentations, addressing 9 key areas in recovery science. These topics ranged from health disparities to recovery capital and recovery support services, highlighting the mission of building a foundation of recovery science.
The Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS), which hosts and organizes NCARS, is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to increase our understanding of recovery support services, particularly for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are using or have used OUD treatment medications, through research networking, training students and early career scientists, and building community partnerships.
• Youth, Young Adults, and Family
• Health Disparities
• Defining and Measuring Recovery
• Recovery Capital
• Recovery Pathways/Phenotypes/Milestones
• Recovery Services Workforce Development (e.g., peer recovery support specialists)
• Harm Reduction and Recovery
• Recovery Support Services (e.g., Housing, Community Centers, etc.)
• Other topics focused on recovery are welcome
Symposium Presentation (1 hour): These are formal, thematic presentations. These proposals should include three to four symposium presenters, one of whom will be the introductant/discussant. Each presenter will have 15 minutes, with roughly 15 minutes at the end for discussion. The discussion is intended to be interactive with audience participation strongly encouraged.
Poster Presentation (1 hour): These presentations provide an opportunity for groups or individuals to display their program descriptions and research findings in a poster format. A virtual poster board area will be available for each poster. Each poster presentation will consist of a 3-minute pre-recorded voice over as well as a virtual area for Q & A.
Roundtable (1-hour session): These should include up to five participants, including a moderator, who will have an opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion about a specific topic. Proposals should describe how they will address the components of roundtables: (1) brief overview of the topic to be discussed, (2) nature and orchestration of the interactive discussion.
Please note: A presenter may be first author on only one session, either a symposium or a roundtable. However, in addition to being fist author for a session, individuals are welcome to participate in multiple presentations and may also submit a poster. Please be mindful of the number of presentations you are involved in, as space constraints may make it challenging to schedule each one in a unique time slot.
Original Research/Research Methods: Sessions will include prospective and retrospective studies that are also likely to include specified research questions, hypothesis testing, and data collection and analysis.
Systematic Review Summary: Sessions will include scholarly discussions of a specific topic via a review of the current literature in a given area.
Challenges and Facilitators in Implementation Science: Sessions will describe lessons learned regarding community engagement and implementation issues such as fidelity to evidence-based treatment, recruitment/follow-up, and partner engagement. These are similar to our CoARS monthly seminars.
Note: The conference adheres to the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors consensus statement which recommends against the use of terminology that can stigmatize people who use alcohol, drugs, other addictive substances or who have an addictive behavior (https://www.isaje.net/addiction-terminology.html). Please also see the Addictionary at www.recoveryanswers.org for guidance when developing abstracts and final presentations.
Recovery from alcohol use disorder (NIAAA definition): process through which an individual pursues both remission from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cessation from heavy drinking. An individual may be considered “recovered” if both remission from AUD and cessation from heavy drinking are achieved and maintained over time. For those experiencing alcohol-related functional impairment and other adverse consequences, recovery is often marked by the fulfillment of basic needs, enhancements in social support and spirituality, and improvements in physical and mental health, quality of life, and other dimensions of well-being. Continued improvement in these domains may, in turn, promote sustained recovery.
Recovery from substance use disorder (NIDA definition): Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Even people with severe and chronic substance use disorders can, with help, overcome their illness and regain health and social function. This is called remission. Being in recovery is when those positive changes and values become part of a voluntarily adopted lifestyle. While many people in recovery believe that abstinence from all substance use is a cardinal feature of a recovery lifestyle, others report that handling negative feelings without using substances and living a contributive life are more important parts of their recovery.
Adolescents: People between the ages of 12–17 years
Co-existing disability: A substance use disorder and a disability
Co-occurring disorder: A substance use and mental health disorder
Evidence-based: Knowledge that is supported by research results that are statistically significant
Families: Parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, and caregivers of youth
Health Disparities: “Differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.” —NIH Strategic Research Plan and Budget to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate Health Disparities, Vol. 1, Fiscal Years 2002–2006
Transition Age Youth: People transitioning from adolescence into young adulthood between the ages of 16–28 years. The term emerging adult is also used.
NCARS took place over the span of two days. See below for a schedule.
