Fall Conference

Wrightsville Beach, NC | October 12-14

Network. Collaborate. Learn.

APNC’s Fall Conference is the conference for people working in the substance use field. Whether you work in prevention, recovery, treatment, harm reduction, policy, or some sort of combination of these areas, conference is for you.  Earn continuing education credits for your licensure, attend sessions you need most for your professional development, and connect with the people doing work like yours across the state.

EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS AUGUST 31

Conference Pricing

Regular Price

  • MEMBER | NON MEMBER
  • IN PERSON: $275| $350
  • VIRTUAL: $110 | $150

Student

  • IN PERSON: $89
  • VIRTUAL: $50

Hotel Information

You can book your hotel room by calling the hotel at (910) 256-2231 or booking online at https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnresorts/hotels/us/en/wrightsville-beach

Holiday Inn Resort - Wrightsville Beach

The APNC group rate ended on September 11, 2022, but there are still rooms available at the hotel.

sessions are added as they are confirmed

2022 Fall Agenda

Check out the lineup of speakers and sessions!

Keynote Speakers

Kym Laube

Kym Laube

Opening Plenary: If Prevention, Harm Reduction and Recovery Just Sat Down For a Cup of Coffee

Dr. Brenda Combs

Dr. Brenda Combs

Keynote Lunch: From Homeless to Hero: Overcoming Trauma & Changing Your Life

Chaz Franke

Chaz Franke, MSW, LCSW

Closing Plenary: Holding Space When Trauma Occurs: Strategies for Building Safety When the World Feels Unsafe

Keynote Descriptions

Sometimes it can seem as if prevention, harm reduction and recovery are at opposite ends of the spectrum, however both have the goal and need for reducing harm and healthier communities. By keeping up these walls, those working towards improving prevention, treatment, and recovery from SUD are not able to use each other as meaningful resources, and in turn this short-circuits conversations that could be extremely beneficial. By breaking down these silos and banding together to focus on creating healthier communities, we can drastically reduce triggers for youth and recovering individuals across the nation.

This workshop will highlight the strength that the SUD field can achieve by “talking about it” and working comprehensively with each other to increase positive health outcomes. Addiction can shrink one’s world into a stark self-imprisonment. In recovery, many will seek to re-enter the world and be of meaningful service to others. It is imperative and valuable to coalitions to provide such opportunities.

Dr. Brenda Combs grew up in a middle-class family, but fell into a bad crowd, began using drugs and dropped out of school. During her darkest days on the streets, she endured unspeakable trauma, including being beaten, shot, stabbed, raped and burned with cigarettes. It took hitting rock bottom for Dr. Combs to find the strength to turn her life around, praying and seeking forgiveness and help. Dr. Combs set her sights on education. As a single mother, she successfully obtained a doctorate in organizational leadership and now motivates others with her inspirational story of perseverance. “If I can do it anybody can do it,” she says. “I think every person has inside of them what it takes to succeed.”

All of us in the helping professions are capable of holding an incredible amount of emotional space for others when they are processing, exploring and working through their own experiences. But when it is the world itself that feels like an unsafe space we are asked to hold this space for topics, stressors and traumas that are also effecting us as individuals.

In this training, we will focus on ways we can understand trauma, hold space for trauma, and continue learning new ways to provide trauma informed care. We will also look at the ways we must care for ourselves, utilize supervision and mentorship, and build self compassion skills that can further our career and ability to hold space for others.

Be a Sponsor

Sponsorship Opportunities are still available at a variety of levels. APNC’s Conference team worked hard to ensure there are opportunities available for a variety of budgets. We would love the chance to spotlight your organization during our conference!

Exhibitor Opportunities Open on August 1. Please note that we have a limited number of spaces for in-person exhibitors. Priority for booths goes to major event sponsors first. You can secure your spot as a major sponsor before August 1 to guarantee your spot!

Breakout Session Sponsors

Seizing the Moment: Mindful Practice in Addiction Treatment
James Campbell
Sponsored by Southeast ATTC (Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network)

Social Justice in Prevention
Tracy Johnson
Sponsored by SEPTTC (Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network)

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) I and II
Tasha Wilkerson, M.A. & Raylette Johnson
Sponsored by SEPTTC (Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network)

Holistic Recovery with Recovery Reiki A Whole Person Approach to Heal From Codepencey, Trauma, and Addiction
Serena Gunn Stornello, CADC, CPRC, ADS; Hillary Belk, CADC, CCAR, CLC , Kris Brooks Lesneski, MSW, LCSWA
Sponsored by Flint Odyssey House and HEAL Holistic Journey Services & Hillary Belk Recovery Support Services