How to Eat an Elephant

Speaker: Anthony Brooks

Speaker Bio:

Anthony Brooks has dedicated his professional career to uplifting and supporting the young and young at heart. His job titles have consisted of clinical coordinator, family consultant, public relations coordinator, counselor/therapist, administrative assistant, program coordinator and motivational speaker. He has dedicated his professional career to uplifting and supporting his clients, customers, and students. Currently he serves as Principal at the Special Programming for Achievement Network which was ranked the number one program of its kind in his state from 2014-present. Mr. Brooks intends to receive a master’s degree in Social Work so that he may continue to expand his abilities to better serve the community.

Session Description:

Has the past year left you feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone. Join your colleagues for an uplifting and highly energized session that will leave you feeling “full” of inspiration with utensils you need to get your appetite back to tackle a full plate. How To Eat An Elephant is an interactive presentation for all audiences.

TAM1: Strategic Productivity, Engagement, and Retention of Staff

Course Description:

Productivity, engagement, and retention of staff have long been seen as the “Bermuda Triangle” of healthcare, especially in the field of addiction treatment. Staff shortages, burnout, and turnover can plague an organization for years and cost a company at least 33% of that staff member’s annual salary to replace them. This presentation will focus on approaches that organizations can use to develop staff productivity, engagement, and retention in STRATEGIC ways. Participants should expect an engaging seminar, along with a re-grounding of the passion for people that led them to this field in the first place. The presentation will be focused specifically on providing deliverables that organizations and individuals can immediately implement into their programs to help develop strategic productivity, engagement, and retention of their staff. These deliverables will be focused on the model of Strategic Productivity (SP3O), including Building a Culture of Engagement; Attentive Supervision; Effective Systems and Operations; and Alignment. Organizational Culture will include a scientific study and definitions of Org. Culture, along with a discussion on effective leadership and listening to our workforce. Attentive Supervision will focus primarily on the important role that supervisors play in the success of their teams and the implementation of SP3O. Effective Systems & Operations will focus on developing systems/ops that work for the workforce and that help solve problems. We will discuss solutions as well as symptoms of systems/ops that work in reverse, thereby taxing the workforce’s abilities to operate with Strategic Productivity. Finally, Alignment will focus on getting your operations and people aligned to one purpose, passion, and presence. We will be utilizing several audience break-out sessions and participation activities throughout the presentation, including utilizing balloons to demonstrate building effective systems, ping pong balls to demonstrate attentive supervision, and an entire audience participation activity that will “make it rain.” The plan is to fully engage the audience, to fully envelop the participants in the theme of the presentation. The presentation will be conducted by Josh Nirella, who has held leadership positions in behavioral healthcare for the last 20 years, including the current President of PAATOD. The presentation will run 3 hours in length, with several opportunities for break-out sessions and question/answer segments to engage the audience. The target audience is behavioral healthcare leadership who have the ability to make organizational changes, along with clinicians and medical personnel, who have the ability to impact an organization’s vision/mission.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• apply specific deliverables that will impact employee engagement and retention;
• identify specific areas and/or processes within an organization that need enhanced/optimized for greater productivity; and
• develop specific tactics to bolster current processes/operations to create better engagement of staff and patients.

TAM2: Psychotropics and Pregnancy

Course Description:

With the recent changes in the states’ abortion laws, a new awareness for practitioners is necessary for when their patients are taking psychotropics. This presentation will update behavioral health professionals on the latest FDA guidelines concerning pregnancy and lactation risk categories for psychotropic medications. Discussions of antidepressant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, and mood stabilizers’ birth defects and the safety of breastfeeding will be the focus of this course.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• become familiar with the major birth defects of various psychotropic classifications;
• develop a practical approach of patient education in discussing the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy; and
• understand the safe use of psychotropic medication for the breastfeeding mother.

TAM3: Creating Change: A Past Focused Model of Trauma and Addiction

Course Description:

This presentation offers a description and implementation of Creating Change, a new evidence-based counseling model for trauma and/or addiction. This new model focuses on the processing of past memories and emotions. By the end of the training, participants can conduct Creating Change if they choose to. The training is highly clinically oriented and experiential, addressing key issues such as client readiness and engagement, clinician self-care, complex cases, and the evidence base of the model.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify the use of past- versus present-focused counseling;
• describe the key features and clinical implementation of the Creating Change model;
• explore how Creating Change can be used in conjunction with other treatments; and
• address how the model can be adapted for various populations and settings.

TAM4: Working with Families Who Have Lost and Still Love

With an increase in substance-related fatalities year over year, more and more family members of all types are experiencing the pain of losing someone they love. This course will walk through the clinical perspective of supporting grieving people and share learnings from hosting weekend-long grief workshops providing hope and healing to families who have experienced a substance-related loss.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• conceptualize clinically salient grief states and how to identify them;
• integrate grief programming into their clinical programs; and
• evaluate the impact of grief programming for internal insights.

TAM5: HIV/STIs: an Overview for the Substance Abuse/Mental Health Professional

Course Description:

This three-hour course will provide an overview of current developments in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV diagnosis & management to the layperson/professional, especially those involved in the counseling & education of individuals living with a dual diagnosis, i.e., alcohol/drug addiction AND an STI, including HIV and/or HBV/HCV. Attendees will receive instruction on the nine most common STIs diagnosed in Alabama. Also, key Alabama laws regarding STIs/HIV will be discussed.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define/identify the following terms: abstinence, safer sex, risk reduction, HIV, AIDS, STI/STD, nPEP, PrEP;
• conduct a brief, accurate and sensitive assessment of an individual’s sexual risk-taking behavior; and
• discuss the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment for the following STIs: HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, bacterial vaginosis, venereal warts, viral hepatitis, and pubic lice; and
• review risk reduction/behavior change theories and models as they relate to STI/HIV infection.

TAM6: Creative/Collaborative Strategies for Rural Alabama Communities to Address the Mental Health Crisis

Course Description:

This course will provide an overview of the process to identify and address the mental health and law enforcement needs in rural Alabama communities. You will have the opportunity to learn from leaders of the Clay County Law Enforcement Agencies and the Clay County Children’s Policy Council about the collaborative efforts they utilized to create and put in place a Law Enforcement Mental Health Liaison position within their rural community.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• utilize an online needs assessment and identify 3 unique needs of their community;
• develop an action plan to address the identified needs;
• identify key organizations/individuals within the community;
• organize a round table discussion session; and
• facilitate a round table discussion session.

TAM7: Mental Health and Wellness in Nurses and Healthcare Workers

Course Description:

As COVID-19 emerged, healthcare workers found themselves in unprecedented situations related to the increase in patients, acuity, risk to themselves, and changing safety requirements. This has been shown to have a large effect on the mental health and wellness of healthcare workers. This presentation examines what is mental health and wellness in TAM05: HIV/STIs: an Overview for the Substance Abuse/Mental Health Professional healthcare workers today. It looks at recent surveys, studies, or articles written by organizations including by Mental Health America about the increase in things such as stress, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, loneliness and powerlessness in healthcare workers. It also discusses the increase in rates of Pandemic Fatigue, Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicide Rates in healthcare workers. It has approximately 23 references and looks at multiple reports or articles form organizations or experts such as the American Psychological Association, Scientific America, Global Wellness Institute, and more. When doing this review, we learned important statistics, for example in one survey conducted from June-September 2020, 55.14% of the healthcare workers surveyed were questioning their career path and 52.19% reported having Compassion Fatigue. These same healthcare workers reported that only 27.7% felt hopeful and 19.66% felt pride. These are important statistics for regulatory agencies and healthcare associations to hear. Challenges faced included that this is an evolving situation and the studies looking at it are relatively new. Long term mental health effects on healthcare workers may not be completely realized yet. Many healthcare workers express a decline in their mental health and wellness since the pandemic started. These studies, though focused on healthcare in the United states, are issues that are being felt around the world. Healthcare workers are expressing similar effects of stress and concern globally. This can increase concerns for regulatory bodies, employers, and the healthcare workers themselves, related to increase in substance use or mental health concerns that would prevent the healthcare worker’s ability to provide safe care. It also can cause decrease in the number of healthcare workers in the field which can be concerning for the lack of enough workers to cover the number of patients who need care. These are important issues to be aware of and to find ways to assist our healthcare workers with their mental health and wellness.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe mental health and mental wellness;
• discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of and suicide prevalence in healthcare workers; and
• summarize mental health concerns among healthcare workers that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19.

