Tom Buckley, CADC III – Executive Director, Aspire Counseling Service
Dr. Iru Fernando, MD – Medical Director, Aspire Counseling Service
Addiction treatment is no longer confined to one-size-fits-all models or outdated ideas rooted in shame and willpower. At the intersection of neuroscience, medicine, and community-based care, a new era is emerging—one that centers evidence, compassion, and dignity.
We’re proud to be part of this important conversation at WCSAD 2025 (West Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders), presented by HMP Global—an event that brings together leaders, providers, researchers, and innovators in the behavioral health field from across the country.
Join Us: WCSAD 2025
Session: From Stigma to Science: Understanding Harm Reduction, Overdose Medications, Anti-Craving Meds, and the Most Recent Science Behind Addiction Treatment
Date: Thursday, May 29
Time: 4:15 PM
Location: La Quinta Resort & Club, Palm Springs, CA
What We’ll Cover
This session is designed for professionals seeking a deeper understanding of how the field is shifting and how we can provide more effective, life-saving care to the people we serve. We’ll cover:
- Harm Reduction: What It Is and What It Isn’t
Exploring practical harm reduction strategies used in clinical and community settings—including fentanyl test strips, safe use education, and syringe access programs—and how these approaches increase engagement and reduce death. - Overdose Medications: Tools That Save Lives
A review of life-saving interventions like Naloxone, Narcan, and other overdose reversal agents, including access, misconceptions, and implementation. - Anti-Craving Medications: MAT and Beyond
Understanding the role of medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and emerging pharmacological options that target brain pathways involved in substance cravings and relapse prevention. - The Latest Science on Addiction and Recovery
We’ll present updates from recent neuroscience, behavioral health research, and clinical outcomes that show how addiction is a brain-based disorder—and why integrated treatment is essential.
Why This Conversation Matters
Many individuals with substance use disorders still face barriers to care, stigma in treatment settings, and confusion around medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This session is a response to those realities, designed to equip professionals with tools and frameworks to:
- Challenge internalized and systemic stigma
- Improve retention in treatment
- Bridge medical and behavioral health approaches
- Support clients with compassion and clinical integrity
Whether you’re an SUD counselor, social worker, physician, case manager, peer specialist, or program administrator—this session will meet you at the intersection of practice and possibility.
About WCSAD & HMP Global
The West Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders, hosted by HMP Global, is one of the nation’s most respected annual gatherings in addiction treatment and behavioral health. The event offers a unique opportunity to network, learn from leading experts, and explore practical tools for immediate application.
WCSAD continues to lead the way in bringing together evidence-based innovation, clinical training, and community connection. We’re grateful to be included in this year’s lineup alongside so many change-makers in the field.
A Word from Aspire Counseling Service
At Aspire Counseling, our work is rooted in the belief that the opposite of addiction is connection. We’re proud to serve communities across California with outpatient mental health and substance use programs that are trauma-informed, strengths-based, and deeply human.
This work is personal. This work is scientific. This work is urgent.
We hope to see you at WCSAD 2025 and invite you to be part of this movement from stigma to science.
For more on our work or to connect with our team:
Visit: AspireCounselingService.com
Call 24/7: 888-585-7373 or
Aspire SLO 805-329-5595
Email: [email protected]