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Fourth Annual Program Seeks Greater Understanding of Addiction

 Albany, N.Y., October 22, 2007 - Recognizing that physicians could benefit from additional training in identifying and treating addicted patients, Albany Medical College, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and the New York State chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine will again present "Addiction Medicine Weekend," a special educational program for physicians and other health care providers. It will be held Friday and Saturday, November 9-10 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Albany Medical Center and will feature an array of renowned addiction experts.

"Although substance abuse is a leading cause of death, disability and disease, surveys have shown that physicians are not adequately trained to recognize and treat addicted patients nor to identify susceptible populations and help prevent addiction," said Stanley Glick, Ph.D., M.D., director of the Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience at Albany Medical College.

Dr. Glick has spent his entire research career helping to prove that addiction is a metabolic disease of the brain, and not a "personality flaw." As such, he's investigated new drugs to treat addiction and has conducted research aimed at understanding why certain people are more prone to addiction than others. All along, Dr. Glick says, it has frustrated him to see addiction still largely neglected in the medical community.

"The stereotype is still that drug addicts are seedy, sleazy, down-and-outers. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain that can be treated, but that's not been embraced," said Dr. Glick.

He explains that a combination of brain chemistry, environment, stress, genetics, and peer pressure can lead an individual to abuse drugs (including nicotine and alcohol), but once addiction sets in, the brain takes over.

"There's evidence that drugs of abuse take over the pathways in the brain that normally give us pleasure, for instance those that make us feel good after exercising or eating a good meal. That's why some highly addicted people ignore things like eating or sleeping - the drugs have taken over and become the only way they can feel 'good,'" explained Dr. Glick. Therefore, he says addicted people can't control what's happening and need treatment. "But because there's so much stigma attached to addiction, people are afraid to mention it to health care providers. That's why it's vital that doctors ask the right questions, look for signs of abuse," he added.

The event is organized by Dr. Glick, his colleague Isabelle Maisonneuve, Ph.D., and Steven Kipnis, M.D., medical director of OASAS. It has grown from 33 participants the first year to 70 last year and Dr. Glick hopes for an even larger turn-out this year. It is designed for physicians and substance abuse counselors, however the program is open to all health care workers, including medical and graduate students.

Topics presented at this year's conference will include geriatric addiction; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender addiction; smoking as a prelude to developing other addictions; addiction medications; language and treatment associated with addiction treatment; and the neuroscience of addiction, among others. In addition to experts from Albany Medical College and OASAS, lecturers from the following institutions will present: NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement; The Addiction Institute of NY, NYC; Rockland County Department of Probation; Manhattan Addiction Treatment Center; Albany College of Pharmacy; Blaisdell Addiction Treatment Center, Orangeburg, NY; Center CARE, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, NYC; Lifespan Geriatrics Addiction Program, Rochester; Rockland Family Treatment Court; and Executive Training and Consultation, Buffalo.

The conference will be held from 9am-4:30pm Friday, November 9 and from 8:15am-3:30pm Saturday, November 10 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Albany Medical Center. To register, contact Amy Eglin at (518) 262- 5617 or eglina@mail.amc.edu.