2026 Virtual Conference Schedule
Please note that this schedule is subject to change as details are finalized.
Continuing Education Acknowledgment & Disclaimer
IntNSA gratefully acknowledges Indiana University for its support in providing Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the 48th IntNSA Annual Conference. Indiana University’s partnership and commitment to advancing professional education help ensure that our attendees receive high-quality continuing education opportunities that support ongoing competency and excellence in addiction nursing practice. The views, content, and materials presented during the conference are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies, positions, or opinions of Indiana University.
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Time: |
Tuesday, April 14 |
Location |
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8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Registration and Networking | Foyer |
| 9:20 AM - 9:55 AM |
Welcome & Opening |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 1-3
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11:00 AM - 11:55 AM Moderator: |
Concurrent Session 1 51. A better way: Living and Lived experience as critical advisors for improving innovation in post-overdose clinical care
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe partnering with organizations to recruit overdose survivors and people with lived and living experience of OUD for an advisory board to improve an overdose stabilization center. Objective 2: Discuss Lived Expertise Advisory Board curriculum development for building community and comprehensive clinical feedback. Objective 3: Share the Lived Expertise Advisory Board’s role in evaluating the overdose stabilization center's model of care. Objective 4: Share resources for replicating lived experience involvement in OUD and overdose care improvement. 64. Mind the baby, Mind the parent. Results from a study to examine parenting among those who use substances
Learner Objectives:
Objective 1: To examine the effectiveness of existing models of care and services for parents who use substances using a systematic review Objective 2: To quantify and describe the parents who are attending substance use treatment services using treatment demand data. Objective 3: To describe the experience of parents who use substances. Objective 4: To make recommendations regarding how substance use treatment services can better support parents. |
Ballroom ABC |
| 12:00 PM - 12:55 PM | Lunch Break | |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 4-6
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1:00 PM - 1:55 PM Moderator |
Concurrent Session 4 7. Meeting the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Needs of Autistic People
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: List five behaviors which might suggest an individual has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Objective 2: Discuss the role of substance use in the lives of Autistic individuals. Objective 3: Identify three ways that treatment programs could adapt to the special needs of Autistic clients to improve their treatment experiences. Objective 4: List discharge planning and life planning objectives to help Autistic individuals achieve successful sobriety/abstinence and positive life satisfaction. 33. Vaping Prevention Activities for the Summer Program
Learner Objectives: Objective 1:Establish a successful collaboration with the community partners Objective 2: Increase and solidify the middle school students' knowledge about the negative consequences of vaping and e-cigarette use Objective 3: Change to and solidify middle school students’ negative perception about vaping and e-cigarette use Objective 4: Test the effectiveness and relevance of the tobacco prevention activities among middle school students |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 7-9
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2:00 PM - 2:55 PM Moderator: Adrian Jugdoyal |
Concurrent Session 7 55. Parents who inject drugs: Assessing the impact of a safe injecting facility on children and young people in a disadvantaged community
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: To acknowledge the stigma parents from a local community face when using a safe injecting facility (SIF) Objective 2: To include the voices of children and young people in an evaluation of a new local safe injecting facility Objective 3: To evaluate the impact of a new pilot safe injecting facility on children and young people. Objective 4: To provide recommendations on the extension of the pilot license for a new safe injecting facility from the perspective of the impact on children and young people in the community 65. Improving access and uptake of treatment services for substance using adolescents
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: To complete an international literature review examining barriers and enablers for the referral and access to treatment of young people who use substances. Objective 2: Perform a retrospective quantitative analysis of existing treatment databases to objectively assess factors associated with attending and not attending substance use treatment among under 18s. Objective 3: Examine the factors associated with attendance/non-attendance at substance use services in depth using a qualitative methodology. Objective 4: To make recommendations for improving access and uptake to treatment for substance using adolescents, based on the three components of the study. |
