This is the first session of the 3-part series Embracing Pregnant & Parenting Families Challenged with Substance Use Disorder.
This session addresses addiction as a chronic brain disease, the brain changes inherent to addiction and the mechanisms contributing to both the brain’s vulnerability as well as how substances themselves impact the brain. The session strives to connect neurobiological changes to common behavior of individuals with a substance use disorder. The session also explores the overlap neurobiologically between early parenting behavior and addiction while creating an opportunity for discussion of the implications for patient care during the antepartum period
After the session, participants will be able to:
Recognize addiction as a chronic brain disease
Understand the connection between ACE’s and vulnerability for addiction
Discuss the role of the reward system in driving parenting behavior
Sharon Hesseltine, BSW, is President and CEO of Intentional Development, providing consultation, facilitation and training to strengthen services for pregnant and parenting families who have substance use disorders, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma. For over 30 years Sharon has worked in Public Health and specialized in early childhood development, women’s health, substance use disorder and recovery.
Continuing Medical Education (CME), American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (CNE), Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES), Iowa Credentialing Board, Missouri Board of Certification are pending approval. The series will be accepted by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board and is deemed alcohol and drug specific and will be accepted for continuing education for licensed alcohol and drug counselors in Nebraska.
