NHADACA Annual Meeting & Keynote: "Cannabis-Induced Psychosis" - September 25, 2025
Includes a Live In-Person Event on 09/25/2025 at 9:00 AM (EDT)
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- Learners - $50
Annual Meeting & 2-Hour Keynote
Mill Falls at the Lake (Chase House), 300 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, NH 03253
The NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association will meet for our annual membership and business meeting. All members and interested people are invited to attend. Association business will include updates and exciting changes at NHADACA, professional recognition awards, and board of director election results. A keynote on cannabis-induced psychosis will follow the meeting.
9:00AM - 10:00AM: Coffee and Networking
10:00AM - 12:00PM: Membership Meeting and Annual Awards Ceremony
Agenda: Welcome
Executive Director's and Treasurer's Reports
NHADACA By-Laws Proposed Edits
Guest Speaker: Jill Burke or Representative, NH Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Services
Guest Speaker: Adam Burch, NH Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Board Member Recognition and Election Results
Awards Presentations
Emerging Profession in Healing and Recovery
Counselor of the Year
Lifetime Advocacy Award
Thomas McTague Lifetime Achievement Award
President's Award
12:00PM - 1:00PM: Lunch and Raffle
1:00PM - 3:00PM: Keynote "Cannabis-Induced Psychosis" with Dr. Erik Messamore
Presentation: Cannabis use is often perceived as harmless, yet research shows that it can, in some individuals, trigger episodes of psychosis—and in certain cases, these symptoms may persist long after use has stopped. This presentation will explore the phenomenon of cannabis-induced psychosis, covering both acute presentations linked to intoxication and cases in which psychotic symptoms continue for extended periods. We will review the evidence that cannabis can cause psychosis, examine proposed biochemical mechanisms, and highlight other significant mental health risks associated with cannabis use. The discussion will also address what an episode of cannabis-induced psychosis may signal about an individual’s future mental health, along with treatment considerations and approaches for engaging clients who use cannabis and have experienced psychosis.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between acute cannabis-induced psychosis, persistent psychosis associated with cannabis use, and primary psychotic disorders;
- Summarize the current evidence linking cannabis use to the onset of psychosis, including proposed biochemical mechanisms and the magnitude of long-term risk for developing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; and
- Identify key considerations for treatment planning and client engagement when working with individuals who use cannabis and have experienced psychosis, while recognizing the limitations of the current evidence base.
2 Contact Hours Available
CRSW Performance Domains: 3-4
LADC/MLADC Categories of Competence: 14-18
Certified Prevention Specialist Domains: 6
NBCC: LICSW/L-MFT/LCMHC (Category A) & Psychologist (Category A)
NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No 6754. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NHADACA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Dr. Erik Messamore
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University & Director at Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center
Dr. Erik Messamore is a psychiatrist, neuropharmacologist, and medical educator known for translating complex brain science into clear, usable information for clinicians, families, and the public. With a dual background in pharmacology and psychiatry, Dr. Messamore brings a uniquely insightful perspective to clinical challenges involving psychosis, complex mood disorders, and substance-related mental health conditions.
He serves as Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), where he also directs the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center. A seasoned clinician and research scientist, Dr. Messamore has published in areas ranging from cognition-enhancing drugs to biomarkers of schizophrenia. He completed postdoctoral work at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and earned his PhD in Pharmacology before receiving his MD from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Messamore is a sought-after consultant for cases involving diagnostic uncertainty, medication effects, and treatment resistance. His mission is to move useful psychiatric knowledge out of academic journals and into the hands of professionals who can apply it—especially in settings where clarity can change lives.