The Nineteenth Congress of Addiction Science will be held from October 21 to November 1, focusing on the events of the past year. Dr. Reza Daneshmand, the executive secretary of this session, states regarding the differences of this congress from previous ones: "The special conditions of the past year and a half in the country have affected all aspects of life, including mental health and the field of addiction, presenting new topics for specialists."
New Challenges in Addiction Treatment Management
Dr. Daneshmand points out that the most significant difference of this congress is addressing substance use management during periods of instability and war, stating: "Reduced access to treatment services, temporary and prolonged closures of many treatment centers, changes in individuals' living situations, and loss of access to new centers have created additional challenges for addiction treatment management."
He also refers to the impacts of stress and anxiety caused by war on increased substance use, saying: "This issue is not limited to war; social instabilities can be equally influential." This point represents a new aspect in this year's congress that has not been present in previous sessions.
Wide Participation of Specialists and Organizations
The executive secretary of the congress explains the composition of participants: "Accurately predicting the number of participants is difficult due to access and transportation conditions, but in previous years, between 2,500 and 3,000 people attended the congress. The range of participants includes specialists in the treatment field, such as psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and nurses, as well as self-help groups, NGOs, policymakers, experts, and officials from the Drug Control Headquarters, the Welfare Organization, and the Ministry of Health."
He hopes that this year the role of NGOs and civil society organizations will be more prominent, as they have carried a heavy burden in assisting users over the past year.
Dr. Daneshmand emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the vulnerable in critical conditions, stating: "We must not forget that in such situations, some of our fellow citizens are more vulnerable and may be at risk of substance-related harms. Our social duty is not to exclude them from society but to help them reintegrate into society and life."
He also points out the neglect of these individuals' problems during wartime, adding: "During the war, news and discussions were about everything, but there was no talk about those who were struggling. Many of them had no place to live and continued to live in hangouts and unsafe places under bombardment and the fires of war, with no access to any services. I think they have been overlooked."
At the Nineteenth Congress of Addiction Science, topics such as the epidemiology of addiction, biological aspects of addiction, psychosocial aspects in the etiology of addiction, addiction treatment, harm reduction, and policymaking in addiction, addiction and specific groups, comorbidities, and prevention of addiction, experiences, and innovations will be discussed and examined by experts and specialists in this field.
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