Ballroom ABC |
3:00 PM - 3:55 PM Moderator: Don Dissinger |
Japan Panel: "The Current State of Addiction and Nursing in Japan"
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Ballroom ABC |
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM Moderator: Don Dissinger |
44. The Impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on the Recovery of Alcohol-Dependent Individuals in Japan Who Continue to Work
Objective 1: Describe the specific challenges faced by alcohol-dependent individuals in Japan employed in a workplace where social norms and stigma persist. Objective 2: Explain how participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) influences recovery processes among employed individuals. Objective 3: Compare the impact of AA in Japan with findings from international research to understand culturally specific factors. Objective 4: Discuss how nurses can effectively collaborate with community-based recovery resources, including AA, to support employed individuals with alcohol dependence. |
Ballroom ABC |
| 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | FIAAN Induction Ceremony | Ballroom ABC |
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Time: |
Wednesday, April 15 |
Location |
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8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Registration and Networking | Foyer |
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9:00 AM - 9:55 AM |
Keynote: Matthew Walters |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 10-12
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10:00 AM - 10:55 AM Moderator: |
Concurrent Session 10 23. Using Nurse-Led MOUD Teams In the Hospital Setting for Early Recognition and Treatment of OUD
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe the role of nurse-led teams in initiating medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during hospitalization to improve access and patient outcomes. Objective 2: Identify barriers to MOUD initiation in hospital settings and explain how nurse-led interventions can overcome these challenges. Objective 3: Demonstrate understanding of standardized protocols and collaborative practice models supporting nurse-led MOUD initiation and continuity of care. Objective 4: Evaluate the impact of nurse-led MOUD programs on patient engagement, hospital discharge outcomes, and linkage to community partners and resources. 49. ScalaNW: Expanding Access to MOUD in Acute Care Settings
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Identify core components of a nurse-led, systems-level intervention that supports medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) initiation in acute care settings. Objective 2: Identify strategies for increasing clinician knowledge and competence in providing substance use disorder (SUD) care in acute care settings. Objective 3: Describe the role of multidisciplinary teams in facilitating equitable access to MOUD. Objective 4: Discuss the implementation of ScalaNW, a program that facilitates SUD treatment initiation in acute care settings and linkage to ongoing care. |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 13-15
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11:00 AM - 11:55 AM Moderator: Jordan Ferris |
Concurrent Session 13 8. Dissociative Substance Use Reported on StreetRx (2013–2024): Global Patterns and Clinical Considerations
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe global trends in non-medical purchases of dissociative substances reported to StreetRx (2013–2024). Objective 2: Quantify changes in dissociatives as a proportion of total reported drug transactions. Objective 3: Discuss clinical implications of increasing dissociative use outside medical supervision. Objective 4: Highlight opportunities for workforce education and evidence-informed safety counseling. 43. Workplace Policies and Cross-System Collaboration to Support Nurses with Substance Use Disorders
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe how workplace policies, including zero-tolerance practices, influence nurses’ access to assessment, treatment, and recovery resources for substance use disorders. Objective 2: Explain the communication and collaboration roles of Employee Assistance Program professionals (EAPs), Boards of Nursing (BONs), alternative-to-discipline programs (ATDs), employers, treatment providers, and recovering nurses in supporting equitable recovery pathways. Objective 3: Identify key policy and reporting gaps that affect continuity of care and patient/public safety when nurses with substance use disorders (SUDs) move between employment settings. Objective 4: Discuss evidence-informed strategies that healthcare organizations and leaders can use to promote early assessment, timely referral, and supportive re-entry for nurses in recovery. |
Ballroom ABC |
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12:00 PM - 12:55 PM |
Lunch Break | |
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1:00 PM - 1:55 PM Moderator: Marissa Abram |
