JOIN US MARCH 17-21, 2025

2025 CONFERENCE THEME

Coming Soon

Welcome to Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies.

jOIN US FOR THE 2025 CONFERENCE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU MARCH 17-21, 2025.

NOW ACCEPTING PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR 2025: SUBMIT NOW

WELCOME TO THE 2025 CONFERENCE


 

The Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (ASADS) is preparing for another well-attended and highly informative annual conference on March 17 – 21, 2025. ASADS’s 49th Annual Conference will take place at the Bryant Conference Center on the campus of the University of Alabama. This year’s theme is “Building Resilient Communities: Engaging in Prevention, Treatment and Recovery.” You can look forward to vibrant programming, impactful networking, and opportunities to reflect and connect over emerging and relevant topics.

ASADS is hosted annually by numerous state agencies, treatment/prevention programs, community partners, and primary health care providers. This year ASADS will offer a special plenary speaker each day, over forty courses throughout the week, and the presentation of the Carl Nowell Award.

The ASADS Board consists of up to twenty-three members, which plan and operate the annual conference. Planning is conducted for twelve months to provide the best workshops possible for attendees. Registration fees, exhibit fees, and corporate sponsorships are used to pay for the faculty and expenses of the conference. Included in registration fees are workshop content, conference materials, logistical support, and breaks. Members of the Board serve as volunteers to coordinate the conference.

ASADS wants to ensure that our event will be safe for all attendees. ASADS will follow the Bryant Conference Center guidelines and observe all health and safety precautions that the site requires.

Sincerely,
ASADS Board of Directors

 

2025 BROCHURE coming soon!   REGISTration opens January 1, 2025



conference agenda

Call For Presentations

Quality workshops are scheduled to provide a quality educational experience that will enhance both professional growth and job performance. Do you have a presentation that you would like to offer for next year’s school? The submission deadline for the 2025 conference is September 1, 2024.

Learn More

Carl Nowell Award Recipients

The Carl Nowell Leadership Award is presented each year to honor a person who embodies the following characteristics:

  • A person who shows dedication and persistence through leadership in the field of prevention and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse services on a local, state, and national level.
  • A person who displays steadfast commitment through relentless effort, competence, and planning to improve those services and programs.
  • A person who operates with a team mentality and recognizes that significant change is achieved only through the action of many individuals working together.
  • A person who shares a vision for exciting possibilities and possesses an absolute belief in his/her ability to make extraordinary things happen.

We are currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Carl Nowell Award. The deadline for submission is Feb 28, 2025.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

Conference Location
Bryant Conference Center
240 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487


Host Hotel
Hotel Capstone
320 Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Phone: (205) 752‐3200


 

ABOUT US

ASADS exist to foster and maintain the integrity of alcohol and substance abuse related services for consumers and provide continuing education and educational programs for professionals working with populations affected by alcohol and substance abuse.

In doing so, we wish to coordinate between federal, state and local agencies to enhance the development of comprehensive educational programs focusing on alcohol and substance abuse issues. This will set a high standard of professional education and training through educational conferences and programs of continuing education.

OUR MISSION

To provide affordable quality education to the community on substance abuse treatment, prevention, and other areas of shared concern.

OUR VISION

To lead the effort in promoting a broader understanding and acceptance of the process of addiction.

 

Our Board

Continuing Education Units - CEUs

ASADS is excited to offer our conference participants CEUs.  Click the button below for ASADS CEU information.

CEU Info

Thank you to all ASADS Exhibitors and Sponsors.

2024 Platinum Sponsors

2024 Gold Sponsors

2024 Silver Sponsors

2024 Patrons

2024 Supporters

Lanyard/Badge Supporter: Cumberland Heights

Commemorative T-Shirt Supporter: Alabama Department of Mental Health

Commemorative T-Shirt Supporter: Alabama Department of Public Health

Commemorative Swag Bag Supporter: Opioid Response Network (ORN)

Commemorative Swag Bag Supporter: Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services

Commemorative Swag Bag Supporter: Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (SAATC)

Questions

    Call for Presentations

    The 49th Annual 2025 ASADS Conference planning is well underway. We are very pleased once again to offer an interdisciplinary training and education opportunity designed to equip health care providers and students with all the latest tools and resources to enhance practice and service delivery. The Conference will be held, once again, on the University of Alabama campus at the Bryant Conference Center, March 17th – 21st, 2025.