TAM8: Taking Care of the Caregivers: Identifying and Preventing Compassion Fatigue in the Peer Work Force

Course Description:

Individuals who work with vulnerable populations that have experienced trauma experience Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). Without intervention, STS results in compassion fatigue, which in turn leads to burn out. This didactic and experiential session will increase participants awareness related to why Peer Support Workers are especially vulnerable to compassion fatigue. Participants will explore the causes and contributing factors of compassion fatigue. Additionally, it will allow participants to explore skills and lifestyle changes they can use to reduce the impact of compassion fatigue and promote compassion satisfaction.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify what behavioral traits place peers at higher risk for compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress;
• list 3 of the things that individuals can do to prevent and reverse compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress; and
• define compassion satisfaction.

TAM9: From Grief to Gratitude: Finding Hope in Recovery

Course Description:

Grief is defined as the normal process of reacting to a loss. Though there are a wide variety of losses that can lead to grief, there are also many commonalities in how we experience it and how we begin the healing process. This training is designed to explore various types of loss, aspects of grief, and pathways to healing. Specific attention will be given to the process of grieving as it relates to substance use disorders, and participants will gain practical tools for assisting those struggling with grief and bereavement.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify diverse types of loss and common experiences related to each;
• explore differing models of the grief process;
• examine the specific impact of grief on substance use disorders and recovery; and
• gain practical tools to assist others in healing following loss.

TAM10: The BIG PITCH: Prevention, Recovery, & Treatment SHARK TANK!

Course Description:

Having the opioid crisis raging forward, new synthetic drugs like fentanyl being pushed to users, and chronic stress being induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 brings a unique set of challenges for the dedicated drug preventionist, treatment providers, and recovery partners who work with people struggling with addiction. The Mexican Cartel has gone as far as changing the colors and shapes of dangerous drugs to appeal more to the young adult and teen community. Creative strategies have been weaved together by dealers nationwide, getting these substances in the hands of the most vulnerable community members, they’ve mastered their “pitch”. Thus, to successfully reach the same community, coalitions, organizations, and other entities must effectively and creatively market and pitch their work on a dime-size budget. This “Shark Tank” designed session will prepare you to use basic marketing strategies to increase community support, involvement, and engagement. Get ready to make the “BIG PITCH” and win even BIGGER PRIZES from our local Sharks.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• analyze their current outreach efforts within the prevention, recovery, and treatment community and enhance them using targeted marketing strategies;
• construct marketing strategies that are culturally relevant and culturally competent; and
• explain the psychology of marketing, and how to use creative techniques to attract and strategically engage their community.

TPM1: Strategic Productivity, Engagement, and Retention of Staff

Course Description:

Productivity, engagement, and retention of staff have long been seen as the “Bermuda Triangle” of healthcare, especially in the field of addiction treatment. Staff shortages, burnout, and turnover can plague an organization for years and cost a company at least 33% of that staff member’s annual salary to replace them. This presentation will focus on approaches that organizations can use to develop staff productivity, engagement, and retention in STRATEGIC ways. Participants should expect an engaging seminar, along with a re-grounding of the passion for people that led them to this field in the first place. The presentation will be focused specifically on providing deliverables that organizations and individuals can immediately implement into their programs to help develop strategic productivity, engagement, and retention of their staff. These deliverables will be focused on the model of Strategic Productivity (SP3O), including Building a Culture of Engagement; Attentive Supervision; Effective Systems and Operations; and Alignment. Organizational Culture will include a scientific study and definitions of Org. Culture, along with a discussion on effective leadership and listening to our workforce. Attentive Supervision will focus primarily on the important role that supervisors play in the success of their teams and the implementation of SP3O. Effective Systems & Operations will focus on developing systems/ops that work for the workforce and that help solve problems. We will discuss solutions as well as symptoms of systems/ops that work in reverse, thereby taxing the workforce’s abilities to operate with Strategic Productivity. Finally, Alignment will focus on getting your operations and people aligned to one purpose, passion, and presence. We will be utilizing several audience break-out sessions and participation activities throughout the presentation, including utilizing balloons to demonstrate building effective systems, ping pong balls to demonstrate attentive supervision, and an entire audience participation activity that will “make it rain.” The plan is to fully engage the audience, to fully envelop the participants in the theme of the presentation.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• apply specific deliverables that will impact employee engagement and retention;
• identify specific areas and/or processes within an organization that needs enhanced/optimized for greater productivity; and
• develop specific tactics to bolster current processes/operations to create better engagement of staff and patients.

TPM2: Ethnicity and Substance Use Disorders

Course Description:

Overview of the history of ethics, development of professional ethics, impact on society, implications for treatment providers, and discussion of real-life scenarios.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify cultural influences that have an impact on Substance Use Disorder treatment choices and outcomes; and
• recognize and identify bias factors that affect medication usage in different ethnic and cultural groups.

TPM3: Women and Addiction: Listening to Themes

Course Description:

This workshop focuses on women’s addiction. The goal is to deepen understanding of how gender impacts both the addiction process and its treatment. Topics include rates; the telescoped course of women’s addiction; barriers to treatment; subgroups of women who appear to be prone to higher rates of addiction; staff reactions toward women with addiction, and current assessment tools. The workshop will focus on supportive and specific tools to aid recovery, including experiential exercises, clinical role-plays, video clips, self-tests, workbook materials, and questions and discussions.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• increase awareness of how the addiction and its treatment are different for women than for men;
• explore clinical interventions that are sensitive to women’s recovery needs, with a focus on evidence-based practice;
• learn about empirical studies of gender differences;
• obtain resources for further learning on gender differences in addiction; and
• understand diversity issues in relation to women’s addiction.

TPM4: Drug University Returns! Drug Culture, the Cartels, and Problems with Prevention

Course Description:

The illicit and licit drug markets are constantly evolving based on the demand for substances in the United States and driven by the constant eluding of law enforcement, legislation, and drug screening procedures. The question we all should be asking ourselves is, “How do we curb that demand?”. Cultural change takes time, effort, and evolving strategies as the markets and technology are constantly changing right before our eyes. For those of us in the battle against addiction, keeping up to date on current trends, the cartels, and dark net operations, and discussing problems in prevention are key in hopes of future successes.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of current trending drugs, their availability, and the direct effects and withdrawal symptoms;
• explain how the dark net operates and updated status of its use plus the role of the cartels; and
• discuss the role of societal acceptance of drug culture and continued problems in prevention.

TPM5: Value of Peer Support

Course Description:

This workshop will define the role and value of peer support services in the substance use disorder system of care. When utilized appropriately, a peer’s lived experience of the impact of a substance use disorder and their experience in recovery is valuable to an individual’s success in their recovery. Acute care substance use treatment without other recovery supports has often not been sufficient in helping individuals to maintain long-term recovery. Substance use disorders are currently understood to be chronic conditions that require long-term management, like diabetes. Peer-based recovery support provides a range of person-centered and strength-based supports for long-term recovery management. These supports help people in recovery build recovery capital-the internal and external resources necessary to begin and maintain recovery. Peers can assist with retention in recovery and/or treatment services by helping individuals break down barriers of experience and understanding, as well as power dynamics that may get in the way of working with other members in the substance use disorder system of care. The peer can keep an individual engaged in the recovery process by allowing individuals to find and follow their own recovery path, without judgment, expectation, rules, or requirements.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define the role and value of peers and recovery support services;
• recognize the value of “Recovery Capital”.
• utilize peers as part of an emerging transformation of systems and services addressing substance use disorder; and
• recognize how to utilize peers for engagement and retention in recovery and treatment process.

