Forum aims to help GPs with ‘connecting the disconnected’

The RACGP is convening the fifth biennial International Medicine in Addiction 2021 (IMiA21) conference, in partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
 
Offering a full program over 26–28 February, the IMiA is for GPs and GPs in training who have an interest in addiction medicine – or want to learn more in this field – with a focus on peer collaboration, communication and shared learning.
 
Dr Hester Wilson, RACGP Specific Interests Addiction Medicine network Chair and 2021 conference convenor, said in her invitation video that the IMiA is traditionally a ‘lively and collegiate conference’ between the three colleges.
 
‘It is a place where doctors who come from those colleges can meet together, learn and discuss issues around addiction and drugs and alcohol,’ she said.
 
With COVID bringing changes to many large events, this year’s IMiA conference has moved to a virtual platform, enabling the RACGP to welcome doctors from around the world, not just Australia and New Zealand.
 
Dr Wilson said the tradition of an engaging and educational line up will continue with the online format.
 
‘Much work has been done to ensure the virtual conference still has the collegiate theme, and it will be a really innovative, interesting and worthwhile conference to attend,’ she said.
 
The theme of IMiA21 – ‘Connecting the Disconnected’ – acknowledges the role GPs and other healthcare providers have in supporting individuals and communities who use substances, the complex issues these patients present with, and the disconnection and marginalisation they face.
 
A key focus of the conference will be guiding healthcare providers through the delivery of appropriate support for this patient population’s unique situations and issues.
 
The weekend’s packed program offers a wide range of keynote presentations from GPs, psychiatrists and addiction specialists, discussing innovative topics sharing a range of expertise and treatment options. Open panel discussions will also deliver valuable networking and educational opportunities to conference attendees.
 
Topics on offer include behavioural addictions, the trauma of addiction, party drugs, novel psychoactive substances, emerging therapeutic uses for psychedelics, alcohol and biomarkers for liver disease, law and mandatory treatment for alcohol and other drugs, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and gender differences in substance use disorders.
 
The IMiA21 has been approved for 22 RACGP CPD activity points for the 2020–22 triennium and runs 26­­–28 February. More information and registration details are available on the conference website.
 
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