Program Summary:  This course explores family counseling in SUD treatment and provides an overview of family-based counseling interventions.  Common family characteristics are examined using a systems perspective.  Four main family-based models are discussed in this course: the chronic disease model disease, family systems theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and multidimensional family therapy.  Benefits and challenges of family counseling in SUD treatment are discussed.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course examines national data and explores the impact of opioid misuse on the Hispanic Latino community.  It includes a discussion of sociocultural factors, such as immigration issues, religion, stigma, and a lack of culturally responsive prevention and treatment.  Strategies to address opioid misuse are given, including an overview of evidence-based treatment recommendations and medication-assisted treatment.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the unique challenges and strategies for preventing and treating HIV for people with substance use and/or mental disorders.   You will learn about the interrelated factors that impact HIV prevention and treatment efforts.  Programs and practices are examined, including PrEP, Syringe Services Programs, Contingency and Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Patient Navigation.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:   This course explores health, wellness, and recovery strategies for older adults who misuse substances.  The course includes a discussion of positive social supports, complementary therapies, continuing care, relapse prevention, and resilience.  The value of an approach that is strengths-based and trauma-informed is emphasized.  The reading is Chapter 7 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:   This course explores substance misuse and cognitive impairment in older adults.  The course examines how cognition in older adults may be affected by alcohol, benzodiazepines, tobacco, co-occurring disorders, and more.  It includes a discussion of screening, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiver stress.  The reading is Chapter 6 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:    This course explores options for assessing, diagnosing, and treating drug use and prescription medication misuse in older adults.  DSM-5 criteria for SUD are given and include consideration for older adults.  Age-specific treatment options and the SUD treatment continuum of care are examined.  The reading includes Chapter 5 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:    This course explores screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options for older adults with AUD.  Screening tools such as AUDIT and SMAST-G are discussed, along with DSM-5 criteria for AUD and considerations for older adults.  AUD treatment approaches such as CBT, PST, TSF, and pharmacological interventions are included.  The reading is Chapter 4 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:    This course explores ways to identify, screen, and assess older clients for substance misuse.  The course provides an overview of screening tools for substance misuse and co-occurring mental disorders. A description of brief and full assessments is given, along with a discussion of age appropriate care for older adults.  Challenges to screening and assessing older clients for substance misuse are explored.  The reading includes Chapter 3 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores how older adults experience substance misuse differently and provides an overview of the unique needs of older adults with substance use disorder.   Screening, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations are discussed along with general principles of care.  The reading includes Chapters 1 and 2 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the co-occurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It examines treatment models and settings, including intensive case management, assertive community treatment, therapeutic communities, and more.   Common medications that clients with CODs may be taking are discussed.  The reading includes Chapter 7 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the co-occurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It examines co-occurring disorders among special populations, including people experiencing homelessness, those involved with the criminal justice system, women, and people of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.  Strategies and recommendations for treatment are given.  The reading includes Chapter 6 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the co-occurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It examines strategies for working with people with co-occurring disorders, such as empathic counseling, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention techniques, and skill building.  Evidence-based counseling techniques for co-occurring MDD, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and SMI are given. The reading includes Chapter 5 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the cooccurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of common co-occurring mental disorders, including depressive disorders, bipolar I disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and psychosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and feeding and eating disorders.  DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches are examined, and case studies are given. The reading includes Chapter 4 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the cooccurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It focuses on effective screening and comprehensive assessment for clients with possible CODs.  The 12 steps of the assessment process are examined, and a variety of screening tools are included.  The reading includes Chapter 3 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the cooccurrence of substance use disorders and mental disorders.  It offers guidance for the provision of evidence-based care for people with CODs and considers screening, assessment, diagnosis, and care needs.  The reading for this course includes Chapters 1 and 2 of SAMHSA’s TIP 42 Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders.  Chapter 1 offers an introduction to substance use disorder treatment for people with co-occurring disorders.  Chapter 2 offers guidance for working with people who have CODs.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course describes the impact of the opioid crisis on the Black/African American community and discusses challenges to prevention, treatment, and recovery.  The course includes national data on opioid misuse and offers an overview of evidence-based treatment practices and key strategies.  Medication-assisted treatment and psychosocial interventions are explored and include a review of methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course is Part 2 of a two-part series exploring strategies for increasing motivation to change substance use behaviors.  Part 2 continues to explore the various stages of change and the motivational counseling strategies that can enhance commitment to change.  This course includes Chapter 5- From Contemplation to Preparation:  Increasing Commitment, Chapter 6- From Preparation to Action:  Initiating Change, Chapter 7- From Action to Maintenance:  Stabilizing Change, and Chapter 8- Integrating Motivational Approaches in SUD Treatment Settings.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course is Part 1 of a two-part series exploring strategies for increasing motivation to change substance use behaviors.  The five stages in the SOC model are highlighted including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.  Motivational counseling and various interventions that can help strengthen client commitment to change are explored.  This course includes Chapter 1- A New Look at Motivation, Chapter 2- Motivational Counseling and Brief Intervention, Chapter 3- Motivational Interviewing as a Counseling Style, and Chapter 4- From Precontemplation to Contemplation:  Building Readiness.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course examines Title 42 CFR Part 2, a law governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records in federally funded SUD treatment programs.  The law allows patients to seek needed treatment without fear of adverse consequences for child custody, divorce, employment proceedings, etc.  The course offers healthcare scenarios highlighting key provisions of Part 2 and includes FAQs for applying 42 CFS Part 2.

