The Drugs and Substance Misuse Conference 2026: Addiction and Rehabilitation
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
Agenda
Registration
Chairs Opening Remarks
Dr James Morgan, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, London Metropolitan University (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Drug Trends and Crime in England and Wales
- Highlighting the rise use of cannabis and hallucinogens among young to support preventative strategies
- Monitoring shifts in Class A drug use, including changes in patterns of cocaine and ecstasy consumption, to support harm-reduction strategies
- Responding to emerging trends in nitrous oxide and other psychoactive substances in vulnerable communities
- Collaborating locally to understand the link between drug use and crime, ensuring interventions reflect research
Charles Yates OBE, Deputy Director, National Crime Agency (invited)
Keynote: Narcotics Anonymous: We Do Recover
- We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other get, and stay, clean
- Recovery beyond mere abstinence – hear the lived experience of those recovering from addiction in the community
- The therapeutic value of one addict helping another; how our free mutual aid approach works
Government Liaison Team, Narcotics Anonymous UK (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Discussing the Health Risks of Synthetic Drugs
- Discussing the emergence and prevalence of synthetic opioids and cannabinoids
- Assessing the psychological and cardiovascular health risks associated with synthetic substances
- Developing harm reduction strategies, such as, take-home naloxone programs and guidance for local treatment services
- Outlining the impact on regulatory frameworks that new synthetic compounds cause
Dr Caroline Copeland, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Kings College London (CONFIRMED)
Lived Experience: Long Term Impacts of Ketamine Usage
- Sharing first-hand stories of ketamine damage in schools and youth settings to highlight risks
- Guiding other users into support by drawing on personal experience of navigating those systems
- Building recovery networks led by former ketamine users to connect hard-to-reach people with support
- Highlighting ongoing health issues after quitting to push for long-term care and understanding
Finley Worthington, Lived Experience and Founder Ketamine Education Service (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Innovative Approaches to Addiction Recovery and Support
Lunch Break and Networking
Case Study: Co-Production: Lived Experience in Practice
Jamie Poole, Lived Experience Project Manager, Public Health and Communities, Surrey County Council (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Making Drug and Alcohol Services Work for Women
- Exploring the particular challenges women face in accessing drug and alcohol services, such as stigma, childcare responsibilities, trauma histories, and fear of losing custody of children
- Examining how factors like race, socioeconomic status, disability, and mental health intersect with gender to shape women’s experiences with substance use and treatment services
- Strategies for developing services that are trauma-informed, culturally competent, and tailored to women’s lived experiences and recovery journeys
Nat Travis, National Head of Service – Public Health and Substance Use Services, Turning Point (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Spike on a Bike: Mobile Harm Reduction in Action
- Rural Barriers and Structural Stigma: How geography and visibility limit access to support.
- A Mobile, Peer-Led Response: Delivering equipment, naloxone, and advice directly to people’s homes.
- Access-focused, data-informed: Reaching underserved groups, including higher-than-expected female engagement in rural outreach.
- Redefining Impact: Measuring trust, access, and relational engagement in rehabilitation-focused harm reduction.
Dr Joseph Janes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Swansea University (CONFIRMED)
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
Senior Representative, Change Grow Live (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr James Morgan, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, London Metropolitan University (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Speakers
Dr James Morgan
Senior Lecturer of Psychology
London Metropolitan University
Finley Worthington
Lived Experience and Founder Ketamine Education Service
Natalie Travis
National Head of Service – Public Health and Substance Use Services
Turning Point
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?
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Counsellors | Local councils |
| social workers | Schools |
| Teachers | healthcare |
| Policy Makers | Police |
| Support Workers | Government |
| Occupational therapists | charities |
| Case Worker | Social Services |
| Nurses |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Point
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
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:
