Major Addiction and Recovery Conference to be held in Waukesha, Wisconsin

by Angela McAlister
(Madison, WI)

The 45th annual Wisconsin Association on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (WAAODA) Spring Conference, themed “A New Perspective: The Changing Face of Addiction, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services,” will be held at the Country Inn and Suites in Waukesha, May 16-18, 2011.


Three preeminent experts in the field will address the conference from a variety of perspectives, from caregivers to youth to those in recovery. The conference, open to the community as well as WAAODA members,
On Monday, May 16, keynote speaker Carlton Erickson, PhD will discuss addiction science. May 17, keynote speaker Dr. Ken Winters, who will talk on “This is your brain on adolescence.”

May 17 is also designated as “Just 4 Youth” conference, which is held concurrent with the general conference. The youth will attend workshops throughout the day geared just for them. The keynote speaker for the youth will be Ron Glodoski from Turn Around Publishing, Inc., a great motivational speaker for youth.


Conference goers will be treated to the popular “Celebration of Diversity,” through word, dance and music, a tradition with the organization. The conference also offers opportunity to earn over 24 continuing education credits.


Featured Plenary Speakers:


Carlton Erickson, PhD a distinguished Professor of Pharmacology, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, and Director of the Addiction, Science, Research and Education Center in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin, has published over 265 peer reviewed and professional articles. He is the author of a 2007 book, titled the Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment and a 2011 book titled Addiction Essentials: The Go to Guide for Clinicians and Patients.

A popular speaker and lecturer both nationally and internationally, has spoken to approximately 85,000 health professionals and people in recovery since 1978.


Ken Winters, PhD, is the director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, a Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of M. and a Senior Scientist with the Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA. His primary research interests are the assessment and treatment of addictions, including adolescent drug abuse and problem gambling.

Dr. Winter is a frequent speaker and trainer, and he is a consultant to many organizations, including the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Hazelden Foundation, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Partnership for Drug Free American and the Mentor Foundation (an international drug abuse prevention organization).
Patrick Gauthier, is the director of the AHP Healthcare Solutions and Senior Consultant.

Over the course of twenty years in the behavioral health field, he has held management positions in a variety of mental health and substance abuse treatment settings, served as Chief of Operations Office and Chief Marketing Officer for a national managed behavioral healthcare organization and EAP, and has consulted the country’s largest health and behavioral health systems.

He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and one attendee commented “ Patrick is one of the best speakers I’ve heard on health care reform.”


Youth Keynote:

Ron Glodoski is a leading national expert on bullying, substance abuse and resiliency. Ron shares his story to demonstrate how he was able to turn his life around.

His honesty is a reality check showing kids where they may be headed unless they choose to turn their lives around. Offering them hope and possibilities, he teaches them that everything in life is a choice and that tomorrow's quality of life is based on today's decisions. Ron connects with kids who feel alienated by the system.

By relating to their pain, desperation and hopelessness he is able to show them why they are so angry, and why so many of them have given up on school, relationships, and their hopes and dreams. He identifies personal attitudes and issues that contribute to their feelings of isolation and low self-esteem, and provides them with ideas on how they can have control over "things that happen to me".

He challenges kids to believe first in the value of their own lives, and the importance of respecting themselves and others. He gives new hope and direction to those who are on the brink of making destructive, life altering decisions, and shows them how to take back their personal power and right to choose a better life.


WAAODA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable membership organization chartered by the State of Wisconsin. Our members include counseling professionals, healthcare administrators, direct service providers, educators and friends and family members of addicted and recovering individuals who actively support alcohol and other drug addiction prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services in communities throughout the state.


For more information about this conference please contact Angela McAlister at WAAODA Inc., 6601 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite A Madison, WI 53719 or Phone: 608-829-1032 or E-mail: angie.waaoda@tds.net.