Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The following questions are the ones most frequently asked about CCSA’s Issues of Substance conference. If you do not find the answer to your question here or elsewhere on the conference website, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
CCSA will be adding more questions and answers on a regular basis leading up to the conference.
Information about the Conference
Q: Where will the conference take place?
The Halifax Convention Centre in Halifax, N.S.
Q: When is the conference?
November 17 to 19, 2025, as part of National Addictions Awareness Week.
Q: What will the conference schedule include?
Three full days of programming involving a mix of keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, workshops and e-poster presentations.
Q: What is theme for CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2025 conference?
Hope is an optimistic state of mind that holds expectations for positive outcomes. Exploring substance use health at Issues of Substance 2025 can lead to positive outcomes such as connections and growth.
Yet the challenges and grief in the field cannot be unstated. In recent years, tens of thousands of people from across Canada have died because of the unpredictable drug supply.
In addition to the human impact of losing people we care about, there’s an economic cost and a social toll that is affecting our healthcare system, along with the other impacts on individuals, families and communities that cannot be quantified. The depths of suffering and the fact that these issues lie at the intersection of mental health, crime, equity and other social factors have led to increasing challenges and division in Canada.
We need effective, holistic, whole-of-government and community action that is rooted in evidence and compassion. We need to work together to identify and reach common goals. And more than anything else, we need hope — hope for a brighter future with improved health and wellness of all people living in Canada.
In November 2025, close to 1,000 individuals with different experiences and ideas will converge in Halifax to learn, share and develop solutions to substance use health challenges. Coming together to listen and learn from each other will enable us to anchor hope for the future
Who should attend CCSA’s Issues of Substance?
- Substance use health specialists (e.g., health professionals, treatment providers, clinicians, counsellors, social workers)
- Public health professionals (e.g., public health nurses, health promotion program staff)
- Physicians and nurses from various fields (e.g., addiction medicine, emergency medicine, harm reduction, psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine)
- Policy and decision makers, and program managers
- Researchers
- Students
- People with lived and living experience and their families and friends
Due to the nature of the content of some of the presentations and the sensitivity of the issues, CCSA’s Issues of Substance is open to individuals aged 18 years and older.
Q: What should I wear to CCSA’s Issues of Substance?
Attire for the conference is business casual. Staff take every effort to provide a comfortable learning environment; however, meeting room temperatures can fluctuate greatly due to the number of people present. CCSA staff recommend bringing a sweater or blazer to the conference.
Q: Where do I make my hotel reservations?
CCSA is pleased to offer room blocks at the five hotels to attend our Issues of Substance 2025 conference. Additional information, including room rates and the distance from the Halifax Convention Centre can be found on the Accommodation page.
Q: Will the conference mobile app return in 2025?
CCSA plans to bring back the conference app for attendees to use during the 2025 conference. The app will be ready for use in fall 2025. CCSA will email everyone registered for the conference a link on how to download the app before the conference.
Registration
Q: How do I register for CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2025?
Q: When does registration for CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2025 open?
Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
Q: What are the registration fees?
Early-Bird Registration Fee: Pay only $1,150 if you register online by Friday, September 19 at 11:59 p.m. EDT!
Regular Registration Fee: Pay $1,295 between Saturday, September 20 and Thursday, November 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
You can also complete and pay for your registration in-person, at the regular rate, beginning Sunday, November 16 (if spaces are still available).
Student Registration Fee: $595
Q: I am a student. How do I qualify for the student rate?
Provide proof of your full-time enrolment as an undergraduate, master’s or doctoral student at a Canadian higher education institution in a program related to substance use health, addiction or behavioural addictions. Please upload a photo of your student card displaying the current year at the time of registration.
Q: What does my registration fee include?
- Attending all sessions
- Three full breakfasts, three lunches and break refreshments
Q: If I am presenting at the conference, do I have to register?
