Fundamentals of Addiction
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
Le Centre Sheraton Montreal
Price: $175 per person (plus applicable taxes)
$125 per student (plus applicable taxes)
Light breakfast, lunch, and coffee included.
The 2025 Fundamentals of Addiction Course will take place the day before the CSAM-SMCA 2025 Scientific Conference.
Presented by leading Canadian practitioners, the CSAM-SMCA Fundamentals of Addiction Course provides clinicians and students with a solid foundation for continued learning in addictions care and treatment. The course covers biopsychosocial approaches to addiction as well as assessment, diagnosis, brief intervention and referral to treatment. Hear relevant, practical 30 to 60-minute presentations on the most commonly used substances including alcohol, sedatives, cannabis, opioids and stimulants, and a short introduction to concurrent disorders. This year’s course will include an on-line module on Alcohol Use Disorder to be completed prior to the course in preparation for the case-based interactive workshop session held during the course applying the principles in a real-world practical manner.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the biopsychosocial approach, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders.
- List signs and symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal of various substances of use and indicate an approach to management.
- Explain the interaction and important considerations of substance use and concurrent physical and mental health issues.
Topics
- Biopsychosocial Approaches to Addiction
- Assessment and Diagnosis; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
- Concurrent Disorders
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Sedative-Hypnotics Use Disorder
- Cannabis Use Disorder
- Stimulant Use Disorder
- Opioid Use Disorder
Agenda
Pre-Course On-line Module
To be completed prior to the course
Alcohol Use Disorder
– Dr. Sharon Vipler
To be completed prior to the course
Opioid Use Disorder
– Dr. John Koehn
Block 1
Welcome
– Dr. Ronald Fraser
8:40 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Biopsychosocial Approaches to Addiction
– Dr. Ronald Fraser
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Assessment and Diagnosis; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
– Dr. Vanessa Pasztor
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cannabis Use Disorder
– Dr. David Luckow
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Stimulant Use Disorder
– Dr. Catherine de Montigny
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Agenda is subject to change.
Block 2
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Alcohol Use Disorder Case based Interactive Workshop
– Dr. Mario Pierre Gervais
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Opioid Use Disorder Case based Interactive Workshop
– Dr. Sara Cohen-Fournier
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Break
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Sedative Hypnotics Use Disorder
– Dr. Jocelyn Howard
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Concurrent Disorders
– Dr. Nicolas Garel
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wrap Up and Evaluation
Agenda is subject to change.
Presenters

Wiplove Lamba

Tosh Mizzau