TPM6: Entrepreneurship for All

Course Description:

This course is designed to help participants understand what entrepreneurship is and how they can make changes in their life to either become successful entrepreneurs, business owners, or better employees. Becoming successful as an entrepreneur, business owner or employee is a valuable tool to use in a treatment plan for felons, drug addicts, or others that need to make changes in their lives.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify elements of the Entrepreneur’s Mindset;
• learn the keys to success as an Entrepreneur; and
• understand how to start a business.

TPM7: Engaging Community Members through Interactive Data Sharing Strategies

This will be an interactive session that trains attendees on how to use prevention data in their work and how to share it with community partners and stakeholders. First, attendees will learn how to present data for a specific audience and purpose. They will practice answering the Who, What, Why, and How of sharing a data set to decide how to best engage a particular audience and learn how to make customized decisions based on an engagement strategy they develop. In addition, they will participate in a discussion on how to center equity in data when sharing a data story. With this knowledge, attendees will then work together to build a data story that clearly explains data and key points to a chosen audience. Next, attendees will learn about a specific strategy for engaging individuals in reviewing and reflecting on data: data galleries. Attendees will participate in an interactive data gallery featuring Alabama prevention data so they can directly experience this data-sharing strategy. They will receive materials and tips that will provide step-by-step instructions, so they are prepared to facilitate an interactive data gallery in their community in the future. At the end of this training, attendees will have tools and resources to prepare engaging data summaries and will know how to conduct an interactive data gallery to share information with and gather input from community partner

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe key considerations for sharing prevention data to engage community members in prevention work;
• prepare prevention data summaries that are tailored to a specific audience and designed to convey a clear message; and
• conduct an interactive data gallery session that engages stakeholders in reviewing and reflecting on their local prevention data.

TPM8: Re-Creation, De-stressing in a Stressed-out World

Course Description:

Many of us encourage our clients to participate in effective stress management and self-care, and with good reason. Unfortunately, we often have limited suggestions for our clients as to practical ways to participate in self-care. Even more concerning, we often fail to practice it ourselves. This session explores the importance of and practical means of participating in healthy self-care.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• understand the fundamental role of good self-care in good client-care;
• explore factors that contribute to stress;
• evaluate the benefits and costs associated with stress; and
• identify and prioritize self-care as a means of greater health, effectiveness, and longevity in the field.

TPM9: Ethics for the Substance Use Professional

Course Description:

This course will look at ethical issues that are faced in the counseling and substance use field. We will look at ways to identify ethical issues and navigate them to give the best outcome for the client and the counselor. Issues that contribute to ethical issues will be examined. Multiple frameworks for ethical decision-making will be evaluated.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• demonstrate familiarity with ethical dilemmas;
• identify issues that arise around confidentiality;
• recognize issues that arise around dual relationships and maintaining boundaries;
• determine an ethical decision-making process; and
• examine the importance of self-care as it relates to ethical decisions.

TPM10: Incorporating Recovery Planning into Service Notes: Documentation Training for Certified Peer Recovery Supporters (CPRS)

Course Description:

If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen! The basis for CPRS work with patients should be recovery planning. Service Notes should incorporate the recovery planning for continuity of patient care and billing. It is important to learn how to write a service note that incorporates recovery planning. Through the use of case studies, this experiential session will review recovery planning and different formats for creating recovery-focused session notes and provide participants the opportunity to practice writing service notes.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• list 3 things that should be in every service note;
• describe 2 formats for writing a service note; and
• identify 3 differences with using “Recovery Planning” vs. “Treatment planning”.

Music and the Brain in Recovery

Speaker: John McAndrew

Speaker Bio:

John McAndrew’s music has been heard around the world, and at many National Events. While touring, he has performed for and worked with Recovery audiences for over 30 years. His CD, “Forgiven” released in 2016, was in Grammy Consideration three times in the Roots Gospel Category. His newest CD project “Walking Back” has received critical acclaim. He co-hosted along with WestBridge CEO Mary Woods the “One Hour at a Time” Radio Show on “Voice of America” for several years. He is a contributor to the US Journal of Science, writing articles on the benefits of Music in Recovery. He currently is a Recovery Music Specialist / Therapist and Music Services Co-Ordinator at Cumberland Heights, Nashville, TN, providing individual and group therapy. He also helped develop and launch the “Music Professionals Program” at Cumberland Heights.

Session Description:

Singer/songwriter and piano player John McAndrew takes us on a musical and spiritual journey from self-centeredness to humility, using stories and songs. This journey is a long and difficult one in recovery. Recent studies show us that music can reach the parts of the brain that are linked to addiction and can function as an integral part of recovery. This experiential session demonstrates how music and music therapy can be applied in a variety of treatment settings to bring about therapeutic change. We will discuss the brain in simple terms and how it is affected by music. New research and new evidence about the power of music. The scientific evidence.

WAM1: Psychopharmacology of Mental Health Medications 2022

Course Description:

The primary purpose of this workshop is to bring to the participants the latest pharmaceutical applications to the diagnostics of the DSM 5. Many of our patients take medications to function at their highest level of success, but psychotropics do present adverse drug effects and monitoring is required. An overview of counselor monitoring for medication efficacy will be discussed. The workshop will also highlight the body of knowledge of psychotropic medications including the latest anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety, mood stabilizers, psycho-stimulants, and herbal psychotropics. A recent review of the latest research in the neurobiology of anxiety, ADHD, and depression will be presented.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• discuss and identify classes of drugs used to treat the spectrum of mental disorders;
• outline the neurobiology of anxiety, ADHD, depression, and psychotic disorders; and
• discuss the most recent advances in drug therapies in the treatment of mental disorders.

WAM2: Finding Your Best Self: A New Trauma/Addiction Model for Self-Help, Family, Peers and
Professionals

Course Description:

This presentation will describe Finding Your Best Self, a new recovery model for trauma and/or addiction. It can be used as self-help, by family members, peers, as well as by counselors in group or individual format. It offers 36 short chapters, each addressing a specific facet of trauma and/or addiction. Examples include: How do people change; The world is your school; Listen to your behavior; Wish versus reality; Possible selves; The language of trauma and addiction. Each chapter can be done at a session, and in any order and in as few or many sessions as time allows. We will cover practical recovery skills from the model, with role plays of exercises and discussion of implementation strategies across any clinical setting, by any provider, for any client.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe current understanding of trauma, addiction, and their combination;
• identify how to use the book topics in provider-led format;
• describe how to engage clients in book topics based on their clinical needs;
• list key principles of the model;
• identify how topics relate to phase-based treatment for trauma and/or addiction;
• provide resources for trauma and addiction; and
• address adaptation with respect to culture.

WAM3: Veterans, Post Traumatic Stress and Wild Mustangs- What is Happening?

Course Description:

This course will provide an overview of the different types of equine experiences presently in place in mental health and substance use treatment programs throughout the United States- to include programs utilizing Wild Mustangs. You will have an opportunity to learn from David J Flounders Sr- Co-Founder and President of Samson’s Strength Sustainable Veterans Project, Mustang TIP Trainer Trainee and Kathleen Saucier- Co-Founder and Case Manager of Samson’s Strength Sustainable Veterans Project about the benefits of utilizing Wild Mustangs working with Veterans and their families. In addition, you will learn about the recent research being done to provide data of the benefits of alternative therapies such as Equine Experiential Learning for Veterans with PTS, depression, and anxiety.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• determine whether equine programs- in particular Wild Mustangs- is appropriate for their program/population;
• establish an equine program within their agency or establish a relationship with a program outside their agency to provide equine interaction; and
• develop strategies to measure the effectiveness of utilizing equine interaction with participants.

WAM4: Understanding Stimulant Use Disorders and Utilizing Evidenced Based Practices for Effective
Treatment

Course Description:

Stimulant Use Disorder (StimUD) is referred as the fourth wave of the opioid crisis. Nationally, stimulant use is on the rise and for some communities has been a problem for quite some time. This training will review the basic science of addiction related to stimulants. The session will explore how stimulants impact the people who use them and how providers can adapt and utilize evidenced based approaches to meet the specific needs associated with recovery planning and treatment from stimulants. This session will talk about practical implementation of evidenced based treatment such as contingency management, incentives, and cognitive behavioral therapy specifically for people who use stimulants.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify three specific national patterns and trends in stimulant use;
• specify two examples of the cognitive impact of stimulant use; and
• apply at least two specific behavioral treatment interventions and two recovery approaches that have been proven effective in treating people with a stimulant use disorder.