Yes, by Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to secure your spot in the program. Presenters can register for the conference through the CCSA registration portal.
Q: I can no longer attend the conference but have already registered. What can I do?
Registrants can cancel their registration and receive a refund up to 11:59 EST on Friday, October 10, 2025. We will issue no refunds after that time. A 25 per cent administration fee will be withheld from the fee reimbursement for registrations cancelled in writing before October 10. You must submit a cancellation in writing to Golden Planners Inc. at ios@goldenplanners.ca.
Q: Can I transfer my registration to a colleague who will attend in my place?
Substitutions from the same organization are permitted until Friday, November 7, 2025. Substitutions must be submitted in writing to ios@goldenplanners.ca. After November 7, registrations are non-transferable.
Presentation Sessions and Education Credits
Q: When will the final program for the conference be released?
Early summer 2025. We will post the program to the conference website once it is ready. Follow CCSA’s social media accounts for the latest news on the program and other conference developments.
Q: Will any speakers be announced early?
CCSA will be announcing select keynote speakers in the months leading up to the conference.
Q: Do I need to wear my name badge?
For security purposes, name badges are always required. There will be no admittance to the concurrent sessions or the exhibit hall for individuals without a visible name badge.
Q: What are the differences between the types of sessions?
Individual Presentations (10 or 20 minutes)
Single presenters may present for 10 or 20 minutes and must budget time for a brief overview of the major points or highlights of their presentation. Presentations delivered by a team (groups of six 10-minute presentations and groups of three 20-minute presentations) will be followed by 30 minutes of moderated discussion and questions, arranged by the Issues of Substance Program Committee. Presentations on completed work with results or findings to share will be given preference for the 20-minute format.
Panel Presentations (60 minutes)
The 60-minute panel presentations typically feature three 20-minute presentations that are thematically linked, followed by 30 minutes of moderated discussion and questions. Consideration may also be given to one 60-minute presentation that requires a longer format such as storytelling.
Interactive Learning Workshops (90 minutes)
Workshops are interactive learning opportunities that demonstrate the real-life application of techniques and skills.
E-Posters
E-posters visually showcase the key points or highlights of a particular research project, program or policy. E-posters must be digitally formatted (CCSA will provide specific instructions upon accepting an abstract) and will be presented on screens in a specified area of the conference venue. During designated times (to be determined before the conference), the authors must be available to engage with conference participants about their e-poster and respond to questions about their work.
Q: What types of continuing education unit (CEU) credits can I earn by attending CCSA’s Issues of Substance conference?
The type of CEU credits an attendee can earn will be determined after the finalization of the conference program. However, in previous years, individuals who attended CCSA’s Issues of Substance conference have been eligible to receive CEU credits for:
- The Indigenous Certification Board of Canada (ICBOC)
- The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF)
- The Canadian Council of Professional Certification (CCPC)
- The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
CEU credits from more organizations are being considered. Please contact us with suggestions on other CEU credits CCSA should consider.
The Exhibit Hall
Q: I am interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at CSSA’s Issues of Substance. What do I do?
Download the conference Sponsorship & Exhibitors Program. There are opportunities for every budget available, beginning at $500.
Q: When will the exhibit hall be open?
The exhibit hall will be open the following days and times, with peak times noted below.
Please note: All times are listed in Atlantic standard time and are subject to change at CCSA’s sole discretion without notice.
Monday, November 17: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
| Breakfast: | 8:30–9:30 a.m. |
| Break | 11–11:30 a.m. |
| Break: | 3:30–4:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, November 18: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
| Breakfast: | 8:30–9:30 a.m. |
| Break: | 11–11:30 a.m. |
| Lunch: | 1:00 -2:00 p.m. |
| Break: | 3:30–4:00 p.m. |
Wednesday, November 19: 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
| Breakfast: | 8:30–9:30 a.m. |
| Break: | 11–11:30 a.m. |
| Lunch: | 1:00 -2:30 p.m. |