International Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Conference - Abstract
The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) is dedicated to providing a supportive academic
network to members of the international addiction medicine field. We accomplish this via electronic
communication, development of consensual position papers on issues relevant to the field, research in all
areas relating to drug addiction and associated co-morbidity including infections such as HIV, and annual
conferences to disseminate information on advances in the field by colleagues worldwide, with a priority
on providing opportunities for practitioners from countries with relatively few resources to
participate/present. We have also established a process of International Certification in Addiction
Medicine. ISAM has thus been working since 1999 to promote better understanding worldwide, among
physicians and allied health professionals in the field of addiction medicine, of connections among drug
abuse, psychological/psychiatric consequences, and disease processes including HIV and other blood-
borne pathogens. One significant outcome of this collaboration has been the recognition that there are
“global” factors in substance abuse, associated with medical/psychiatric/social consequences regardless of
race, gender, culture, or ethnicity. We organize/present conferences in a country where the assistance
from clinicians from around the world would help the local clinical addiction medicine experts in setting
up the necessary addiction/clinical medicine services. Our goal, to build a strong, united, informed
medical voice in collaboration with other disciplines to speak on behalf of patients in prevention and
management of addictions worldwide, has been significantly supported by our annual conferences with
fiscal and advisory assistance provided by NIH/NIDA Conference Grants (2006; 2007-2010; 2011-2015).
Funds are being sought through this renewal application to support annual meetings 2016-2020 to be held
in different countries. Currently the Yokohama, Japan, 2014 conference has just concluded. The venues
for the subsequent Annual Conferences will be in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (2015), Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil (2016), Abu Dhabi, UAE (2017) and Busan, Korea (2018). (2019-20 venues are to be
determined, but tentatively will be in Izmir, Turkey, 2019, and either in Beijing, China or in Bangalore,
India 2020).
While the organization and our conference have evolved significantly with NIDA’s assistance, we plan to
retain unique elements of the future conferences that will help set “characters.” Those include: 1)
integrated academic/recreational offerings, 2) formalized opportunities for open discussion/exchange
concluding program sessions, 3) inclusion of conference program content to present new/emerging
science of addiction and associated morbidity including infections such as HIV, HCV and others,4)
systematically varying global geographic sites of conferences, promoting local attendance/regional
access, and 5) dedication to support/mentorship for collegial development of young/economically under-
resourced members of the worldwide addiction medicine community. The organization has benefited
significantly from not only the financial and consultative support afforded by the previous conference
grant, but by the significant expertise, time, and thought of many members of the NIDA executive staff
who have honored us by accepting invitations to speak at past meetings. We look forward to continuing
that association, which has provided most meaningful additions to our proceedings as well as important
inspiration to younger scientists/addiction medicine practitioners for whom the organization desires to
provide an atmosphere of mentorship and collegiality. Thus continuing such support is of very high
priority to ISAM as an organization.
Principal Investigator Contact:
Dr. Gregory C. Bunt
Senior Vice-President/Medical
Daytop Village, Inc.
54 West 40th St., 5th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10018
Tel: (212) 354-6000, ext. 220
Fax: (212) 391-9265
Email: gbunt@daytop.org
ISAM Head Office Contact
Dr. Nady el-Guebaly
Chief Examiner, ISAM
FMC Addiction Centre
1403 – 29 Street NW
Calgary AB T2N 2T9
Tel: (403) 944-2025
Fax: (403) 944-2056
Email: nady.el-guebaly@calgaryhealthregion.ca