Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is available as an open-access article. Young adults (18-25 years) are at an increased risk of substance misuse. Individuals in this age range are typically self-focused and engaged in exploring their identities, experiencing increased independence and new choices and possibilities, as well as changes in residence, employment, education, and relationships. These emerging adults also have some of the highest rates of alcohol and substance misuse. While often described as youthful experimentation that is transitional in nature, substance misuse among young adults can have devastating consequences to an individuals health and social support system. For some, the pattern of misuse in young adulthood may lead to more problematic use and progression to SUD. This guide discusses effective prevention practices to mitigate risk factors associated with substance misuse. This course on preventing substance misuse in young adults is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of preventing substance misuse in young adults. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading research-based articles for continuing education is they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: SAMHSA Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding preventing substance misuse in young adults. Specifically, a professional will: Identify current evidence of the effectiveness of programs and practices to prevent substance misuse by young adults. Recognize examples of programs that use evidence-based practices for preventing substance misuse by young adults. Describe guidance for selecting and implementing evidence-based practices and programs. Citation: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://store.samhsa.gov