Neurobiology of Drug Abuse, Addiction and Behavior: Making Sense of the Mystery and Eliminating Stigma
Description and Learning Objectives:
Science has been conducting groundbreaking research for almost 30 years on the brain and addiction and how it impacts brain chemistry that drives behavior. While the science is clear that addiction is a brain disorder, many people still have not heard the information or do not understand the complicated language of neuroscience and its implication for their clients and families.
Ms. Hilliard will:
Participants will be able to:
Science has been conducting groundbreaking research for almost 30 years on the brain and addiction and how it impacts brain chemistry that drives behavior. While the science is clear that addiction is a brain disorder, many people still have not heard the information or do not understand the complicated language of neuroscience and its implication for their clients and families.
Ms. Hilliard will:
- present the latest research on the brain, substance abuse and addiction in clear, user friendly language,
- explain what drives behavior of addicted persons that flies in the faces of logic and common sense and
- present ways to talk about addiction and recovery from a brain perspective to help reduce relapse and eliminate shame and stigma.
Participants will be able to:
- List three reasons why addiction is considered a brain disorder.
- Discuss why relapse and craving is a biological disorder rather than just weak will.
- Discuss ways of connecting with clients that helps them open up about their substance abuse issues.
- List evidenced based strategies for helping people achieve long term recovery
Neurobiology of Drug Abuse, Addiction and Behavior: Making Sense of the Mystery and Eliminating Stigma
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm CT
In-person at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, 161 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(lunch break on your own)
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm CT
In-person at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, 161 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(lunch break on your own)
Special Issues of Women and Substance Use Disorder and Their Recovery
Description and Learning Objectives:
Addiction has been studied for many decades but until 1993 it was exclusively only on males. Since then, a lot has been learned about early use, progression, and recovery differences between males and females who develop Substance Use Disorder. This workshop explores those differences and the evidenced based practices to help women recover.
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
Addiction has been studied for many decades but until 1993 it was exclusively only on males. Since then, a lot has been learned about early use, progression, and recovery differences between males and females who develop Substance Use Disorder. This workshop explores those differences and the evidenced based practices to help women recover.
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Discuss differences in the early stages of use
- List different impacts concerning stigma from a cultural and personal perspective
- Discuss the best practices for reaching pregnant women to engage in treatment
- Discuss general differences in treatment and achieving long term recovery.
Special Issues of Women and Substance Use Disorder and Their Recovery
Will be recorded and released as a Connecting the Dots episode.
More information to come.
Will be recorded and released as a Connecting the Dots episode.
More information to come.
These trainings are free!
Trainer
Florence (Flo) Hilliard
MSH (Master of Health Science; University of North Florida)
Flo is a Senior Administrator of Special Programs at the Waisman Center of Pediatric Neuroimaging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has over 30 years of experience in the field of Substance Use Disorders, in the areas of clinician, UW-lecturer, video producer, state and national trainer, grant writer and advocate to improve addiction treatment and recovery and help eliminate stigma for people suffering from Substances Use Disorders.
She is the creator of Many Voices, One Journey – the first ever video production discussing the special issues of women and addiction used by the Betty Ford Center, Hazelden and numerous state health departments.
She has secured and directed state and national grants to improve addiction treatment and recovery services for men and women in Wisconsin. She is the creator and original director of WI Voices For Recovery and was a co-creator of the national advocacy organization Faces & Voices of Recovery where she was a national trainer on the science of addiction and recovery.
Mrs. Hilliard is currently the creator and consortium leader in the development of a Study Navigator Support model for the Healthy Brain and Child Development study. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, female Certified Peer Support Specialists become Study Navigators that help recruit and retain pregnant substance using participants in 26 sites around the country to study brain and child development from pregnancy up to 10 years old.
MSH (Master of Health Science; University of North Florida)
Flo is a Senior Administrator of Special Programs at the Waisman Center of Pediatric Neuroimaging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has over 30 years of experience in the field of Substance Use Disorders, in the areas of clinician, UW-lecturer, video producer, state and national trainer, grant writer and advocate to improve addiction treatment and recovery and help eliminate stigma for people suffering from Substances Use Disorders.
She is the creator of Many Voices, One Journey – the first ever video production discussing the special issues of women and addiction used by the Betty Ford Center, Hazelden and numerous state health departments.
She has secured and directed state and national grants to improve addiction treatment and recovery services for men and women in Wisconsin. She is the creator and original director of WI Voices For Recovery and was a co-creator of the national advocacy organization Faces & Voices of Recovery where she was a national trainer on the science of addiction and recovery.
Mrs. Hilliard is currently the creator and consortium leader in the development of a Study Navigator Support model for the Healthy Brain and Child Development study. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, female Certified Peer Support Specialists become Study Navigators that help recruit and retain pregnant substance using participants in 26 sites around the country to study brain and child development from pregnancy up to 10 years old.
