February 6, 2018
Heather Gotham, PhD
Associate Research Professor
Mid-America ATTC
The newest course on HealtheKnowledge, Understanding Substance Use Disorders, is a collaborative effort between the UMKC-SBIRT Project (a SAMHSA-funded SBIRT health professions training grant; www.sbirt.care) and the Mid-America ATTC. Through UMKC-SBIRT we had several requests for a basic training on substance use disorders, as several of the health professions training programs with which we work did not provide even basic instruction on SUD. They wanted a primer course that students could take prior to SBIRT training (SBIRT for Health and Behavioral Health Professionals, also on www.HealtheKnowledge.org).
This course was designed to give a broad introduction to substance use disorders (SUDs) to those without formal training in the topic. It is also a useful refresher for those with gaps in their knowledge of the current language and science associated with substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery.
Although our focus is on providing science-based information, we really try to make it personal too, by referring to videos and other ways to show people’s stories. Also, the course is designed to be interdisciplinary and accessible to people of diverse professions instead of focusing exclusively on the SUD field. We chose this strategy to increase capacity, knowledge, and positive attitudes toward working with people with SUD in all professional settings. This is greatly needed given the lack of SUD content in pre-service education, yet the prevalence of SUD-related issues across healthcare, social services, and justice systems.
The content was created and honed in person first
over several years by a group of people with expertise in addiction treatment and prevention, psychology, social work, sociology, adult education, and instructional design. Then the content was enhanced and adapted for the online course. The course authors and contributors include: Heather Gotham, PhD; Sarah Knopf-Amelung, MA-R; Laurie Krom, MS; Pat Stilen, MSW, LCSW; Jessica Hildreth, BA; Edna Talboy, PhD; and Monica Talboy.
The overall goal of the course is to provide accurate, science-based information about substance use, substance use disorders (SUDs), and SUD treatment. We really try to break down myths such as that people who have SUDs make a choice to continue using substances, that “rehab” or inpatient/residential treatment is the only effective treatment, and that relapse means that treatment failed.
Learners can earn 2.0 NAADAC, NBCC, NASW, CNE or CHES continuing education hours. The course is free for people just wanting a certificate of completion, and is $10 for CEUs.
The opinions expressed herein are the views of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), SAMHSA, CSAT or the ATTC Network. No official support or endorsement of DHHS, SAMHSA, or CSAT for the opinions of authors presented in this e-publication is intended or should be inferred.