AFINet's 7th Annual Conference 2026 (online)
We are pleased to share details of AFINet’s 7th Annual Conference, which will be held online on 15–16 September 2026. This year’s event will bring together international perspectives to examine key issues affecting families impacted by addiction.
Conference Schedule (UK time)
15 September 2026
4:00pm – 8:30pm
16 September 2026
8:00am – 12:30pm
At 1:00pm on 16 September, we will also host our Annual General Meeting (AGM), open to all AFINet members.
Keynote Speakers:
Tuesday 15 September 2026
Helena Maria Tannhauser Barros
MD, PhD | Full Professor of Clinical Pharmacology | Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (Brazil)
“Physical and Mental Health of People Living with Drug Users in Brazil”
Helena is a Medical Doctor and holds a PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology. As a Full Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, she implemented and coordinated the Brazilian Drug Information Service using Brief Interventions through telemedicine methodologies. Her current work spans multiple projects in Telemedicine and Mental Health.
Her clinical research focuses on drug abuse and dependence, depression, and antidepressants, using epidemiological methods and controlled clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for drug users and their families.
In her talk, “Physical and Mental Health of People Living with Drug Users in Brazil”, she describes the associations between health conditions and the lived experiences of Brazilian women whose family members use drugs
Wednesday 16 September 2026
Abhijit Nadkarni
Psychiatrist & Global Mental Health Researcher | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London (UK) & Sangath, Goa (India)
“Who Pays for the Drink? Alcohol Use and Family Harm in India”
Abhijit Nadkarni is a psychiatrist and global mental health researcher whose work focuses on alcohol use disorders, mental health, and scalable psychosocial interventions in low-resource settings.
In his talk, “Who Pays for the Drink? Alcohol Use and Family Harm in India”, he examines how alcohol-related harms extend beyond the individual drinker to affect women, children, and family systems, drawing on evidence from India. The session explores the public health, social, and policy implications of addressing alcohol use as a family and societal issue — not merely an individual choice.
The conference welcomes policymakers, practitioners, researchers, professionals from all disciplines, experts by experience, and anyone committed to strengthening understanding and support for families affected by addiction.
Abstract Submission
📝 Abstract submissions open 1 April 2026 and close 29 May 2026.
The submission link will be available shortly — please check back for updates.
Please register using the link below. We look forward to welcoming you online in September and to receiving your abstracts.
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