Examining Systems, Substance Use, and Disenfranchisement: Overview and Proceedings of the 2022 AMERSA Conference.

Abstract

The mission of AMERSA, Inc., the Association of Multidisciplinary Education and Research in substance use and Addiction, is to improve the health and well-being through leadership and advocacy in substance use education, research, clinical care, and policy.1,2 AMERSA has held an annual meeting since its origination over 45 years ago in 1976. In June of 2021, AMERSA’s Board of Directors approved a strategic plan to set a course and guide leadership of the organization through 2024. AMERSA’s overarching goals are to: (1) promote and advance multidisciplinary engagement, education, mentorship, and leadership among those who teach, study, advocate, and provide clinical care in the field of substance use and addiction; (2) champion antiracism, equity, and inclusion for persons who are disproportionately affected by unhealthy substance use; and (3) enhance the organizational infrastructure to support AMERSA’s mission. With the mission and goals in mind, AMERSA members met from November 9 to 12, 2022 in Boston, MA for an inspiring 46th Annual Meeting that highlighted the latest evidence focused on improving the lives of individuals and communities affected by substance use through education, clinical care, research, and policy advances. This was the first in-person meeting since 2019. The theme of the 2022 AMERSA annual conference was Examining Systems, Substance Use and Disenfranchisement. The focus was particularly timely given The White House release of the 2022 National Drug Control Strategy3 in which President Biden specifically identified “a new era of drug policy centered on individuals and communities. . . .[which] lays out, there is so much more we can do to expand access to evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services. . . .” (p. 5). The National Drug Control Strategy specifically states, “We are changing how we help people when it comes to drug use, by meeting them where they are with high-impact harm reduction services and removing barriers to effective treatment for addiction, while addressing the underlying factors that lead to substance use disorder head on.” For the first time in history, harm reduction was a key priority for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This shift supports individualized care that truly meets people where they are, enabling them to access services across the spectrum of substance use that enhance health and safety. 1169569 SAJXXX10.1177/08897077231169569Substance AbuseBagley et al. research-article2023