    This is a call for abstract proposals from health care providers, faculty, clinicians, practitioners, medical and mental health professionals, addictionologists, and others currently practicing in mental health, faith-based service providers, medical, and substance use prevention and treatment fields. We are particularly welcoming of those serving special populations such as our veterans, youth, college age and young adult clients, pregnant and parenting women, the faith community, law enforcement and first responders, and other unique and diverse groups. Presentation submissions will be reviewed and evaluated for relevance and significance in the areas of Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Services. The ASADS Board of Directors will soon be identifying a Conference theme, but all topics related to the prevention and treatment of substance use and the impacts on individuals, communities, and practice are welcomed! The abstract portal will be open beginning April 20th, 2024.

    Please utilize the following guidelines when submitting your proposals, using the
    following link:

    1. Click submission to enter your information.
    2. Provide a descriptive abstract (500 words or less) of your presentation.
    3. Provide a short summary (3 sentences) for use on the conference app.
    4. Provide 2-4 learning objectives utilizing the objective guidance tool attached to this email.
    5. Presenter information to include a biographical sketch of each presenter.
      a. Attach resume.
      b. Include a professional headshot photo.

    The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2024.

    Suggested Topics are listed below but not limited to the following:

    Prevention Topics include, but are not limited to, HIV/AIDS, prevention ethics, managing disruptive behavior, sustainability planning, cultural competency and addressing behavioral health disparities underage drinking, community-level change strategies, coalition building/development, prescription drug abuse, prevention advocacy, marijuana prevention education/legalization, mental health promotion, suicide prevention, prevention programs geared toward specific populations (youth, college, military, etc.) and impact on the workplace.

    Youth Development Topics include, but are not limited to, evidence-based practices in working with youth, relationship between youth development and prevention, treatment and/or recovery, youth voice and choice, youth led campaigns, high-impact activities, creating youth friendly spaces, understanding the teen brain, and building effective relationships with youth.

    Treatment Topics include, but are not limited to, abstinence based treatment, addiction counseling competencies, treatment addressing the need of specific populations (veterans, adolescents, collegiate, gender, LGBTQ, young adults), co-occurring disorders, ethics, evidence-based programs, strategies for family treatment, medication-assisted treatment, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, senior population and substance use, technology based therapeutic tools, trauma, clinical supervision.

    Recovery Topics include, but are not limited to, recovery support services, role of peer based recovery support, forensic peer specialists, youth peer support, creating a culture of recovery, medication in support of recovery, recovery community organizations (funding and making the business case), science of addiction and recovery, creating the expectation of recovery, role of family and community in recovery, and addiction advocacy in local communities.

    Wellness for Professional Topics include, but are not limited to, personal wellness for substance abuse counselors, doing our own work: a parallel process, impairment prevention, setting boundaries for self-care, identifying risk factors, life balance, self-checkup, finding renewal, cultivating habits of self-care, career-sustaining strategies, burnout, coping skills, stress management, practicing mindfulness, and wellness activities-cognitive, emotional, physical and spiritual.

    Leadership and Organizational Development include, but not limited to, effective leadership strategies, running efficient organizations, leadership development, promoting wellness and employee satisfaction and sustainability, quality improvement, branding, and marketing in the mental health care arena, teamwork, data and outcome measures for organizational success.

