Welcome Video

The annual NCADD-Maryland Tuerk Conference on Addiction Treatment is named after Isadore Tuerk, a psychiatrist who served as Maryland's Mental Health Commissioner for eight years and was a prominent figure in the field of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. A native of Baltimore, Dr. Tuerk oversaw the state's mental hospital system from 1960 to 1968 before leaving public service, and continued practicing psychiatry and teaching at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins medical schools.

Dr. Tuerk grew up in the neighborhood around the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and first came into contact with the school as a child when he delivered clothes made by his tailor father. A 1924 graduate of Baltimore City College, Dr. Tuerk completed undergraduate studies at Hopkins and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1934. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a division psychiatrist in the European Theater, was awarded a bronze star and was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel.

As a public servant, he fought for more dollars for the state's mental hospitals and pioneered group therapy techniques for alcoholics. All were welcome to the Saturday morning sessions he launched at Spring Grove State Mental Hospital where he became a staff psychiatrist in 1939 and superintendent 10 years later. His son Jonathan recollected that Dr. Tuerk only once threw someone out of the sessions - a man who came in with a bottle of whiskey. "It was the only time he ever kicked somebody out of the group and years later he kept asking whether that was the right thing to do."

Dr. Tuerk was an honorary member of the Maryland Society on Alcoholism Treatment and was named its Man of the Year in 1957. Tuerk House, an alcoholic treatment center, formerly a University of Maryland drug and alcohol abuse treatment center, was named in his honor in 1970. In 1981 he received the Gold Key and Honor Award from the Medical Alumni Association and its Service Award in 1987. Dr. Tuerk retired in 1986 and died at the age of 81 in 1989.

For more information, contact info@ncaddmaryland.org.

Back in person! Save the Date- April 23rd, 2024 at Baltimore Convention Center 

Plenary Speakers

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             David Best, PhD
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       Aliya Jones, MD, MBA

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              Keri Blakinger
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              Maia Szalavitz

Go to Programs and Sessions to access the day's events. 


David Best, PhD

Building Recovery Capital in Individuals and Communities

Aliya Jones, MD, MBA

Improving Outcomes to Treatment in OUD in the Black Community

Keri Blakinger

Corrections in Ink: A powerful story of recovery from heroin and prison

Maia Szalavitz

Undoing Drugs: How Harm Reduction is Changing the future of Drugs and Addiction

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the history of harm reduction policies in the US and other countries.
  2. Explain the importance of decriminalizing drug use.
  3. Identify resources in Maryland for mental health and addiction treatment.
  4. Describe the status of Cannabis legalization in Maryland.
  5. Explain the need for culturally sensitive programs for the black community.
  6. Describe the prevention activities for teens.
  7. Explain the impact of mobile sports gambling on the issue of problem gambling.

Purpose

The purpose of the conference is to increase the participant’s understanding of current issues in the field of mental health and substance use disorders. This includes drug treatment practices; policy developments in harm reduction, the legalization of Cannabis, the latest drugs of abuse on the street, updates sports betting and problem gambling and improving outcomes to treatment in the black community.

The Annual Tuerk Conference continues to be the premier conference in the region for providers, administrators, counselors and advocates to learn the latest information on events and changes that will affect them. It is vitally important for professionals in this field to stay informed about these changes and their impact on patient care.

Other topics that will be covered include engaging families in treatment, prevention with teens, nicotine addiction, overdose prevention sites, and building recovery capital in individuals.

UNSUNG HERO AWARDS

NCADD-MD has been presenting The Unsung Hero award at the Annual Tuerk Conference for the past several years to recognize employees who have positively influenced your program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence. 

JOIN US TODAY 10/12 AT 12:45 pm EDT to continue this tradition! 

Platinum Sponsors: 

Gaudenzia, Inc

Project Chesapeake

UMB - Center of Excellence on problem Gambling

University Psychological Center / Recovery Network 

Maryland Treatment Center, Inc Mountain Manor Baltimore

University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Addiction Research and Treatment (DART)

University of Maryland School of Medicine, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)