Identifying, Understanding, and Supporting Adolescents with Substance Use and Co-occurring disorders: What professionals need

Course overview

Identifying, Understanding, and Supporting Adolescents with Substance Use and Cooccuring disorders. What professionals need to know Because substance use does not discriminate and is known to impact learners of all ages, school social workers and other professionals must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to recognize and support learners who may present with a substance use or co-occurring mental health disorder. This session will provide participants with an overview of substance use, treatment, and recovery. Participants will be informed about substances and their effects on the individual, the brain chemistry of addiction, and the individual risk factors associated with substance use disorders. Tools that they can use to assess and intervene with learners who may be struggling with issues related to substance use, including co-occurring disorders,will be shared. The information and learning opportunities are designed to support professionals,in a school setting, in recognition, intervention, and treatment of substance use disorders. Objectives: Participants will learn individual factors that increase risk of substance use or misuse. Participants will learn to Identify the types of substances and their effects, including methods of use Participants will learn new strategies for supporting individuals who present with a substance use or cooccurring disorder