According to NIDA, (National Institute on Drug Abuse), substance use is more common among people with a mental health issue than among those without any.  The current global health crisis increases vulnerability to substance use for people experiencing emotional distress, and it’s particularly challenging even for those with mental illness who have traditionally maintained adherence to their medications and treatment plan. For mental health practitioners, addressing added influences of stress and anxiety emphasizes the need to screen for substance use and is critical to patient treatment for those in care and potential patients at intake.

This interactive webinar (90 minutes), will review contributing risk factors for substance use and mental illness, and its impact on diagnosis and treatment. Content will inform on validated tools used for screening substance use. Further, content will instruct on how facilitating brief interventions (Screening, Brief Interventions, Referral to Treatment, SBIRT), that are culturally and linguistically appropriate as well as trauma informed, can help address at-risk substance use in clinical and non-clinical environments, and facilitate patient centered care and support.

To receive a Certificate of Completion for 1.5 CASAC hours, participants are required to attend the full 90 minutes.