WAM5: Human Trafficking and Its Intersection with Substance Use

Course Description:

This course will provide fundamental knowledge in human trafficking and its intersection with substance use. This knowledge will enable learners understand how to provide tailored support to people experiencing substance use disorders and human trafficking.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe human trafficking, how it happens and who the victims are;
• explain how substance use intersects with human trafficking; and
• identify resources and relationships for responding to substance users experiencing trafficking.

WAM6: Boots on the Ground: Supporting Families In Your Backyard

Course Description:

“What can I do?” is a question we often ask family members and allies in the community. Well, there is a lot one can do to help support families in your community. Learn more about how peers and professionals can support families, resources to offer, and Alabama-specific resources near you!

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• recognize some of the challenges that families experience while having a loved one with an active Substance Use Disorder
• apply CRAFT-specific interventions in their own programs when working with families; and
• identify family-specific resources that they can use for continuing care.

WAM8: Prevention Works

Course Description:

The objective of the course is to identify prevention providers’ tools to develop and sustain coalitions and community committees using the Strategic Prevention Framework.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• engage diverse community stakeholders;
• develop and strengthen a prevention team; and
• raise community awareness of the issue.

WAM9: Ethics: History and Applied Ethical Dilemmas

Course Description:

Overview of the history of ethics, development of professional ethics, impact on society, implications for treatment providers, and discussion of real-life scenarios.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• illustrate the historical and foundational basis of ethics, common terms, and theory;
• evaluate the provider’s responsibility to the client, including the importance of goodness of fit, counselor competence, confidentiality, and informed consent; and
• evaluate the provider’s responsibility to self in order set appropriate boundaries, roles of the counselor, social media issues, self-disclosure, and power differentials.

WAM10: Stormy Seas and Beautiful Shores: Adolescents and Family Dynamics

Course Description:

Being an adolescent comes with some unique challenges. Having an adolescent in a family system does as well. The adolescent stage of development is also full of opportunities both for the individuals as well as the systems they are a part of! There has been a wealth of recent discoveries about adolescent development, learning, and family dynamics. Unfortunately, there is frequently a disconnect between what we know works best with adolescents and the treatment modalities we use when working with them. This session reviews recent research and explores how to best apply that knowledge to effectively treat adolescents. It also considers adolescents within the context of a family system and how to engage families in treatment and recovery.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify the fundamental developmental task of adolescence, why knowing this task matters, and how to leverage it effectively in prevention, intervention, and treatment;
• verbalize the vulnerabilities and opportunities particular to adolescent development;
• articulate an understanding of the role of family and support systems in adolescence and how to help build support for the young people and families we serve; and
• experience techniques designed to enhance our understanding of our own family’s role in influencing the people we have become.

WPM1: The Effects of the Latest Street Drugs on Pregnancy

Course Description:

The Gas Station Drugs, such as tianeptine, phenibut, kratom, delta 8, and other street drugs, have profound effects on the unborn. This presentation will discuss the current list of various herbal and pharmaceutical products, including phenibut, tianeptine, kratom, ketamine, and delta 8, known as “gas station drugs” and their pharmacological profiles to include their dangerous adverse drug effects on the pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• develop a vocabulary of the current herbal and pharmaceutical drugs known as the gas station drugs;
• gain an understanding of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of phenibut, tianeptine, kratom, ketamine, and delta 8;
• Comprehend the severe adverse drug effects of phenibut, tianeptine, kratom, ketamine, and delta 8 on the pregnant mother and her unborn child.

WPM2: Seeking Safety: An Evidence-Based Model for Trauma and/or Addiction

Course Description:

This workshop explores how Seeking Safety is implemented in clinical settings. Seeking Safety is an evidence-based integrated model for addiction and/or trauma. It is present-focused, offering coping skills to help clients attain safety in their lives. It is highly flexible and designed for a wide variety of clients, clinicians, and settings. The workshop addresses frequently asked questions when implementing Seeking Safety; offers the opportunity to try out parts of the model; and explores topics such as adaptation and ways to make it as effective as possible. The workshop will be highly clinically-oriented, interactive, and allow ample time for questions.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe the Seeking Safety model;
• learn frequently-asked questions in implementing Seeking Safety;
• explore challenges that may arise when conducting Seeking Safety;
• address clinical dilemmas in the treatment of PTSD and addiction; and
• understand how a manual-based treatment is implemented.

WPM3: Bringing Treatment Planning to Life

Course Description:

This course will focus on breathing life and energy back into the treatment planning process. Participants will explore new ways and approaches to developing treatment plans that are client centered and motivate and support client change and retention in treatment. We will review implementing and utilizing treatment plan goals in counseling sessions and ways to document and support the integration of strength-based problem statements, goals and action steps. Participants will learn how to take a developed treatment plan and discuss the skills and approaches to support the plan with evidenced based interventions and approaches in counseling session. Participants will learn how to integrate the treatment planning process into counseling sessions and then finally into the client chart by way of accurate and effective documentation.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• integrate and identify key components from assessments into the treatment plan;
• learn and utilize approaches to developing treatment plans that are client-centered and motivate and support client change and retention in treatment; and
• implement and utilize treatment plan goals in counseling sessions and ways to document and support the integration of strength-based problem statements, goals, and action steps.

WPM4: Vicarious Trauma: Signs, Symptoms and Management for the Healthcare Provider

Course Description:

According to Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMSHA), individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. The term vicarious trauma (Perlman & Saakvitne, 1995), sometimes also called compassion fatigue, is the latest term that describes the phenomenon generally associated with the “cost of caring” for others. It is believed that counselors working with trauma survivors experience vicarious trauma because of the work they do. Vicarious trauma is the emotional residue of exposure that counselors have from working with people as they are hearing their traumatic stories and become witnesses to the pain, fear, and terror that trauma survivors have endured.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define and identify common types of trauma;
• define vicarious trauma and accompanying factors;
• address survivor’s guilt; a common form of trauma identified during the pandemic; and
• identify the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma and how to manage them.

WPM5: Tele-behavioral Health: Clinical Practices and Risk Management Considerations

Course Description:

The purpose of this session is to review and discuss the evolving use of technology in clinical practice and behavioral health settings. Information will be shared on risk management considerations when planning for the delivery of substance abuse and mental health treatment and prevention services. This session will offer a multi-disciplined perspective on the legal and ethical guidelines, patient/client/provider assessment for technical fit, service delivery and responding to technical emergencies.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• provide an overview of tele-behavioral health planning considerations for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders;
• provide a multi-discipline perspective on clinical practice guidelines for delivering tele-behavioral health therapy in nontraditional and community settings; and
• explain how to identify and eliminate risk factors that could result in potential legal and ethical dilemmas in the tele-behavioral health culture.

WPM6: The Impact of Health Literacy on Underserved Populations

Course Description:

This course will provide an overview and define key concepts of health literacy. It will review social determinants of health and their impact on health outcomes. Effective health communication strategies will also be discussed.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define key concepts of health literacy;
• discuss the influence of health literacy on underserved populations; and
• discuss the impact of health literacy on disease management.

WPM7: Human Trafficking and Its Intersection with Substance Use

Course Description:

This course will provide fundamental knowledge in human trafficking and its intersection with substance use. This knowledge will enable learners understand how to provide tailored support to people experiencing substance use disorders and human trafficking.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe human trafficking, how it happens and who the victims are;
• explain how substance use intersects with human trafficking; and
• identify resources and relationships for responding to substance users experiencing trafficking.

