Why East Coast Symposium?

Where Purpose, Community, and Clinical Excellence Meet

The East Coast Symposium is where addiction treatment and behavioral health professionals come to reconnect with their mission, strengthen their clinical skills, and feel renewed in a community that understands the deeper purpose of this work.

Returning to West Palm Beach, ECS is rooted in South Florida, home to one of the most active and concentrated treatment and recovery communities in the country, making it an exceptional place to learn, connect, and collaborate. This unique ecosystem enriches the experience, bringing together diverse perspectives from across the continuum of care.

The warm, restorative South Florida setting supports reflection, connection, and grounded learning. The coastal environment creates space to pause, breathe, and regain clarity — something essential for professionals carrying heavy caseloads, trauma exposure, and constant system demands.

This year’s program reflects the realities clinicians face every day, from trauma and family dynamics to emerging substances, ethical harm reduction, co-occurring disorders, and the need for compassionate, evidence-informed approaches that sustain long-term recovery.

What You Need to Know about East Coast Symposium

What-You-Need-to-Know-about-East-Coast-Symposium

- What is the East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders?
  The East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders (ECSAD) is a clinically focused addiction treatment and behavioral health conference held annually in Florida. Part of the HMP Global Symposium series, it brings together 700+ addiction counselors, clinicians, and behavioral health professionals for cutting-edge education, innovative strategies, and actionable clinical insights, all in a focused 3-day format designed to advance the field's collective response to addiction and recovery.
- Where and when is the East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders held in 2026?
  ECSAD 2026 takes place October 9–11, 2026 at the Hilton West Palm Beach, 600 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. Located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach and directly connected to the Palm Beach County Convention Center via a covered walkway, the Hilton offers an exquisite blend of comfort, convenience, and unparalleled hospitality. West Palm Beach's vibrant setting supports the peer networking and connections that ECSAD is known for, placing attendees two miles from the Palm Beach waterfront and providing easy access to CityPlace shopping and dining. The conference also features the East Coast Open, a signature golf tournament held on the stunning greens of Eastpointe Country Club, bringing attendees together for a morning of meaningful connections, camaraderie, and friendly competition before the sessions begin.
- How many CE/CME credits can I earn at ECSAD?
  Attendees can earn 20 or more CE/CME credits at ECSAD, spanning addiction counseling, behavioral health, and related clinical disciplines. Credits support ongoing licensure requirements for LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists, nurses, physicians, and certified addiction counselors, all packed into an efficient 3-day schedule across 20+ educational sessions.
- Who should attend the East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders?
  ECSAD is designed for addiction counselors, social workers, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, nurses, and behavioral health administrators who want practical, evidence-based clinical education. It is especially well-suited for Florida-based and Southeast regional providers seeking a high-quality national conference that draws 700+ professionals from across the country without the cost of cross-country travel.
- Who are the featured speakers at ECSAD 2026?
  ECSAD 2026 features 30+ national expert speakers from leading institutions and treatment organizations across the country. Confirmed faculty include LaTisha Bader (Chief Clinical Officer, Women's Recovery), Jon R. Stevens (Owner, Psych Insight PLLC), Emily A. Hennessy (Harvard Medical School / Recovery Research Institute), Steven Klein (Addiction Medicine Physician, Caron Treatment Centers), and Dalanna Burris (Behavioral Addictions Specialist, The Menninger Clinic), among many others.
- What clinical topics are covered at the East Coast Symposium?
  Across 20+ educational sessions, ECSAD covers evidence-based addiction treatment, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, behavioral addictions, trauma-informed care, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and emerging strategies for navigating the rapidly evolving behavioral health landscape. Sessions are designed to deliver actionable insights clinicians can apply immediately in practice.
- Why attend ECSAD instead of another addiction conference?
  ECSAD delivers the scale of a national addiction conference: 700+ attendees, 30+ expert speakers, 20+ sessions, and 20+ CE/CME credits, in an accessible West Palm Beach location. For East Coast and Southeast clinicians, it means full-scale professional development, peer networking, and mission-driven programming without the cost and time of traveling across the country. Attendees unite around a shared commitment to advancing recovery and strengthening addiction treatment nationwide.

Why East Coast Symposium Comparison

What You’re Looking For in a Conference	East Coast Symposium	Other BH/Addiction Treatment CE Conferences
Education That Matches Today’s Realities	20+ sessions covering trauma, cannabis, harm reduction ethics, GLP 1s, adolescent therapy, traumatic brain injury and substance use, seniors and substance use, nutritional psychiatry, body image, recovery capital, and family dynamics.	Broader behavioral health content that does not fully reflect addiction specific complexity or emerging substance trends.
Practical Tools You Can Use Immediately	Actionable frameworks for client centered family work, motivational interviewing, contingency management, resilience building, and ethical decision making.	Content is often high level with fewer tools that translate directly into daily practice.
A Community Rooted in Shared Purpose	A supportive East Coast community with a strong alumni presence and a steady stream of new attendees who bring fresh perspective and shared commitment.	Networking can feel unfocused, less grounded in recovery values, and harder to engage with.
Content That Addresses System Pressures	Practical insight into burnout prevention, organizational culture, recovery housing ethics, regulatory challenges, and the complexities of co occurring disorders.	Limited attention to operational and workforce realities that are shaping care delivery.
An Accessible and Welcoming South Florida Setting	A relaxed coastal environment in West Palm Beach that supports reflection, learning, and meaningful peer connection in the heart of a vibrant treatment and recovery community.	Settings that may feel less cohesive, more overwhelming, or not intentionally designed for professional renewal.
High Value Continuing Education	Earn 20 CE credits tied directly to addiction treatment a