In June 2024, the International Society of Substance Use Professionals and the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction hosted a global in-person event in Thessaloniki, Greece, titled “The Art of Healing: A New Era in Substance Use Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Recover Support.” The conference included workshops, training sessions, and cultural events for higher education faculty and researchers across the globe. Overall, the meeting organizers sought to:
- Provide an opportunity for professionals and organizations to seed and lead collaborations, partnerships, and exchange of ideas in the rapidly changing field of substance use
- Allow the dissemination of state of substance use science, and best practices from across the globe — this helps professionals stay updated on trends
- Enable early career researchers to present their research, as well as learn from and connect with experts in the field
- Showcase achievements, innovations, and milestones
The NIDA International Program provided support for Diana Tzek Salazar to attend the event and present her research on using simulated patient models to train and evaluate health professionals. Ms. Salazar holds a master’s degree in addiction psychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In her current role at the School of Psychology at UNAM, Ms. Salazar conducts research to develop innovative mental health care models for the treatment and prevention of substance use disorder.
For more information about the meeting, visit the event website.