    HOW TO SUBMIT  SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

    2024 Award Recipient

    Dr. Karen Falck Marlowe

    Previous Winners

    Pamela Butler (2023)Dr. Darlene Traffanstedt (2022)Christopher Retan (2021)Carol Potok (2020)
    Gwen Thomas-LeBlanc (2019)Sarah Harkless (2018)Patrick Tidwell (2017)
    Foster Cook (2016)
    Richard Bonds (2015)Theodore Mitchell (2014)Kathy House (2013)
    Callie Dietz (2012)
    Kent Hunt (2011)
    Susan Reid (2010)Elana Parker (2009)Carl Nowell (2008)

    ASADS is currently accepting nominations for the Carl Nowell Leadership Award to be given during the 2020 Annual School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. All nominations in the area of substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery are welcomed.





















       

       

      NAME TITLE AGENCY
      Kathy House President Opioid Response Network
      Debbi Sims Metzger Vice President Dept. of Mental Health
      Vanessa Goepel Treasurer University of Alabama
      Lucy Douglas  Parliamentarian Veteran Military Crisis Line
      Rachel Kiefer Secretary Dept. of Mental Health
      Brandi Brown Board of Dir. Dept. of Rehab Services
      Roderick Chambers Board of Dir. Bureau of Pardons and Paroles
      Scott Holmes Board of Dir. Federal Bureau of Prisons
      Jackie Hill Gordon Board of Dir. VA Medical Center-Tuscaloosa
      Gail Hooper Board of Dir. Drug Education Council
      Sandy Johnson Board of Dir. Montgomery Family Court
      Shona Johnson Board of Dir. Walker Recovery Center
      Lonnie Layton Board of Dir. Alliance Health Center
      Rodney Maiden Board of Dir. Troy University
      Abby Migliore Board of Dir. Board of Nursing
      Donna Oates Board of Dir. Administrative Office of Courts
      Greg Snodgrass Board of Dir. Cumberland Heights
      Sheree Logan Towne Board of Dir. NAADAC
      Shannon Weston Board of Dir. Dept of Youth Services
      Advisory Board
      Elana P. Merriweather Chair Dept. of Mental Health
      William Bomar Advisory Board VA Medical Center-Tuscaloosa
      Carmela Y. Drake Advisory Board Alabama State University
      Savannah Fell Advisory Board Walker Recovery Center
      Rhonda Lawless Advisory Board Rhonda Lawless Consulting, LLC
      Curt Lindsley Advisory Board Alabama Alliance for Recovery Readiness
      Derek Osborn Advisory Board Turning Point Treatment Facility
      Sharmen Rutherford Advisory Board All Things New Counseling Services, LLC
      Tom Mihokanich Advisory Board ASADS Business Manager, WTM & Associates
      Jaime Vazquez Advisory Board WTM & Associates

      The list below is CEUs that were offered for the 2023 conference. We are working to verify CEUs for the 2024 conference.

      Organization Detail
      AADAA AADAA: Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies conference has been approved by AADAA. 

       

      Alabama Psychological Association (aPa): This program is sponsored by the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (ASADS) and the Alabama Psychological Association (aPA). The Alabama Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Alabama Psychological Association (aPA) maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is approved for number (numeral) credit hours for psychologists by the Alabama Psychological Association (aPA). Partial attendance, late arrival, or early departure will preclude the issuance of CE credits.

       

      AL Board of Examiners of
      Nursing Home Administrators
      Alabama Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators: This program has been approved for 27 hours of continuing education by the Alabama Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

       

      NAADAC: ASADS is an approved provider of continuing education by NAADAC Provider number 111584.
      Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners: Chosen courses must meet Alabama Social Workers requirement 0502.
      NBCC: Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP # 6600. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
      Alabama Board of Nursing: ASADS is an approved provider of continuing education by the Alabama Board of Nursing ABNP1475, expiration date 2/01/2025.
      ADRS: The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) to sponsor continuing education credits for counselors. Provider number 00060639.
      CRCC: CRCC acknowledges it is the responsibility of the participant to actively participate in a program for the benefit of furthering their professional education. However, CRCC encourages all providers of continuing education to actively monitor participation in a program or activity prior to awarding credit to certificates.