The Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction Conference 2025

Overview

The government’s 2022 10-Year Drugs Plan, designed to cut crime and save lives, represents a landmark approach to tackling the UK’s addiction crisis. As the need for effective support continues to grow, ensuring that individuals have access to high-quality care has become more vital than ever

• 310,863 adults aged 18 and over in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services between April 2023 and March 2024 (Gov UK)
• The annual societal cost of illegal drug and alcohol use is approximately £45 billion in England (Gov UK)
• Drug-related deaths have more than doubled since 2012, with around 5,000 deaths each year (Gov UK)
• Over 300,000 people are addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, and 600,000 are dependent on alcohol (Gov UK)

Join us at the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Conference 2025 to hear from leading experts, explore the latest treatment strategies, and gain insights on how we can build a more effective and inclusive support system for those in need.

Agenda

• 9.00am

  Registration

• 9.50am

  Chairs Opening Remarks

• 10.00am

  Keynote: Understanding Addiction and the Challenges of Rehabilitation

  • Exploring the psychological, physiological, and social factors that contribute to addiction
  • Understanding addiction as a response to external stressors and the link between addiction and mental health
  • Examining progress on the Addiction Healthcare goals, and future plans for treatment and prevention

  Representative Invited, APPG for Drugs, Alcohol and Justice (Invited)

• 10.20am

  Keynote: Educating About Safe Use and Providing Services

  • Strategies for educating people dependent on drugs on how to reduce risk of HIV, hepatitis C, and overdosing
  • Educating those dependent on alcohol on the severity and health risks of alcoholism
  • Strategies for providing safe spaces for those dependent on drugs to use substances safely
  • Guidance on effective outreach methods for marginalised and those who face barriers to accessing services

  Matt Pearce, Director of Public Health, West Berkshire Council (invited)

• 10.40am

  Questions and Answers 

• 11.00am

  Comfort Break 

• 11.15am

  Keynote: Addiction in Plain Sight: Intervening and Supporting High Functioning Individuals 

  • Identify characteristics of high-functioning individuals dependent on substances who may not immediately appear to be struggling with addiction
  • Explore effective strategies for offering support, treatment, and intervention for high-functioning individuals dependent on drugs without alienating or stigmatising them
• 11.35pm

  Keynote: Help for Young People

  • Outlining the challenges young people face in relation to addiction and substance use including the difference in the types of substances they may be addicted to
  • Guidance on providing education and early intervention strategies to prevent substance abuse in young people
  • Explore specialised treatment strategies for young people dependent on substances
  • Strategies for co-operating with families to provide the best intervention and care possibl1
• 11.55pm

  Case Study: Utilising AI to Tackle Opiod Overdoses

  • Explore the role of artificial intelligence in predicting and preventing opioid overdoses using body-worn devices
  • Best practice examples of the use of this technology

  Professor Sir John Strang, King’s College London (invited)

• 12.15pm

  Questions and Answers

• 12:35pm

  Lunch 

• 1.20pm

  Case Study: Supporting Ex-Offenders

  • Exploring successful models of rehabilitation within the prison system
  • Strategies for prison systems and housing services working together to reduce reoffending rates and support long-term recovery
  • The importance of collaboration between prison systems, community organisations, and addiction treatment providers
  • Challenges in maintaining recovery after release and providing ongoing support for ex-offenders
• 1:40pm

  Case Study: Making Drug and Alcohol Services Work for Women

  Session TBC

  Natalie Travis, National Head of Service – Public Health and Substance Use Services, Turning Point (CONFIRMED)

  

• 2:00pm

  Case Study: Homelessness and Addiction

  • Examining the intersection of homelessness and addiction, and how integrated housing and rehabilitation programs can improve outcomes
  • Guidance on collaboration between housing and addiction services to provide comprehensive care
  • Strategies for addressing the challenges with intervention and harm reduction for homeless people
  • Best practice examples of services providing rehabilitation programs addressing both addiction and homelessness
• 2.20pm

  Questions and Answers

• 2.40pm

  Breakout Networking: Innovative Approaches to Addiction Recovery and Support

• 3:10pm

  Comfort Break 

• 3.25pm

  Case Study: Providing Employment Opportunities

  • Exploring the critical role of stable employment in supporting recovery and reducing relapse rates
  • Outlining the importance of training programs and skill development in the rehabilitation process
  • Strategies to assist individuals in recovery to secure and maintain employment
  • Best practice for employer engagement and creating workplace environments that support recovery and recognise potential signs of addiction

  Representative invited, The Forward Trust (invited)

• 3.45pm

  Keynote: Preventing Relapse

  • Understanding the critical role of community support in preventing relapse during recovery
  • Outlining the role of aftercare programs and follow-up services in relapse prevention
  • Strategies for building resilience in recovery to reduce the likelihood of relapse
• 4:05pm

  Questions and Answers

• 4.25pm

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

• 4.35pm

  Conference Close 

Why you Should Attend?

Why Attend?

✓  High-level keynotes providing insights on the latest government initiatives and strategies for providing addiction treatment and recovery services
✓  Case studies showcasing best practices in supporting individuals with drug and alcohol dependencies, including harm reduction and relapse prevention
✓  Network with senior colleagues from across the public, private and voluntary sectors to exchange expertise
✓  Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota

Who Should Attend?

Pricing Options

Sponsorship

Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
• Less time out of the office
• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
• Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below: