Hello Friends and Colleagues!
As president of APA’s Division 50, the Society of Addiction Psychology (SoAP), I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve you. I am hopeful for what we can achieve together this year, for both our organization and for the individuals and communities we support. At the same time, I acknowledge that this year has been marked by profound upheaval, violence and division in our world. Such divisiveness threatens to separate and isolate us and those we serve. In light of these challenges, I want to especially thank you all for your dedication to our field and your commitment to bridging these divides. Your work creates pathways to healing and wellness, and I am honored to navigate these pathways alongside you.
For those of you who do not know me, I am a licensed clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where I codirect the Harm Reduction Treatment and Research (HaRRT) Center. There, I conduct research, teach, and practice in a university psychiatry outpatient clinic. I am also a small business owner, providing consultation, training and technical solutions in harm reduction. I’ve been involved in addiction psychology for nearly 30 years now, and I have been fortunate to be mentored by some of SoAP’s inspiring leaders, whose guidance has shaped my journey and commitment to our collective work. In recent years, I’ve wanted to give back. I have served SoAP as Program Chair and Membership Committee Chair, prior to joining the Presidential Trio. Each role has been a chance to witness the incredible commitment of our members to building community and advancing the field for the people we serve.
For me, this work is personal as well as professional. I am in this field because of my own struggles with addictive behaviors, and I come from and married into families with the intergenerational experience of addictive behaviors and their sequelae—morbidity, domestic violence, and premature mortality. I am also aware that I have experienced far less systemic harm than many people I work with because of my race and socioeconomic privilege. This recognition has underscored for me the need to better listen to the communities we work with and to center the voices of people with lived and living experience who have been marginalized in our systems of care.
That’s why I’m especially excited about the theme for 2025’s Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction (CPA) conference: “Pathways to Sustained Recovery: Interventions and Community-Driven Approaches for Long-Term Success.” This theme reflects our understanding that recovery happens in community and that professionals, community members, and those with lived experience can work together to create more equitable and sustainable pathways.
I am also invested in our theme for the APA 2025 Convention, “Bridging the Gap: Digital Innovation in Addiction Psychology,” which grapples with our ever-present 21st century dialectic. Digital technology can expand and deepen both our collective healing and our social divides. I look forward to exploring with you innovative ways to best leverage this technology for the greater good as we bridge our widening divides.
And so, I invite each of you to join us in answering these important questions and calls to action. I can personally attest to the benefits of joining and being involved in SoAP. If you are looking for ways to be involved, here are some ideas:
Together, I’m confident we can continue building a Society that embodies our values of service, science, and compassion. I look forward to forging ahead, regardless of what the future holds, working alongside each of you to bridge those divides.
Warmest wishes to you and yours this fall,
Susan
Resources are available for those struggling with addiction and numerous effective treatments exist. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to seek out help.