National Center for Mental Health Holds Symposium to Strengthen Role in "Addiction Treatment"

Commemorating the Opening of the Addiction Psychiatry Department

The National Center for Mental Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare will hold a symposium titled "The First Step of Addiction Psychiatry" at 1 p.m. on September 5 at the National Center for Mental Health in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the opening of the Addiction Psychiatry Department.

This symposium has been organized to share current issues in the field of addiction treatment and discuss future directions in response to addiction issues such as drug abuse, which have recently emerged as serious social problems. Renowned experts in the field of addiction in Korea will participate, presenting various perspectives on addiction issues and engaging in in-depth discussions to enhance the expertise and effectiveness of therapeutic approaches.

In the first session, Kwon Youngsook, Director of the National Center for Mental Health, and Lee Taekyung, Director of the National Bugok Hospital, will serve as moderators. Kang Woongkoo, Professor of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital, will deliver a keynote lecture on "What is Addiction?" followed by a presentation from Park Sunyoung, Head of the Addiction Psychiatry Department at the National Center for Mental Health, on "Trends in Addiction and Addiction Treatment."

In the second session, Lee Haekook, Professor at the Catholic University of Korea, and Seo Jeongjeok, Professor at Chung-Ang University, will serve as moderators. The session will cover topics such as ▲Neuroscience of Addiction and Addiction Treatment (Sung Myungje, National Forensic Hospital) ▲Addiction and Suicide (Ahn Yooseok, Seoul National University Hospital) ▲Addiction and Trauma (Won Heeyeon, National Trauma Center) ▲Addiction Issues in Children and Adolescents (Yang Chanmo, Wonkwang University Hospital). The session will present professional response strategies for addiction treatment based on the latest research, key issues in the field, and clinical experience.

The third session will be moderated by Lee Gyesung, Director of Incheon Cham Sarang Hospital, and Cho Seongnam, Director of the Seoul Drug Center. Presentations will be given on ▲The Role of Regional Treatment and Protection Institutions (Yoon Younghwan, Gyeonggi Provincial Psychiatric Hospital) ▲Collaboration with Integrated Addiction Management Support Centers (Oh Hongseok, Konyang University Hospital) ▲Collaboration for Crime Prevention (Park Sangjin, Seoul Probation Center), followed by discussions on strengthening the roles of these institutions and enhancing cooperation.

Kwak Youngsook, Director of the National Center for Mental Health, stated, "With the opening of the Addiction Psychiatry Department and the hosting of this symposium, the National Center for Mental Health will strengthen its role as the control tower for national addiction treatment with professionalism and a sense of responsibility," adding, "We will strive to provide practical treatment and recovery pathways for those suffering from addiction."