Keynote: Adam Searby
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Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 16-18
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2:00 PM - 2:55 PM Moderator: |
Concurrent Session 16 11. A Morality Shift in Nursing: Reframing Ethics Through Humanity and Harm Reduction
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Analyze how moral perfectionism and stigma within nursing culture contribute to punitive responses toward nurses with substance use or other stigmatized behaviors. Objective 2: Differentiate between personal behavior and professional impairment as distinct ethical considerations in nursing accountability. Objective 3: Apply harm-reduction and compassion-based frameworks to promote recovery-ready, psychologically safe professional environments. Objective 4: Evaluate strategies for operationalizing Provision 1 of the ANA Code of Ethics within nursing education, leadership, and policy to foster a culture of dignity and mutual care among professionals. 60. Addiction Nurses as Agents of Social Justice: Ethical Boundary-Work, Advocacy, and System Reform in Stigmatised Care Environments
Learner Objectives:
Objective 1: Critically analyse the ethical principles that guide addiction nurses when advocating for patients, including circumstances where strict adherence to protocol may conflict with beneficence, justice, and harm-reduction principles. Objective 2: Evaluate how stigma, organisational culture, and systemic inequities influence clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in addiction care settings Objective 3: Assess real-world case scenarios to identify how addiction nurses navigate professional boundaries, challenge discriminatory practices, and implement evidence-informed strategies to support equitable treatment. Objective 4: Develop an understanding of how nurse-led advocacy contributes to wider organisational and policy reform, promoting more compassionate, recovery-oriented, and socially just approaches to substance use disorders. |
Ballroom ABC |
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3:00 PM - 3:55 PM Moderator: Dana Murphy-Parker |
North American Panel: "Global Perspectives on Addiction Nursing: Regional Realities, Workforce Challenges and Future Directions" |
Ballroom ABC |
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4:00 PM - 4:55 PM |
Zero Overdose Panel |
Ballroom ABC |
Time: |
Thursday, April 16 |
Location |
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8:00 AM - 9:30 AM |
Registration and Networking | Foyer |
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9:30 AM - 10:55 AM |
Annual Business Meeting & IFAN Update |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 19-21
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11:00 AM - 11:55 AM Moderator: Jordan Ferris |
Concurrent Session 19 76. Providing Tobacco Cessation Care in an Addiction Clinic: Needs, Barriers, Facilitators, & Strategies
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Explain why implementing standardized tobacco cessation care in addiction treatment settings is critical for health equity. Objective 2: Describe the use of metrics to assess the current state of tobacco cessation care delivery and identify gaps between patient needs, provider practices, and evidence-based recommendations. Objective 3: Describe how implementation science tools are used to systematically identify barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies for translating evidence into practice. Objective 4: Identify two ways nurses can lead in the translation of evidence into practice related to tobacco cessation in addiction care settings. 80. QuickStart a community-informed, novel approach to starting buprenorphine
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Participants will be able to describe the QuickStart method of buprenorphine initiation and its key benefits over traditional methods. Objective 2: Participants will understand how naloxone is used in the QuickStart process to reduce withdrawal time and improve patient comfort. Objective 3: Participants will identify patient populations who may benefit from the QuickStart method of buprenorphine initiation. Objective 4: Participants will recognize the potential impact of QuickStart on reducing the risks associated with fentanyl use and delayed treatment initiation. |
Ballroom ABC |
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12:00 PM - 1:55 PM |
Awards Ceremony and Lunch |
Ballroom ABC |
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CONCURRENT SESSIONS 22-24
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2:00 PM - 2:55 PM Moderator: |
Concurrent Session 22 75. Leveraging State Policies and Programs for Low-Barrier Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine: A Quality Improvement Innovation Using Rapid-Start Protocols
