Art of Healing: A new era in substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support’ International Event in Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki, Greece - 24 June 2024: The vibrant city of Thessaloniki will host the highly anticipated "Art of Healing" Conference, an event dedicated to exploring the science and practice of Substance Use Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment and Recovery support. Scheduled to take place from June 23-28 at The International Exhibition & Congress Centre of TIF-HELEXPO, this conference promises to bring together a diverse group of experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the globe.

The Art of Healing Conference aims to create a platform for dialogue and collaboration among therapists, healthcare professionals, and those with lived experience. The event will feature a rich program of keynote speeches, interactive workshops, trainings, panel discussions, and poster sessions, all designed to highlight the latest therapeutic potential and workforce developments taking places in a global community of substance use professionals.

This event is being organised by International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR), the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), Centers for the Prevention of Addictions and the Promotion of Psychosocial Health (SEIRIOS), and ISSUP Greece.

Prior to the main conference, which takes place from June 26-28, participants can engage in hands-on workshops and thought-provoking training sessions that cover a wide range of topics related to the prevention, treatment and recovery support of substance use. The main conference dates June 26-28, 2024 will have at least three Plenaries, thirty-two sub-plenary sessions and over one hundred separate presentations on the state of science in substance use.

The conference will also showcase posters on epidemiology, harm reduction, prevention, treatment and recovery support. These posters will feature a range of works from covering a spectrum of emerging and established methods for personal and communal healing.

Attendees will have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, fostering new partnerships and collaborations in the field of substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support

“ISSUP is delighted to be in Europe to meet our ISSUP members and connect them with a huge range of professionalisation opportunities, we look forward to being part of the exchange of knowledge and sharing of knowhow,” said Joanna Travis-Roberts, ISSUP Global Chief Executive.

“The issue of substance use is a global issue and affects not only the individual, but the family and community. To effectively address the challenges of this area whether prevention, harm reduction, treatment or recovery we need an effective and efficient workforce.  Conferences like the one here this week brings together scientists, practitioners, individual with lived experience where we can share and learn from each other, learn about the latest prevention or treatment techniques and remind ourselves of the importance of recovery and recovery support.” said Dr. Kevin Mulvey, Executive Director of ICUDDR.

The event will be held with the support of the Colombo Plan, the Global Center for Accreditation and Certification (GCCC), the Organisation of American States, Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS-CICAD), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the Organisation Against Drugs (OKANA), and the City of Thessaloniki, among other international partner organisations.