WPM8: The “Hidden Addiction” – Understanding and Treating Chronic Marijuana and Cannabis Dependency

Course Description:

The use of marijuana and cannabis products for both medical and recreational purposes have gained increased popularity throughout the United States. As 2022, 37 States permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes and 19 States allow use for recreational purposes. Marijuana users do not die from overdoses and majority of users report minimal deleterious effects of cannabis use. However, a growing body of research indicates that between 5-10% of long-term cannabis users report significant clinical symptoms related to chronic use, along with debilitating symptoms associated with attempts to discontinue use. This course will present the most current research findings regarding marijuana and cannabis use, and specific intervention strategies and cessation techniques for assisting clients in reducing or discontinuing cannabis use.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• cite specific and current research studies regarding the growing impact of marijuana and cannabis use;
• learn and utilize specific clinical intervention techniques for assisting clients in reducing or discontinuing chronic marijuana use;
• relate to clients, students, and the general community how changing societal attitudes and liberalization policies have paralleled an increase in marijuana and cannabis-related distress among 5-10 percent of users; and
• understand ethical considerations of confidentiality when addressing marijuana use among minor age clients.

WPM9: Rocking the Roles: Family Systems in Treating SUD

Course Description:

Families are our first teachers for how to interact with the world, but not all teachers are equally equipped to instruct us. This session explores the continuum between dysfunctional and functional families, roles within those families, and how we carry those family roles from childhood into adult relationships. Codependency and its impact, both on the person with an active substance use disorder as well as those who love them, is specifically examined. Participants will also gain practical interventions to use in aiding families in their recovery.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define historic views of family roles and how those have impacted family engagement;
• distinguish between families of origin and families of support;
• identify at least three roles often present in dysfunctional families;
• articulate the three rules of dysfunctional families; and
• explore how to engage and leverage families in fostering recovery through practical, effective steps and suggestions for engaging families in treatment.

WPM10: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Overview and Surrounding Stigma

Course Description:

A stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social feature of a person or group of people. This implies that there is social disapproval. Stigmas are a major concern because they can lead to negative effects such as discrimination. This course will focus on stigma associated with drug use (specifically opioid use), addiction, and the treatment associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). The course will also provide an overview of the FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and the successful evidenced-based outcomes associated with their appropriate use.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• acquire a general understanding of the disease concept of addiction and the effective use of medications as a medical treatment;
• describe the use of FDA approved opioid medications as valuable clinical tools for treatment of opioid use disorder;
• recognize the need for MOUD as a long-term treatment modality; and
• discuss how Stigma influences attitudes towards persons with OUD and MOUD.

A Practitioner’s Guide To Medication Assisted Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder

Speaker: Dr. Merrill Norton and Maddie Marsh

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Merrill Norton is an EMMY winning Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy with his specialty areas to include psychopharmacology and addiction pharmacy. He was most recently honored by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association’s Board of Directors and Certification Board with being bestowed the first Certified Master Addiction Counselor (CMAC) credential in the state. His book, Understanding Substance Use Disorders Pharmacology, has been used to train thousands of mental health professionals nationally and his latest book, and The Pharmacist’s Guide to Opioid Use Disorders was released in December 2018. Dr. Norton completed his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. He accomplished a three-year addiction medicine fellowship under the direction of Douglas Talbott MD at Ridgeview Institute and has state, national, and international credentials in the treatment of mentally ill/addicted/chronic pain individuals. He has also been a faculty member of the Fairleigh-Dickinson University Postdoctoral Training Program in the Masters of Psychopharmacology, Alliant International University of San Francisco College of Psychology, University of Georgia School of Continuing Education, and Berry College in the areas of Psychopharmacology and Addiction Pharmacy. His areas of specialty in addiction pharmacy are the management of chronic pain in the substance use disordered patient and the neuroscience of substance use disorders. Since his recent retirement from UGA, Dr. Norton’s primary focus is to provide the latest scientific information to communities, educators, healthcare professionals, prevention specialists, treatment providers, and especially families, on the diseases of substance use disorders.

Maddie Marsh is completing the third year of her doctor in pharmacy program at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and plans to graduate in May 2023. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2017. She has a passion for substance use disorders, particularly the role of education in empowering people in their recovery. Maddie currently works as a pharmacy intern at Alliance Recovery Center where she works with counselors, nurses, and physicians to provide patient-centered care in Medication Assisted Treatment. During her time in pharmacy school, she has been a student of, worked alongside, and presented with her mentor Dr. Merrill Norton. She plans to continue the work in substance use disorders and pharmacy started by Dr. Norton in her pharmacy career.

Session Description:

In the Treatment of alcohol use disorder, there are medications that have been approved by the FDA to ease the transition into abstinence. Medications can be used for detoxification, withdrawal, and cravings associated with AUD. When it comes to treating alcohol cravings and deterring individuals from drinking alcohol, medications are an efficacious resource. Currently, less than 10% of patients with AUD receive medications as part of their treatment plan, even though it is an evidence-based treatment recommended by SAMHSA in combination with behavioral interventions. When individuals show an inadequate response to counseling alone, adding medication may be the next step. Anti-craving medications include Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Disulfiram, anticonvulsants (off-label), and herbal preparations.

THAM1: Vaping and the Adolescent Brain

Course Description:

This presentation is for professionals who work with adolescents challenged with vaping nicotine and marijuana. An explanation of the effects of vaping of tobacco and marijuana products on the developing adolescent brain from recent neuroscientific research and the serious aspects of e-cigarette and vaping use associated lung injury (EVALI) will also be a part of our discussions.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• explain the detrimental effects of vaping e-cigarettes and THC products; and
• understand the serious aspects of e-cigarette and vaping use associated lung injury (EVALI).

THAM2: The Fierce Urgencies of Now! Changing the Conversation about The Role of Prevention, Commercialization, and Inequity in a Time of National Crisis

Course Description:

The role of prevention is critical in addressing addiction, which is directly and indirectly, impacting all Americans from coast to coast. The cost of marijuana use is high, but it’s not that simple. Communities are still in the midst of an opioid epidemic, while addressing emerging challenges like rising vaping injuries and a meth resurgence, during a global pandemic. This session will discuss poly-drug misuse, racial disparities, and other social factors. The implications of creating an inequity among those who misuse, seek recovery, and are exposed to the emerging commercialism should be considered. The presenter will reframe perceived “gaps in the national conversation” as opportunities to change the conversation and offer “strategies” as critical skills required to specifically impact population-level reductions in polysubstance misuse and abuse with scale and scope in diverse communities.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• understand the importance of addressing vulnerable populations;
• define behavioral health disparities and understand the importance of equitable engagement;
• define the relationship between polysubstance misuse and youth; and
• understand the relationship between commercialization and marijuana myths/dangers.

THAM3: Treating PTSD in Veterans with Prolonged Exposure

Course Description:

PTSD is one of the most common psychological disorders seen in the veteran population and is associated with other negative mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, substance use, suicidal thoughts). This course will review and discuss common forms of trauma experienced among veterans and common military vocabulary that would be helpful to know as a clinician. In addition, the course will review how to assess PTSD symptoms and treat PTSD in veterans using Prolonged Exposure.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• assess symptoms of PTSD in veterans;
• identify common forms of trauma among veterans; and
• apply prolonged exposure to their clinical skillset when treating veterans with PTSD.

THAM4: Introduction to Prevention Ethics

Course Description:

As a substance misuse prevention professional, we regularly face situations that require us to make ethical decisions. Often it is clear how to act ethically; sometimes it is not. This brief overview of Prevention Ethics explores the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics and possible dilemmas for each principle.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define Ethics and related terms;
• define the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics; and
• apply the six principles of Prevention Ethics to their work in prevention.

THAM5: Faith-Based Support Specialist Training (FBSS)

Course Description:

Training senior-level religious leaders closes the gap between the faith-based community and the mental health field. Church, mosque, and parish readiness is imperative for community preparedness and readiness to respond in substance misuse support and advocacy. FBSS training is the provision of tools, skills, and resources to aid them in better counseling and caring for those with substance use disorder. Pastors are further prepared to act in this area of ministry by having the certified treatment resources at their disposal.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• understand the general education of substance use disorder;
• evaluate their ministries and assess the care they are able to provide spiritually, socially, and ethically; and
• apply the information they have received in conjunction with other clergymen and women, preparing them to put it into practice in the field.

