Halifax hosts national substance use conference during Addictions Awareness Week

When Halifax plays host to a national conference on substance use next week, the Mental Health and Addictions Program at Nova Scotia Health will have a significant presence. 

Issues of Substance, presented by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, takes place from November 17-19, and brings together substance use professionals, researchers, policy makers, and people with lived and living experience with substance use or gambling concerns. 

Mental Health and Addictions Program staff, including leaders, clinicians, and policy makers, are planning to attend the conference, which also coincides with National Addictions Awareness Week.  

It’s a great opportunity to share ideas and best practices with colleagues across the country that can improve care for people living with addictive disorders right here at home, according to psychologist Dr. Heather Durdle.  “I remember going to it the last time it was in Halifax, and like any conference you go to it was very inspiring, you make connections with people locally, with people nationally.” 

The program includes a variety of presentations, panel discussions, exhibits, and workshops. Several presentations will be led by Mental Health and Addictions Program staff, including Dr. Durdle.  

Durdle is a psychologist in adult community mental health and an advanced practice leader with the Provincial Centre for Training, Education, and Learning (PCTEL). She’ll present two posters she and her colleagues have worked on.  

One presentation highlights the more than 50 courses offered by PCTEL in 2025-26. The courses train mental health and addictions clinicians in the treatment of a variety of mental health conditions, including substance use and gambling disorders. 

“Given that this is a conference focused on substance use and gambling, we wanted to highlight the training that we offer to support clinicians and help clients with addictive disorders. The PCTEL model is unique within Canada and we’re happy to share how NS Health is leading the way on in-house training models” she said. 

The second presentation shows the clinical care pathways the addictions program is developing for substance use and gambling disorders in the public health care system. 

“We wanted to highlight how we’re expanding capacity and access to evidence-informed mental health and addictions care,” Durdle says, adding, “We want to make sure that the training that we offer is aligned with the guidance on what treatment approach to take based on the client's diagnosis [clinical care pathways].” 

“People stop by and ask questions about your poster and the work that you’re doing, and some really interesting conversations and connections arise from that,” she says. “And, really, the benefit of staff going to this is to share the great things we’re already doing, but really to learn from other folks across Canada as well.” 

For more info on the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: CCSA Homepage | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Mental Health and Addictions Program: Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions.

 Photo of Dr. Heather Durdle.