Northwest ATTC

The Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), in collaboration with the Mountain West AIDS & Education Training Center (MWAETC), is offering a unique virtual learning series designed to help those working with individuals affected by substance use disorders (SUD) to incorporate HIV prevention, especially HIV PrEP, into their lives as a component of recovery. This series is tailored specifically for substance use treatment providers, counselors, and healthcare professionals in treatment settings, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate PrEP counseling, referral, and/or prescribing into their practice.. Sessions cover a range of topics including the basics of PrEP, identifying who may benefit, addressing sexual health, available HIV PrEP options, discussing payment resources/billing, and more. By the end of this series, attendees will have gained practical skills in counseling, prescribing, and supporting clients with PrEP, enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive care to people with SUD. Join us in making a difference in maintaining the health of your clients via HIV prevention and advancing your expertise in this essential area of care. Who is this for? This series is intended for substance use treatment providers, counselors, and prescribers that work with or at treatment centers. Download our flyer for more details on this series! Sessions What Is PrEP and Why Is It Important for My Work? March 13th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Learn about PrEP for HIV prevention and how it could benefit people with SUD Who Is Right for PrEP? March 27th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Exploring who among people experiencing SUD might benefit from PrEP Discussing Sexual Health April 10th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Strategies for taking a sexual health history among people with SUD Paying for PrEP April 24th, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am Learn about the different ways clients can cover the cost of the medication The Details May 8th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Learn more about prescribing PrEP or counseling about PrEP before referring to a prescriber Give It a Try! May 29th, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:30am Practice counseling/prescribing skills and return to debrief and get additional support

Note: This course is for Alaska State tribal organizations, pre-professionals, chemical dependency counselors and others who provide care for Indigenous communities. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a transformative, evidence-based approach that empowers individuals to navigate change by tapping into their intrinsic motivation. This free 2-day online workshop provides participants with essential skills to facilitate meaningful conversations, grounded in empathy, collaboration, and respect for autonomy. Whether you're new to MI or seeking to enhance your expertise, this interactive training will provide you with the skills to foster change, strengthen connections, and harness the transformative potential of neuroplasticity. Day 1: Outline MI Foundations 1. Define Motivational Interviewing. 2. Demonstrate the four key skills of Motivational Interviewing. 3. Describe methods to build rapport using the spirit of MI. Day 2: Intermediate Techniques and Integrating MI Through a Cultural Lens 4. Identify and strengthen change talk. 5. Identify and soften sustain talk and resistance. 6. Describe the neurobiological processes involved in behavioral change. 7. Apply MI through a cultural lens. 8. Develop strategies for addressing cultural differences in MI conversations. This workshop meets the 16-hour MI requirements for CDC certification in the state of Alaska and is approved for 12 NAADAC CEs.

This training is designed to equip professionals, healthcare providers, and community workers with the tools to engage in trauma-informed harm reduction conversations. Led by peer and recovery mentor Sean Mahoney, the session offers practical strategies for approaching individuals facing substance use challenges with empathy, safety, and compassion. Topics will include harm reduction for opioids, meth, alcohol, benzos, and beyond, as well as techniques to create supportive, non-judgmental conversations that affirm the value of those being served. By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful, compassionate harm reduction conversations, helping individuals feel seen, heard, and supported in their journey toward wellness. Objectives: Why Peers and Harm Reduction Harm Reduction Basics Conversation Starting Points Leading with our stories Substance by Substance Naloxone Basics Who Should Attend: This training is ideal for professionals in healthcare, social services, addiction support, and community outreach who work with individuals impacted by substance use and mental health challenges. Professionals must be working in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. About the facilitator: Sean Mahoney, PWS, CRM, is a peer support specialist, trainer/facilitator, writer, recovery advocate and human in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol. He works as a program manager and peer supervisor for the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon. He also serves on the City of Portland’s Ryan White Funding Council for humans living with HIV/AIDS. He is also a longtime faculty member of the Oregon ECHO Network. He lives in Portland with his black cat Larry.

This webinar provided an overview of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), a constellation of intractable vomiting, abdominal pain, and hot bathing behavior that solely occurs in the context of certain heavy chronic use of THC-predominant cannabis, including synthetic cannabinoids. Whereas multiple etiological theories of its causation have been advanced (e.g., pesticide or neem exposure), these have been largely debunked. CHS is associated with frequent emergency department visits with high associated expense (about $90K USD). Considerable morbidity and even some fatalities have been reported. The definitive treatment is abstention from cannabis usage, but parenteral haloperidol and cutaneous application of capsaicin ointment can provide symptomatic relief. In this session, you will learn what CHS is, understand its pathophysiology and evidence for a genetic predisposition, learn how to differentiate CHS from cyclic vomiting syndrome and other differential diagnoses, and debunk spurious theories of CHS origins that are without scientific support. Download the slides | Watch the recording

January 2025 Presenter: Apoorva Mallya, Executive Director of Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) In the US, there are more than 3 million people infected with hepatitis C, a disease that has devastating impacts across the body and is a leading cause of liver cancer. Prevalence of hepatitis C is highest amongst people who currently use drugs or have in the past. At the same time, there is 98% effective cure available for hepatitis C that is simple to administer and has low side effects. With the development of this cure, the public health community has set its sights on elimination of hepatitis C, which would prevent cases and save lives for generations. However, reaching elimination would require a major increase in treatment, as less than 1/3rd of people diagnosed with hepatitis C have been treated. A broad group of providers and organizations, particularly those serving people who currently or formerly use drugs, will need to begin offering or expand hepatitis C services to their patients. Watch this webinar to learn more about hepatitis C and potential pathways to scale up hepatitis C services! Download slides | Watch the recording

Talking To Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, hosted by Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan, is a series of conversations exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its influence on supporting individuals and groups as they make positive health and lifestyle changes. Episode 81: MI for Sport & Performance, with Dr. Ben Freakley, CMPC In this episode, Glenn and Sebastian welcome Dr. Ben Freakley, CMPC, to talk about the use of motivational interviewing in sport and performance settings. Dr. Freakely is the founder and CEO of Ready, Set, Resilient, which provides sport and performance psychology services to individuals, teams, and organizations. In the episode, the group talk about autonomy support in sport and military settings; shifting between following, guiding, and directing; MI spirit in sport; “being a warm fire;” progressive sporting institutions, success beyond winning, situations in sport when MI is helpful, and key points for coaches to learn and apply. Download transcript (pdf)