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. Living through the current pandemic and racial unrest is difficult for many communities and increases vulnerability to substance use and misuse. For mental health practitioners, addressing added influences of stress and anxiety emphasizes the need to screen for substance use whose symptoms often and elusively mimic those of mental illnesses.

This interactive webinar 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. 

All participants registering are required to turn on their video cameras and to actively participate in order to receive credit.

Credits: This training meets the requirements for three renewal hours (CASAC, CPP, CPS) and three initial hours (CPP, CPS) through New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS). Participants must attend both sessions in their entirety to receive a certificate of completion.