Lisbon Addictions is the biggest addictions conference in Europe and takes place every two years. In this podcast series, we talk to the people behind the conference to find out what sessions you should look out for at the 2024 event, how they put it together, and what their tips are for making the most of this event. It will be essential listening for anyone planning to attend Lisbon Addictions this year.

Episodes:

1. Addiction and mental health
2. Alcohol: risks, clinical considerations, treatments and outcomes
3. Empowering the workforce
4. Behavioural addictions
5. Drug policy: latest developments and new challenges
6. Hepatitis C, other infections diseases, and drug-related harms
7. Prevention of risky and harmful behaviours
8. Early career researchers at Lisbon Addictions
9. Open track (coming soon)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official positions of the SSA. The SSA does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information in external sources or links and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such information.

Addiction and mental health
About: In this episode, Ben Scher talks to Dr Sarah Welch from the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) about her work as a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Ben and Sarah discuss the ‘addiction and mental health’ track, how it was put together, and why you would want to follow this track at Lisbon Addictions this year. They also talk about the process of reviewing abstracts for Lisbon Addictions and how the organisers then make sessions that fit the conference and the track. Finally, Sarah provides her top tips for attending Lisbon Addictions. “For me, it’s the breadth, it’s the putting together of people from really different fields whether it’s neuroscience, epidemiology or clinical practice. It’s that big big mix that’s lovely.”

Alcohol: risks, clinical considerations, treatments and outcomes
About: In this episode, Dr Zoe Swithenbank talks to Dr Jørgen Bramness from the European Federation of Addiction Societies (EUFAS) about his work as a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Zoe and Jørgen discuss the ‘alcohol: risks, clinical considerations, treatments and outcomes’ track, how it was put together, and why you would want to follow this track at Lisbon Addictions this year. They also talk about the process of putting together sessions for Lisbon Addictions and to make sure the track fits the conference. Finally, Jørgen talks about his advice and experiences for people attending Lisbon Addictions for the first time. “Try to talk to some of the presenters after they have presented. That may be just as rewarding and educational as listening to what they have to say because you might have specific questions. For most of the sessions I know the speakers are very happy if people come up to them afterwards and ask them about things.”

Empowering the workforce
About: In this episode, Dr Zoe Swithenbank talks to Fleur Braddick from Workforce in Addiction · Valorisation in Europe (WAVE) about her work as a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Fleur Braddick (Communications lead on WAVE), on behalf of other coordinating team (Silvia Matrai, Elsa Caballeria and Hugo López-Pelayo), talks about how WAVE is collaborating with diverse expert stakeholders to review state-of-the-art evidence and good practice in relation to quality standards for the European addictions workforce, and co-producing the WAVE Track and Video Contest in the Lisbon Addictions 2024 conference (23-25 Oct 2024). They also talk about how WAVE compiled sessions for Lisbon Addictions whilst offering advice for people attending Lisbon Addictions. “This is my fifth time in Lisbon Addictions, the fourth time co-producing. I've been before and it's always different.”  The EC co-funded project WAVE (Workforce in Addiction · Valorisation in Europe, Grant No. 101045870) is led by the ), and in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Gencat), Charles University in Prague (CUNI) and the Portuguese Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Addictions (ICAD).

Behavioural addictions
About: In this episode, Dr Elle Wadsworth talks to Professor Zsolt Demetrovics from the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Addictions (ISSBA) about his work as a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Elle and Zsolt discuss the behavioural addictions track at Lisbon Addictions this year. The track will include presentations relating to gambling and gaming disorders as well as compulsive sexual behaviour disorder as those officially recognised by ICD-11. The track also includes compulsive shopping, problematic internet use, compulsive pornography use, work addiction, exercise addiction, problematic smartphone use and the ever increasing research on potentially addictive behaviours. Zsolt then gives his advice for first time attendees at Lisbon Addictions. “Lisbon addictions offers a lot....pure research and basic research but also prevention, treatment, policy issues. So, I think everyone can find something that fits to their interest.”

Drug policy: latest developments and new challenges
About: In this episode, Dr Elle Wadsworth talks to Professors Beau Kilmer and Rosalie Pacula from the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) about being a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Elle, Beau and Rosalie discuss drug policy work including cannabis legislation, using data to monitor changes to drug consumption trends and the impact of the criminal legal system on drug use and harm reduction. They also focus on the importance of high-quality scientific research and the impact it can have on policy. They also talk about their experiences convening sessions for Lisbon Addictions before discussing how best to approach Lisbon Addictions if you are attending for the first time. “Don't be shy, this is a generally warm group, there's lots of people, all of us are excited to be there. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to someone new.”

Hepatitis C, other infections diseases, and drug-related harms 
About: In this episode, Ben Scher talks to Emma Day from the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) about being a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Ben and Emma discuss this track looking at research on issues such as hepatitis, HIV, soft tissue infection and overdose prevention from epidemiological, clinical science, social science and treatment perspectives. They talk about how they put together a track for Lisbon Addictions, making sure the sessions fit the conference. Emma and Ben also share their experiences of Lisbon Addictions and give some advice for people attending for the first time. “What I really like about Lisbon Addictions is that it’s a really broad church, you've got lots of different tracks in the addiction field, content that wouldn't ordinarily cross my desk....and I think that kind of cross-fertilisation of ideas across the tracks is really exciting.”

Prevention of risky and harmful behaviours
About: In this episode, Dr Rob Calder talks to Dr Ina Koning from European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) about her work as a co-producer for Lisbon Addictions. Rob and Ina discuss the EUSPR track's focus on prevention. They cover interventions, treatment, and the wide range of outcomes, substances and behavioural addictions. They also discuss how these can change according across populations including young people, families and professionals. They also talk about the process of putting together sessions for Lisbon Addictions before sharing some pointers for first-time attendees at Lisbon Addictions. “Because of the huge variety of topics, the huge variety of sessions and talks, there's always something of interest going on.”

Early career researchers at Lisbon Addictions
About: In this episode, Dr Rob Calder talks to Dominique Lopez and early-career researchers Dr Jorge Martins and Olivia Price about the ECR track at Lisbon Addictions. Rob, Dominique, Jorge and Olivia discuss how you can make the most of the ECR programme’s networking opportunities and activities before, during and after the conference. During the conference there will be a number of sessions designed to meet the needs of ECRs along with an award for best e-poster. Dominique, Jorge, and Olivia then give some advice for ECRs going to Lisbon Addictions for the first time this year. “Something that's really helped me at conferences in the past is going to an event before the conference...because it's just a smaller setting and I find that's just an easier setting to introduce yourself to someone you don't know.” Olivia Price: "Try to set up a meeting during the conference, my experience is that people are quite open to those meetings and I think that's a fantastic opportunity to expand your network and also talk about research."