Join us at the leading edge of self-empowered and stigma-free recovery at the 2025 SMART Conference. This gathering of SMART Recovery and Family and Friends facilitators, professionals, peers, and advocates is dedicated to self-empowered, stigma-free recovery. This event offers engaging keynotes, educational breakout sessions, and open discussions to help you enhance professional and personal skills, connect with a like-minded community, and explore real-world strategies for supporting recovery. This is your opportunity to grow, share ideas, and contribute to the future of recovery. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a movement that’s changing lives—sign up today!

Conference Lodging (Must be booked individually)

Conference Venue

Location Information

  • Hilton Charlotte Airport
  • 2800 Coliseum Centre Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28217 US

Delta Conference Flight Discount

Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for SMART Recovery USA.

Please Book Now for your flights.

You may also call Conferences and Events® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. (EST) 

and refer to Meeting Event Code: NY3M7

*Please note there is NOT a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.

*The hotel provides shuttle service to and from the Charlotte airport.


Keynote Presenters


Mark Sanders, LSW, CADC

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker and consultant in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award. He was one of three finalists for the National Association for Addiction Professionals 50th Anniversary Legends Award. Mark is also the recipient of the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award, The Illinois Certification Board, Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award and The Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago alumni.

 

Mark is the author of five books on behavioral health recovery. Recent writings include: Slipping Through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies For Clients With Multiple Addictions Disorders and Relationship Detox: A Counselors Guide To Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships In Recovery. He was lead writer on a trauma informed gun violence prevention curriculum which is being implemented in several large cities in the United States. His groundbreaking monograph Recovery Management co-

authored with historians William White and Earnest Kurtz helped shift addictions treatment and recovery from the acute care model solely towards a Recovery Oriented System of Care. Mark has had two stories published in the New York Times bestselling book series, Chicken Soup for The Soul.

Mark has also had a 30 year career as a university educator having taught at The University of Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago and Illinois State University Schools

of Social Work. He is co-founder of Serenity Academy

Chicago, a program which sponsors recovery-oriented peer groups in local high schools.


Sarah Laurel

After recovering from substance use disorder, Sarah sought to offer resources to women like herself. What began organically grew into a program providing housing, street-based outreach and nationwide training. Sarah uses her lived experiences to serve others and stay relatable to those still struggling. She leverages her corporate background to lead the Savage team thoughtfully, productively, and sustainably. Sarah is the recipient of several awards, including a Congressional Medal of Honor. She was featured on two Emmy award-winning episodes of Vice News and CBS News with Jessica Kartalija. Additionally, she created the first Xylazine training, delivering it both locally and nationally. Her advocacy for people who use substances, harm reduction, public health, and social justice has been consistent and groundbreaking.


David Best, BA, MSc, PhD Professor of Addiction Recovery at Leeds Trinity University

Dr. Best is Professor of Addiction Recovery at Leeds Trinity University, Honorary Professor of Regulation and Global Governance at The Australian National University and Adjunct Associate Professor of Addiction Science at Monash University (Melbourne). He is also chair of the Prisons Research Network of the British Society of Criminology, an Affiliate Senior Scientist at the Public Health Institute in California, President of the Recovery Outcomes Institute in Florida, and a founding member of the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organizations in the UK.

Trained as a psychologist and criminologist, he has worked in practice, research and policy in the areas of addiction recovery and rehabilitation of offenders. He has authored or co-edited seven books on addiction recovery and desistance from offending, and has written more than 230 peer-reviewed journal publications and around 70 book chapters and technical reports. He is one of the leading academics in the area of addiction recovery and a key innovator in developing recovery capital measurement tools and methods.



We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and exhibitors. To learn more about the sponsorship opportunities that are available for this conference, please click here for the full Sponsorship Prospectus.

2025 SMART Recovery Sponsorship Prospectus.pdf

APPLY HERE


Conference Agenda

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