THAM6: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Overview and Surrounding Stigma

Course Description:

A stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social feature of a person or group of people. This implies that there is social disapproval. Stigmas are a major concern because they can lead to negative effects such as discrimination. This course will focus on the stigma associated with drug use (specifically opioid use), addiction, and the treatment associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). The course will also provide an overview of the FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and the successful evidence-based outcomes associated with their appropriate use.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• acquire a general understanding of the disease concept of addiction and the effective use of medications as a medical treatment;
• describe the use of FDA approved opioid medications as valuable clinical tools for treatment of opioid use disorder;
• recognize the need for MOUD as a long-term treatment modality; and
• discuss how Stigma influences attitudes towards persons with OUD and MOUD.

THAM7: Decreasing Stigma and Developing Empathy

Course Description:

The first part of the presentation will include an Opioid Simulation which is a tabletop simulation intended to provide health profession students and practicing healthcare professionals the opportunity to understand opioid use disorder as a chronic, relapsing disease for which there is treatment and recovery. The objective of this experiential learning tool is to give current and future healthcare professionals an opportunity to experience opioid use disorder and to increase empathy and decrease stigma associated with opioid use disorder. The second part of the presentation will define stigma and further explore how stigma affects people with a substance use disorder.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe the impact of resilience on opioid use; • express the role of stigma in the opioid epidemic;
• experience opioid use disorder as a chronic, relapsing disease for which there is treatment and recovery; and
• describe various types of stigma affecting people who use drugs and people in substance use treatment.

THAM8: Rise in Fentanyl and Other Dangerous Opioids

Course Description:

The opioid epidemic continues to be a serious national public health issue causing addiction (opioid use disorder), overdoses and overdose-related deaths. We will cover the emerging history of the opioid epidemic which started roughly around 1999 and has been described as occurring in three waves since then. The State of Alabama was declared in 2015 as #1 nationwide concerning the opioid epidemic and it was then that a collaborative effort began to address the epidemic in Alabama. The current prescribed opioids of abuse shall be discussed as well as other prescribed medication that is not being abused by those with OUD with a specific interest on fentanyl. We will address law enforcement efforts to help combat the epidemic and more importantly, we shall discuss collaborative efforts between medical personnel, first responders, mental health and substance use treatment providers along with community-based programs to address the ever-changing dynamics of this epidemic to prevent future OUD’s, overdoses, and deaths.

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify currents opioids of abuse effecting communities;
• describe the effects of opioid abuse (specifically fentanyl) on abuse of other controlled medication; and
• explain the importance of collaboration between agencies to combat the Opioid problem on local, state, and national levels.

THAM9: Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery and Mental Health

Course Description:

A recent study conducted by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Alabama Department of Mental Health indicated that as many as 33% of people who seek mental health services in Alabama may have a history of head injury. This course is designed to educate clinicians about working with clients who have survived traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The course will cover general information about TBI, treatment implications for working with those who have TBIs, and the overlap between TBI diagnosis and mental health diagnoses.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify clients who have a history of TBI that might affect their mental health;
• apply knowledge of TBI recovery in working with clients to manage their mental health; and
• utilize techniques specifically designed to help clients with a history of TBI.

THAM10: It’s Mine, It’s Yours, It’s Ours: The Role of Servant and Stewardship in Organizational Leadership

Course Description:

While high employee turnover, staffing shortages, budget and funding issues, and other challenges can place considerable strain and great demand on supervisors, administrators, and employees, good organizational leadership is never negotiable! Researchers suggest that organizational leaders require well-rounded skills, a foundational knowledge of business and strategy, and good interpersonal skills (Harvard Business School, 2022). This three-hour skills-development course will explore some of the more common challenges in organizational leadership, with an emphasis on behavioral healthcare settings, while discussing effective tools and techniques in organizational leadership, personnel management, team building, and strategic planning. Through didactic lecture, interactive discussion, and other experiential learning methods, participants will establish an applicable framework towards the execution of organizational leadership.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• recognize the role of “servant leadership” and “stewardship” in organizational development;
• contrast and compare the roles of “manager” vs. “leader”; and
• examine team-building approaches, while demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in working with others.

THPM1: Opioid and Other Medications: How Do They Interact

Course Description:

Medication drug-drug interactions is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the US according to the CDC. Opioid and other substance overdose deaths are responsible for over 50,000 deaths a year and the numbers are increasing without any sign of slowing down. This presentation will discuss the major drug-drug interactions with psychoactive drugs that may cause bodily injury or death and appropriate information that patients taking these medications can use to prevent the drug interactions.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• explain why practitioner education is important;
• review of current epidemiologic data on drug-drug interactions between opioids and other medications;
• review possible explanations for increases in drug-drug interactions;
• review physiological and pharmacokinetic basis for adverse drug interactions;
• develop strategies for reducing risk; and
• list general drug information for opioid analgesic products.

THPM2: Measurable Assessments Improve SUD Treatment Outcomes

Course Description:

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment is unique in that treatment outcomes are often predicated on individualized assessment experiences. Experienced addiction treatment professionals understand that you never know what you’re going to get. A thorough assessment of the patient’s identifying problems can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis for treatment, which allows the helping professional to tailor fit the treatment experience to the patient’s primary needs. In this presentation, participants will explore how to aggregate data collected during the assessment to provide individualized treatment and improve treatment outcomes.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• explain and summarize the importance of the assessment process in person-centered care;
• evaluate assessment findings to explore and organize strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences (SNAP), including cultural considerations for treatment; and
• practice using the SNAP data through the treatment process, maintaining an open-assessment-posture through client-directed, outcome-informed treatment.

THPM3: Rise in Fentanyl and Other Dangerous Opioids

Course Description:

The opioid epidemic continues to be a serious national public health issue causing addiction (opioid use disorder), overdoses and overdose-related deaths. We will cover the emerging history of the opioid epidemic, which started roughly around 1999 and has been described as occurring in three waves since then. The State of Alabama was declared in 2015 as #1 nationwide concerning the opioid epidemic and it was then that a collaborative effort began to address the epidemic in Alabama. The currently prescribed opioids of abuse shall be discussed as well as other prescribed medication that is not being abused by those with OUD with a specific interest on fentanyl. We will address law enforcement efforts to help combat the epidemic and more importantly, we shall discuss collaborative efforts between medical personnel, first responders, mental health and substance use treatment providers along with community-based programs to address the ever-changing dynamics of this epidemic to prevent future OUD’s, overdoses, and deaths.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify currents opioids of abuse effecting communities;
• describe the effects of opioid abuse (specifically fentanyl) on abuse of other controlled medication; and
• explain the importance of collaboration between agencies to combat the Opioid problem on local, state, and national levels.

THPM4: Ethical Considerations for the SUD Treatment Provider

This course provides ethics and professional boundary information for providers who treat substance use disorders. In addition to discussions on responding to common ethical and boundary dilemmas, topics include informed consent, mandated reporting laws, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2. This course provides content relevant for the treatment of adult and adolescent clients.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define ethics and use in practice including differentiation between ethics and values/morals in the context of treating patients with substance use disorders;
• compare/contrast 42 CFR and HIPAA and will be able to identify times when confidentiality is waived; and
• identify common legal and ethical issues for all helpers with emphasis on dilemmas common when working with patients with a substance use disorder.

THPM5: Exploring Stimulant Use Disorder Treatment and Therapies

Course Description:

Stimulant use is rising in America and has become a public health crisis like the opioid epidemic. Illicit stimulants have evolved and are now cheaper, purer, and more potent. These factors along with their increasing availability have led to a 50% increase in overdoses. While the harmful effects of stimulants are well understood, little is known about treating addiction to stimulants. Stimulant use disorder is especially challenging because unlike opioids, there is no FDA approved medication currently available for stimulant use disorders. This program aims to examine the current treatment options for stimulant use disorder and review the research on current up and coming pharmacological treatments. Additionally, we plan to support the identification and adoption of evidence-based practices to support the increased provision of SUD treatment. The practical applications of evidenced based practice will be incorporated through case studies and hands on behavioral therapy approaches.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• define the neurobiology of addiction and identify key cultural factors and comorbidities of stimulant use disorder;
• cite evidence of pharmacological management for stimulant use disorder;
• identify behavioral evidence-based practices to address stimulant use disorder and practical applications

THPM6: Recovery Residences: Is it a Very, Very, Very Fine House?

