CHANDIGARH, 16.09.24-The National CME on “Addiction Psychiatry: Facing the Reality and the Challenges" is being held at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research from 14-15th Sep 2024 by Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry.
.In the CME speakers who were working in this area from different parts of India talked on different aspects of the substance use in vulnerable populations. The CME was inaugurated by Prof Vivel Lal Director PGIMER. Prof Pratima Murthy Director NIMHANS, Bangalore who has been working with women who use substances for last 3-4 decades talked on extent and risk factors for substance use in women. Prof Subodh B N talked on the assessment and management of substance use in women. Prof Anju Dhawan Chief NDDTC, AIIMS New Delhi who has been working with adolescents who use substances for last 3 decades talked on extent of substance use in children and adolescents. Prof Arun Kanadaswamy talked on assessment and management of substance use in adolescents.

The second day focussed on substance use in elderly populations. The speakers Dr. Siddharth sarkar and Dr. Anirudha Basu highlighted how the substance use in elderly were different from the adult populations and what are the best strategy to handle the substance use problems in elderly. Dr. Abhishek Ghosh covered about extent of substance use and challenges of handling substance in jail. Dr. Swapnajit sahoo discussed about the extent of problem of substance use in LGBTQ++ and challenges faced in handling substance use. Dr. Shalini Naik talked about Substance use in Non communicable diseases (NCD’s) and what are the staratgies in handling them. Prof Sandeep Grover talked about presentation of substance users in emergency setting and what are the strategies used for handling them.
This CME was intended as a capacity building exercise aimed at enhancing the diagnostic and management skills of psychiatry trainees and young psychiatrists. The CME was attended by more than 200 participants consisting of Students and practising psychiatrists.