Click here to see a PDF version of our 2024 agenda, or keep scrolling to see more.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24th
| GENERAL SESSION STREAM 1 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 2 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 3 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 - 12:00 | OPENING REMARKS KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Nora Volkow, George Koob, Bill White | |||
| 12:00 - 12:30 | LUNCH BREAK | |||
| 12:30 - 1:30 | . | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION COARS: Building Infrastructure to Advance Research on Addiction Recovery Aaron Hogue, Amy Maricle, Jennifer Potter, Jay Unick, Kristyn Zajac | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION The Impact of Peer Support pecialists in Inpatient, Emergency Department, and Outpatient Settings Kaileigh Byrne, Irene Pencot-Valverdle, Michael Crouch, Alain Litwin | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Partnering with State Departments of Health: Qualitative Findings from Harm Reduction Consumers Angela Hagaman, Bill Brooks, Marissa Kluk, Jody Teel |
| 1:45 - 2:45 | . | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION The Measure of Our Work Insights Gained from the Peer Recovery Workforce Siena Castedo de Martell, Angela Hagaman, Craig Henderson, Bettina Hoeppner, Felecia Pullen | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Youth with Chronic Illnesses & Substance Use: Clinical & Implementation Perspectives to Treatment Faith Summersett Williams, Sharon Levy, Elissa R Weitzman | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Collegiate Recovery: Current State of the Research and Future Directions Noel Vest, PhD, Chelsea Shore, PhD, Justin Bell, PhD Candidate |
| 3:00 - 4:00 | . | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Advancing Community-Based Participatory Research on Recovery Support Services Emerging Topics Emily Pasman, Ryan E. Finn, Kathryn R. Gallardo, Tesa K. Drazdowksi | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Lessons in Measurement: Practice Relevant Measurement of Recovery in Community Settings Jay Unick, Gabby Knighton, Jennifer Brown, Yali Deng | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Peer work and Recovery: A Relationship Approach Heather Howard, John Hulick, David Whitesock |
| 4:15 - 5:30 | ALL POSTER PRESENTATIONS | |||
| 5:30 - 5:45 | EARLY CAREER POSTER AWARDS | |||
| 5:45 - 6:30 | POSTER OFFICE HOURS | |||
THURSDAY, APRIL 25th
| GENERAL SESSION STREAM 1 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 2 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 3 | BREAKOUT SESSION STREAM 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 - 11:30 | OPENING REMARKS | |||
| 11:30 - 12:30 | . | ROUNDTABLE MOUD Clinic Engagement: The Rewards and Challenges of Research Collaboration Angela Hagaman, Aaron Hogue, John Venza, Robert Pack, Timothy Smyth | ROUNDTABLE Building capacity for community-engaged peer recovery research through the IRIS Fellowship Jon Gilgoff, Victoria Barreira, Erika Shook, Heather Raley, Domain Teat, Xavier Justice, Jennifer Carrano | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION New Findings Supporting the Critical Role of Recovery Housing Amy Mericle, Meenakshi Subbaraman, Elizabeth Mahoney, Rachel Winograd |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | LUNCH BREAK | |||
| 1:30 - 2:30 | . | ROUNDTABLE Using recovery-specific measurement to advance addiction recovery Elisabeth Okrant, PhD, MPH, Genie Bailey, MD, Alisa Busch, MD, MS, Sarah Scholle, DrPH, MPH | ROUNDTABLE Racial Equity and its impact on sustainability of recovery in Communities of Color Dr. Corrie Vilsaint, Julia Ojeda M.Ed, Michael Askew, Anita Bradley MSW, Carolina Ayala | ROUNDTABLE Lessons from Start Ups and Preliminary Research with Traditional Health Workers in Recovery Services Tess K. Drazdowski, Camille C. Cioffi, Angela Hagaman, Kristyn Zajac, Sierra Brantley |
| 2:45 - 3:45 | . | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF US SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES Emily A. Hennessy, David Eddie, Corrie L. Vilsaint, Brandon G. Bergman | ROUNDTABLE Cultivating Lived Expertise in the Research Enterprise Eden Buell, James Tompkins, Martha Tillson, Sierra Castedo de Martell, Patrick Hibbard | SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION Understanding Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder Among a Black Community Sharon Reif, Robert Dunigan, Adam Vose-O'Neal, Shanesha Christmas |
| 4:00 - 5:00 | CLOSING REMARKS KEYNOTE PANEL: Tom Coderre, Tisha Wiley, Laura Kwako, Paolo del Vecchio, Peter Gaumond | |||
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24th
4:15PM – 5:30PM: PRE-RECORDED POSTER VIDEOS
5:30PM – 5:45PM: EARLY CAREER POSTER AWARDS
5:45PM – 6:30PM: LIVE POSTER “OFFICE HOURS”
If you are presenting at NCARS, link with more detailed information about presentation requirements can be found here.
Wednesday, April 24th 11:00am – 12:00pm EST
Thursday, April 25th 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
Three types of sessions may be submitted:
• Symposium Presentation (1 hour): These are formal, thematic presentations. These proposals should include three to four symposium presenters, one of whom will be an introductant and discussant. Each presenter will have 15 minutes, with roughly 15 minutes at the end for discussion. The discussion is intended to be interactive with audience participation strongly encouraged.
• Poster Presentation (1 hour): These presentations provide an opportunity for groups or individuals to display their program descriptions and research findings in a poster format. A virtual poster board area will be available for each poster. Each poster presentation will consist of a 3-minute pre-recorded voice over as well as a virtual area for Q & A.
• Roundtable (1-hour session): These should include up to five participants, including a moderator, who will have an opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion about a specific topic. Proposals should describe how they will address the components of roundtables: (1) brief overview of the topic to be discussed, (2) nature and orchestration of the interactive discussion.
There are three categories of presentations:
• Original Research/Research Methods: Sessions will include prospective and retrospective studies that are also likely to include specified research questions, hypothesis testing, and data collection and analysis.
• Systematic Review Summary: Sessions will include scholarly discussions of a specific topic via a review of the current literature in a given area.
• Challenges and Facilitators in Implementation Science: Sessions will describe lessons learned regarding community engagement and implementation issues such as fidelity to evidence-based treatment, recruitment/follow-up, and partner engagement.
• Note: The conference adheres to the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors consensus statement which recommends against the use of terminology that can stigmatize people who use alcohol, drugs, other addictive substances or who have an addictive behavior (https://www.isaje.net/addiction-terminology.html). Please also see the Addictionary at rristage.wpengine.com for guidance when developing abstracts and final presentations.
• Adolescents: People between the ages of 12–17 years
• Co-Existing Disability: A substance use disorder and a disability
• Co-Occurring Disorder: A substance use and mental health disorder
• Evidence-Based: Knowledge that is supported by research results that are statistically significant
• Families: Parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers of youth
• Health Disparities: “Differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.” —NIH Strategic Research Plan and Budget to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate Health Disparities, Vol. 1, Fiscal Years 2002–2006
• Transition Age Youth: People transitioning from adolescence into young adulthood between the ages of 18–27 years
Organized and hosted by the Consortium on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS)
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