Course Description:

Recovery residences are vital to recovery-oriented systems of care. The social model of recovery is foundational and often blended with behavioral health treatment. This training overviews the National Alliance for Recovery Residences’ (NARR) Standard as implemented by the Alabama Alliance of Recovery Residences (AARR). Come learn best practices for operators and allies.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify five aspects of the foundational social model of recovery that distinguish recovery residences from other housing types;
• distinguish among key operational elements that are applied across NARR’s four Recovery Residence Levels;
• recognize the four domains and 11 principles in the NARR Standard for Recovery Residences that are addressed by the AARR when certifying recovery residences; and
• discuss three collaboration best practices for recovery residence operators and allied organizations including a Personal Recovery, Individual Development and Expectations (PRIDE) Monthly Progress Report and an Overnight Recovery Exploration Outing Request (OREO) for allies.

THPM7: Drug Trends in Alabama 2023

Course Description:

This course will provide law enforcement, health, education, and professional attendees with information necessary to identify the newest drug threats facing Alabama and our country. 2021 saw a record number of overdose deaths which have doubled in the past five years alone. From 50,000 to 109,783 lost souls in five short years. We are in the middle of an opioid epidemic and our citizens, both young and old, are at risk and we know the answer lies in education, prevention, enforcement, and treatment of those affected.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify the newest forms of both legal and illegal substances that our young students have access to in convenience stores. “Gas Station Dope” has become a major problem and has led to many overdose cases in our schools;
• identify the source and the methods used to flood our country and state with the different types of opioid drugs many of which are laced with fentanyl which is a synthetic form of opioids. Identify the different forms that fentanyl is being used and abused. From being vaped to being laced into candy form, marijuana, and prescription pills; and
• identify the exploding problem with marijuana products. We will describe the differences in marijuana a few short years ago to marijuana today. We will demonstrate the increased levels of THC and rapid rise of alternative methods of use including: vaping, dabbing, CBD, delta 8 products and synthetic forms.

THPM8: Dynamic Ideas for Group Therapy

Course Description:

This course will look at the most successful forms of group facilitation, examine approaches to group therapy, and look at topics and interventions to use to reach clients as effectively as possible. This course would be great for new counselors who have recently entered the field and seasoned counselors as a way to share ideas about what makes successful group therapy.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify therapeutic forces that impact groups;
• summarize the types of groups and their purpose;
• examine common approaches and interventions in group therapy; and
• identify effective group interventions and ideas to use with their current work population.

THPM9: The Battle at Home: Exploring the Complexities of PTSD, Substance Abuse, and Other Co-occurring Conditions in the Veteran Population

Course Description:

While the list of individuals and groups receiving mental healthcare in the United States is both broad and diverse, veterans remain amongst the most unique and complex of all special populations. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), serious mental illness (SMI), major depressive episode (MDE), and substance use disorder (SUD), are on the rise in this population, and in 2020 alone, 5.2 million veterans experienced a behavioral health condition in (2022). This three-hour course will examine the prevalence and complexities of substance misuse, PTSD, and other co-occurring conditions among the veteran population, and explore efficient strategies in clinical care, case coordination, and referral. Through didactic lecture and discussion, participants will acquire useful skills for the treatment of veterans with co-occurring conditions.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• discuss the prevalence of cooccurring disorders among veterans and its impact on interpersonal functioning;
• analyze the complicated nature of behavioral healthcare practice with veterans; and
• examine and demonstrate the application of evidence-based approaches in treating and responding to veterans with complex cooccurring conditions.

THPM10: Prevention Professional Essentials: What Should I Know Before I Go?

Course Description:

This course is designed for new and emerging anti-drug coalition leaders, community leaders, drug prevention personnel, education professionals, or those who want to launch a community anti-drug coalition in their environment. Course topic areas include reviewing the history and evolution of the coalition movement, the public health model, assessing risk and protective factors, stages of community readiness, and associated strategies for engaging key stakeholders.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• understand the foundations of prevention science;
• define the Public Health Approach and the Strategic Prevention Framework; and
• define methods for effective community problem solving.

I Need A Boost  

Speaker: Mansfield Key

Speaker Bio:

Mansfield (Pete) Key III is the leading Growth Development Strategist and International Motivational Speaker. He’s a Life Coach, mentor, consultant, speechwriter, certified HIV/AIDS Instructor. He holds multiple certifications in grief counseling and 21st Century Leadership. He’s certified in Relationship Smarts, Fatherhood Initiative, Together We Can, and Basic Training for Relationships from the Human Development Department at Auburn University. He has provided technical assistance to the Federal Government’s Health and Human Service for all 50 states and has worked directly with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. He has consulted for the Departments of Education and Public Health in several states. He has also provided presentations for the Juvenile Justice System, Dream Development Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Liverpool, England’s Hope Organization. He is the creator of the Lunch with The Keys Program, teaching Character Education to kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. The youth services program, Lunch with The Keys, won the School of Distinction for Florence High School and went on to be awarded the 2019 CLAS Banner for Alabama School District 7. Pete’s Fatherhood program also won the Community Action Head Start Fatherhood Program of the year. He was named Humanitarian of the Year for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He’s also a member of the 2016-2017 Class of Leadership Alabama and the 2020 President of the Florence Rotary Club. His speaking engagements include the Ryan White National Conference; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA); Alabama Education Association; Alabama Associate of School Boards; and the School Superintendents of Alabama. He has authored three books and released multiple curriculums. Besides his relationship with God, he is most proud of his wife, Sharlene, and two daughters, Erin and Joi. Key believes everyone has something special, but sometimes people need others to help them discover it.

Session Description:

This ed-u-training (educational and entertaining) training session will have its audience participating in lively discussions and engaging activities using music and drama. We want to help them discover sustainable ways to keep the passion for their purpose. Let’s work together to help your team identify what’s draining their emotional, mental battery and determine what is causing their engine to have a slow start and sometimes stall. We will bring the Booster Cables to give them a charge and help create a spark to energize the people around them. Let’s work together to discover ways to relieve their personal and professional stress to their personal and professional best. This session will clearly prepare participants to leave the conference ready to illustrate what it means to make a difference in the lives of others: “Someone’s Destiny is tied to your assignment”.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

FAM1: Prevention Education through Coalition Building & Community Involvement

Course Description:

Assessing community readiness, in particular, helps prevention professionals determine whether the time is right and whether there is social momentum towards addressing the issue or issues they hope to tackle. Community readiness is just as important in addressing community needs as having tangible resources in place. Evaluation is the systematic collection and analysis of information about program activities, characteristics, and outcomes. Providers should ensure the sustainability of prevention outcomes by building stakeholder support for your program, showing, and sharing results, and obtaining steady funding.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify opiate and other substance misuse related barriers within their communities;
• evaluate by collecting and analyzing information from programming and their outcomes; and
• differentiate the six CSAP strategies: Environmental, Community-Based, Problem Identification and Referral, Information Dissemination, Education and Alternatives; and
• identify the Strategic Prevention Framework (Assess, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Sustainability).

FAM2: Creating Patient-Centered Care for Pregnant and Postpartum Populations with Substance Use Disorder

Course Description:

Pregnant and postpartum populations with substance use disorder (SUD) experience stigma and bias in the clinical setting and in their personal lives. These lived experiences lead to barriers to accessing necessary treatment. This course will introduce attendees to the different types of stigma and barriers experienced by pregnant and postpartum populations with SUD and those who serve and support them. Attendees will also learn effective interpersonal communication and collaboration skills that will facilitate rapport-building and trust with this population.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify barriers and stigma related to supporting expecting individuals and families with SUDs;
• examine the rates of substance use and mental health occurrence among people of childbearing age and the implications of these comorbidities;
• understand how policies can affect how pregnant people with the treatment seeking and SUD recovery process;
• discuss ways to engage and empower families of pregnancy and postpartum individuals living with SUDs; and
• demonstrate and practice using supportive language when working with pregnant and postpartum populations.