This course is recommended for social workers and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  This course does not qualify for NBCC ethics credit. Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course explores the use of medication-assisted treatment and offers guidance for improving the care of individuals with OUD who are or who have been in contact with the criminal justice system.  The course looks at best practices for counseling, medication dosage, medication duration, co-occurring mental health disorders, and post-release services.  FDA-approved medications- methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are discussed.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice  Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course takes a comprehensive and practical look at opioid misuse, treatment, overdose, and recovery.  The course includes a discussion of the prevalence of opioid misuse and the neurobiology of addiction.  Treatment approaches include a combination of medication-assisted treatment and psychosocial therapies.  FDA-approved OUD medications are discussed.  The reading includes Facing Addiction in America:  The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids.  

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.

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Program Summary:  This course examines OUD in the general medical setting and offers guidance on screening, assessment, DSM-5 diagnosis, and treatment. Healthcare workers in general medical settings are seeing an increasing number of patients with OUD.  They are often a first contact for patients and the primary providers of ongoing clinical care. The course includes information on drug testing and shared decision-making between patients and providers.

“Effective integration of prevention, treatment, and recovery services across health care systems is key to addressing opioid misuse and its consequences and it represents the most promising way to improve access to and quality of treatment.”  –The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course explores the common comorbidities that occur with substance use disorders.  Many people who develop substance use disorders also experience other illnesses such as mental illness, chronic physical health conditions, and HIV.  These disorders often occur together or co-occur.  The course explores the connections between these comorbid conditions along with approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course explores marijuana use and its affects on the brain and the body.  Acute, persistent, and long-term consequences are discussed, along with available treatments.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course consists of Part 4 of SAMHSA’s TIP 63:  Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Partnering Addiction Treatment Counselors with Clients and Healthcare Professionals.  The course offers guidance for counselors who work with OUD, OUD medications, and recovery oriented treatment.  The course examines the neurobiology of OUD, FDA-approved medications, and the role of counseling.  Treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone is discussed along with benefits, common misconceptions, and concerns.  The course includes guidance for pregnant women and guidance for working with mutual help groups.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  
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Program Summary:  This course explores prescription opioid misuse, heroin use, maintenance medications, and treatment.  Historical trends have shifted since the 1960’s with a changing demographic of opioid users and increasing prescription opioid misuse. From 1991-2011, US opioid prescriptions nearly tripled.  Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are effective treatments but highly underutilized.  Access to the opioid antagonist, Naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, is increasing.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  
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Program Summary:  This course examines how early childhood prevention interventions can help reduce substance abuse as well as other mental, emotional, and behavior problems.  The course looks at intervention efforts that aim to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for young children.  The course offers 7 principles of substance abuse prevention for early childhood.  The first and overarching principle proposes that “intervening early in childhood can alter the life course trajectory in a positive direction.”

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course examines the association between substance use and suicide and how substance misuse affects suicidal behavior.  The course identifies at-risk populations, shared risk factors, shared protective factors, warning signs, and the need for collaborative efforts across mental health and substance use fields.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning,  intermediate, and advanced levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course takes a comprehensive look at substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery.  The course includes a discussion of the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder (DSM-5), the affects of substance use on the brain, risk factors and protective factors, evidence-based treatment and prevention interventions, the substance use care continuum, strategies to reduce harm, and recovery. The reading includes Chapters 1-5 from Facing Addiction in America:  The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Addiction, and Health.  

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning,  intermediate, and advanced levels of practice.  
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Program Summary:  This course examines the ways in which women may differ from men in substance use and substance use disorder treatment.   The course looks at sex and gender differences related to the use of marijuana, stimulants, MDMA, heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol, and nicotine.   Research on substance use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is also included.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course outlines 13 principles of effective substance use treatment and discusses frequently asked questions.  The reading explores a variety of treatment issues including the components of drug abuse treatment, a comparison of relapse rates, and the unique needs of special populations.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. Read the complete description of this course…..