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe the need for rapid-start long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) induction protocols as a novel treatment approach for OUD. Objective 2: Analyze how opioid settlement-funded programs can create the infrastructure necessary to support innovative MOUD delivery models in resource-limited clinical settings. Objective 3: Examine two rapid-start LAIB protocols used in a low-threshold outpatient setting, including their clinical workflows and patient selection criteria. Objective 4: Identify critical success factors and barriers for nurses to consider when implementing rapid-start LAIB. 3. Age and Experience as Antecedents to Substance Use–Related Licensure Discipline in Nurses: Implications for Equity and Workforce Policy
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe the relationship between nurse age, years of experience, and the likelihood of substance use–related licensure discipline using logistic regression findings. Objective 2: Analyze how workforce characteristics can serve as antecedents to substance use and disciplinary outcomes in nursing. Objective 3: Discuss implications of these findings for equity-driven policy, advocacy, and prevention strategies that promote workforce retention and reduce stigma. Objective 4: Evaluate opportunities for evidence-informed interventions that address systemic inequities in licensure discipline and support recovery-oriented approaches. |
Ballroom ABC |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 25-27
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3:00 PM - 3:55 PM Moderator: |
Concurrent Session 25 77. Nurses Leading Change: A Faculty-Led Immersive Practice Experience Bridging the Know-Do Gap in Opioid Use Disorder Care
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe an innovative model for immersive, interdisciplinary opioid use disorder education that exposes nursing students to diverse community and hospital-based care settings and experts. Objective 2: Analyze the opportunities to integrate the teaching of evidence-based practice and quality improvement principles with addiction care. Objective 3: Evaluate the impact of real-world practice experience immersion on nursing students' competency development and attitudes. Objective 4: Identify strategies for developing academic-practice partnerships across multiple sectors to strengthen nursing workforce preparation to care for people with opioid use disorder. 50. Talking Circle Intervention for the Prevention and Reduction of Substance Use among Native American/Indigenous Youth
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Describe the core cultural elements and therapeutic principles of the Talking Circle intervention that is being implemented among schools to prevent and reduce substance use among Native American/Indigenous youth. Objective 2: Identity evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of Talking Circles in reducing substance use and related risk factors (e.g., improving cultural connectedness, communication, coping, and emotional regulation) among Native American youth. Objective 3: Evaluate how the Talking Circle intervention can be adapted, integrated, and sustained into school settings and tribal community settings. Objective 4: Describe how findings from the school-based Talking Circle intervention studies translates evidence into practice, including steps for collaboration with Tribal communities, staff training, student recruitment, and alignment with school programming. |
Ballroom ABC |
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4:00 PM - 4:55 PM Moderator: |
57. Panel: Workforce Inter-professional Series in Addiction Education (WISE)
Learner Objectives: Objective 1: Define the principles of microlearning and its application in workforce education within addiction treatment settings. Objective 2: Describe how microlearning strategies can be designed and implemented to educate both licensed and non-licensed staff in evidence-based addiction care. Objective 3: Discuss best practices in microlearning development. Objective 4: List 3 microlearning resources that can be utilized to develop a microlearning module. |
Ballroom ABC |
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Time: |
Friday, April 17 |
Location |
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8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Registration and Networking | Foyer |
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9:00 AM - 9:55 AM Moderator: |
African Panel: "Global Perspectives on Addiction Nursing: Regional Realities, Workforce Challenges and Future Directions |
Ballroom ABC |
10:00 AM - 10:55 AM Moderator: Adrian Jugdoyal | European Panel: "Global Perspectives on Addiction Nursing: Regional Realities, Workforce Challenges and Future Direction" | Ballroom ABC |
11:00 AM - 11:55 AM Moderator: | South America Panel: "Global Perspectives on Addiction Nursing: Regional Realities, Workforce Challenges and Future Directions | Ballroom ABC |
12:00 PM - 12:55 PM Moderator: Jordan Ferris | Keynote: John Furman
| Ballroom ABC |
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Contact usInternational Nurses Society on Addictions info@intnsa.org Office Hours: 9:00 am–5:00 pm ET, Monday–Friday | Our missionTo advance excellence in nursing care for the prevention and treatment of addictions for diverse populations across all practice setting through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development. Our visionTo be a global leader in addictions nursing. | Connect with us    
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