FAM3: Perspectives in Clinical Supervision

Course Description:

The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of the culture of supervision for behavioral health and health care professionals who work in substance abuse and mental health treatment and prevention settings. Information will be shared on the dual roles and responsibilities of different types of clinical supervisors, legal and ethical considerations in supervision, and best practices that can be used to support the needs of supervisees while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulatory agencies.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of clinical supervisors in multi-service behavioral health settings;
• explain how to avoid common ethical dilemmas when providing clinical supervision to licensed and unlicensed professionals and paraprofessionals in the helping profession; and
• list common supervision methods and tools that can be used with new and existing supervisees and student interns in clinical treatment and prevention settings.

FAM4: Alabama’s Crisis System: Access to Care, Mobile Crisis Services, and Crisis Stabilization

Course Description:

Each year, there are thousands of preventable tragedies that may be addressed with proper access to care and mental health resources. The Alabama Crisis System of Care was developed to reduce the number of emergency room admissions and jail bookings due to behavioral health crisis. The Alabama Crisis System of Care promotes access to care, integrated services, and crisis stabilization in six (6) regional crisis centers. These crisis services provide an ease of access to care and decrease the rate of expensive referrals while providing a regional approach to crisis services. This training will provide an in-depth look of the Alabama Crisis System of Care, access to care, and best practices utilized within each crisis center. Participant will gain an understanding of each of the six (6) Crisis Centers, referral, assessment, and admission process for a Crisis Center. The course will review in detail current Crisis Center’s treatment, case management, and referral processes.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe and utilize the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to access care;
• describe and utilize Mobile Crisis Services;
• identify and refer to a Crisis Center;
• describe the core services provided by an effective Crisis System;
• recognize the best practices within a highly functioning Crisis System of Care;
• recognize how the Alabama Crisis System of Care will benefit individuals, families, law enforcement, hospitals, communities, and Alabama residents;
• differentiate between “Temporary Observation” and “Extended Observation” and the assessment and treatment processes within a Crisis Center;
• describe each current Crisis Center’s location, contact staff, and process of referral and admission to each;
• recognize the importance of community partners and stakeholders for a successful Crisis System of Care; and
• identify the requirements and staffing of a Crisis Center.

FAM5: Siloed no more: Achieving Health Equity by Addressing the Pervasive Interconnections among Substance Use, Social, and Structural Determinates of Recovery.

Course Description:

Achieving health equity for all is a national priority. However, for many individuals with substance use disorders, recovery is not a linear progression and is often complicated by social and structural determinants of recovery. Furthermore, structural, and intersectional stigma are barriers to substance use prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services. In fact, substance abuse is strongly associated with other behavioral and health outcomes, including sexual violence. Although many social determinants of health influence substance use trajectories, employment can be and should be explored as a significant facilitator of recovery and a viable avenue to achieving health equity. This class will examine the complex integrationists among substance use, social, and structural determinants of health, as well as offer comprehensive, multilevel strategies to address these issues. Siloed no more, provides a lens through which we can achieve health equity for individuals with substance use disorders, by addressing social and structural determinates of recovery.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• evaluate the impact of social and structural determinants of recovery, particularly employment on achieving health equity among individuals with substance use disorders;
• examine structural and intersectional stigma as barriers to substance use prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services; and
• evaluate the intricate interconnections between substance use and sexual violence as barriers to achieving health equity.

FAM6: Assessing Alabama’s Opioid Epidemic

Course Description:

This course will present the state’s substance use data repository as a tool to monitor and report the impact of substance use upon resources across justice, health, and human service stakeholders. This course will examine how this tool was developed as a solution to creating a comprehensive story about the opioid epidemic using previously siloed data from various state agencies and partners.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• access statewide and county-level substance use data;
• interpret statewide and county-level substance use data; and
• use statewide and county-level substance use data to:
  •  Monitor trends in the impact of substance use disorder
  • Allocate community funds and resources to the impact of substance use disorder
  • Justify funding requests to support community projects to prevent, treat and reduce the impact of substance use disorder

FAM7: Drug Trends in Alabama 2023

Course Description:

This course will provide law enforcement, health, education, and professional attendees with information necessary to identify the newest drug threats facing Alabama and our country. 2021 saw a record number of overdose deaths which have doubled in the past five years alone. From 50,000 to 109,783 lost souls in five short years. We are in the middle of an opioid epidemic and our citizens, both young and old, are at risk and we know the answer lies in education, prevention, enforcement, and treatment of those affected.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• iidentify the newest forms of both legal and illegal substances that our young students have access to in convenience stores. “Gas Station Dope” has become a major problem and has led to many overdose cases in our schools;
• identify the source and the methods used to flood our country and state with the different types of opioid drugs many of which are laced with fentanyl which is a synthetic form of opioids. Identify the different forms that fentanyl is being used and abused. From being vaped to being laced into candy form, marijuana, and prescription pills; and
• identify the exploding problem with marijuana products. We will describe the differences in marijuana a few short years ago to marijuana today. We will demonstrate the increased levels of THC and rapid rise of alternative methods of use including: vaping, dabbing, CBD, delta 8 products and synthetic forms.

FAM8: Sexting, Pornography, and Addiction…OH MY! How Pornography Affects Our Youth and is
Pornography Addictive?

Course Description:

Sexting, Pornography, and Addiction….Oh My! This course looks at how current sexual trends such as sexting and pornography viewing affect our youth from ages 8-18 years of age. The course will discuss current sexual trends for children and adolescents, will discuss the history of pornography and what is considered pornography, list how pornography effects the brain and emotions of children, and discuss the addictive qualities of pornography. The course will also identify solutions to help our youth with exposure to pornography.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify sexual trends in youth ages 8-18 years old;
• define what is pornographic and be able to explain how exposure to pornography at a young age effects the brain, emotions, and sexual development of youth; and
• identify the addictive qualities of pornography and discuss possible solutions.

FAM9: Taking a Public Health Approach in Prevention with Local Policy Change

Course Description:

In prevention, environmental strategies like policy implementation can be intimidating and are often under-utilized. This interactive workshop will discuss how policies, systems and environmental strategies expand the reach of prevention services to affect upstream, population-level change. Participants will learn about our guided 10-step policy framework. This session will encourage participants to think more broadly about the benefits of changing the social context and the opportunities that policy and system change can provide to impact alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) issues at the community level.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• describe the importance of the public health approach in prevention work;
• explain the steps involved in a 10-step proven framework for local policy change; and
• practice some of the early policy steps to build their confidence.

FAM10: How Can Positive Ethics Improve Our Wellbeing – A Brief Presentation

Course Description:

Through a lecture and Socratic reasoning process, participants will be familiarized with the difference between traditional ethics and the positive ethics movement. The following areas will be addressed: Virtue Ethics, Consequentialism or Utilitarian Ethics, Deontology Ethics, Basic Moral Principles to guide decision making, the history of positive ethics, elements of positive ethics and the aim of positive ethics. Additionally, participants will be familiarized with key terms used in ethics decision making and mental health. A positive ethics decision making model will be presented. Participants will then engage in using a model to address hypothetical vignettes and demonstrate their decision process by using a provided template for documentation. Participants will also engage in small group decisions around wellness, positive ethics, and personal blind spots, all of which can lead to assessing persona wellness.

Objectives:

After attending the course, a participant will be able to:

• identify and demonstrate the various types of ethics, including positive ethics, an ethical decision model, and concepts of mental health;
• engage in using a positive ethical decision model to analyze and design responses to hypothetical vignettes; and
• demonstrate their ability to evaluate a positive ethical decision model to expose and work through personal blind spots, move toward greater wellness, and document their decision process from an interpersonal and psychosocial perspective.