This coming year will be our Tenth Anniversary of the Virginia Summer Institute for Addiction Studies (VSIAS). Our 2012 Summer Institute will again be in the convenient and comfortable surroundings of the Williamsburg Hospitality House, in Williamsburg, Virginia, July 16-17, 2012.
Over the past 10 years VSIAS has enjoyed remarkable success, in that a succession of top quality presenters have delivered innovative new as well as tried and true mainstream prevention and treatment concepts that were chosen to enhance the skills used in our professions. This year, we will strive again to provide choices that are appropriate to a Tenth Annual VSIAS.
Following the past few years increased emphasis on cost-cutting, our theme this year is “Professional Treatment-Saving Dollars, Saving Lives”. The VSIAS Board of Directors is fully cognizant of the significant changes that are occurring and yet to come as Virginia prepares to meet the challenges of reduced revenue, Health Care Reform requirements, Certification, Credentialing and Licensure requirements, and new terminology that will evolve from the DSM V. The topics available at the VSIAS 2012 will address the dynamics of these challenges. Included also will be topics on prescription-assisted recovery, accountability within traditional peer supported recovery, neurological aspects of addiction/recovery, Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and at least one break out session that addresses non-traditional adjunctive substance abuse treatment. All sessions will give consideration to both substance use and related disorders. Tracks will also be designated whether the target audience is: Intermediate, Advanced, or Supervisor/Manager level.
As we move into the coming years, it will become increasingly important that those working in the field of substance abuse continue to enjoy professional development that will allow their meaningful participation in the screening, preliminary treatment planning, and continuing care of our clients. The Summer Institute is one of the principal forums for information, training and education lending to this professional development. Your attendance to VSIAS is one of the ways you can keep yourself current on what your peers are seeing as challenges in the field, and what resources are available to help meet these challenges.
We are all aware of the current economic climate. Thanks to the continued pledges of support by the VSIAS Sponsors and Exhibitors we are able to bring VSIAS 2012 to you with no loss of quality or enthusiasm. If you are not a member of one of the sponsoring agencies, I urge you to seek out one of their representatives, and the representatives at the Exhibitor Displays to let them know what the continuation of Virginia Summer Institute for Addiction Studies means to you.
While you are here, I, and the rest of the VSIAS Board, will enjoy listening to any comments you have about the purpose and direction of VSIAS.
Ron Pritchard, VSIAS 2012 Chair.
