Substance Use
This collection of resources on the Wellbeing for LA Learning Center includes substance use videos, courses, virtual trainings, and printable tools aimed at providing support to children and families throughout LA County.
Addressing Addictive Disorders in AAPI Clients, Families, and Communities
This training will provide an overview of clinical presentations and characteristics of addictive disorders among Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) clients, families, and communities. Best practices for the screening, assessment, and treatment of commonly presenting addictive disorders such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioid, and stimulant use disorder will be covered. Specific attention to gambling disorders will be presented given the elevated rate of this disorder among Asian American Pacific Islander communities. An overview of the cultural contributions that increase risk and vulnerabilities for addictive disorders ...
Adolescent Substance Use: Identifying and Responding to Misuse
Addressing substance use with adolescents is challenging, specifically, if adolescents are not being transparent about their use. Learn to apply best practices for working with adolescents. Recorded on: 5/16/2018
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Relapse Prevention Strategies
This training will address strategies to stabilize vicious cycles that lead to imminent suicide risk. An organizing model will be presented to illustrate how perceptions of thwarted belongingness and burdensomeness can increase the desire to die. The model will also illustrate how an acquired capability to die by suicide can lead to more lethal attempts. Points within the model that present a risk for escalation will be discussed, with attention to risks within the LGBTQ+ community. Strategies that can either prevent hospitalization or can provide stabilization while ...
Co-Occurring Disorders (COD 101)
This training will provide background information on the consequences of substances commonly used by consumers and will introduce participants to the epidemiology and prevalence, and neurobiology of co-occurring disorders. Participants will also learn about screening, assessment, and diagnosis of co-occurring disorders, and how to develop behavioral intervention strategies for those with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and chronic medical conditions that frequently co-occur with SU and MH issues. The training will also cover treatment considerations, planning, and an overview of EBP interventions, including ...
DSM-5 Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorders: What Has Changed?
This training is designed to assist both clinical and administrative staff in making the transition to the DSM-5. The DSM-5 revises the classifications and diagnostic criteria of substance use and psychiatric disorders with, in some cases, substantial reconceptualization from DSM-IV-TR; for example, the elimination of the multiaxial diagnostic system and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores. This training will focus on a detailed overview of these changes, including a crosswalk from DSM-IV-TR diagnostic codes and categories to those of DSM-5. Recorded on February 19, 2021. Please ...
Recognizing Substance Use in Students
Students may present in the classroom with substance use/misuse that impedes on their academic performance. This 3-part series will help educators recognize the signs and symptoms of substance use and use therapeutic interventions to support students and their needs in the classroom. We will help educators find the balance between meeting students’ needs and the needs of the school community. Educators will also learn the impact of substance use on the student’s academic ability. This training will help educators to understand the signs and symptoms ...
Substance Use Disorders 101 (SUD 101)
This training will provide information on the acute and chronic effects and consequences of psychoactive substances commonly used by clients, patients, and consumers. The training will introduce participants to the epidemiology, neurobiology, and behavioral indicators of substance misuse. This training will conceptualize Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnostic and assessment considerations in identifying functional impairments. The training will detail intoxication and withdrawal symptoms for a range of commonly-misused substances and provide information on medical consequences of use. Recorded on February 5, 2021. Please note that CEs are ...
The Role of Trauma in Predicting Motives for Cannabis Use and Problematic Cannabis Use in Adolescent and Emerging Adult Medical Cannabis Patients and Non-patient Cannabis Users
Despite evidence of the contribution of childhood trauma to the development of problematic cannabis use, its mediating pathways are largely unknown. This Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Seminar will review results from several projects derived from a prospective longitudinal sample of medical cannabis and non-patient young adult users from the Los Angeles area. These studies sought to examine the impact of childhood trauma subtypes on multiple indicators of problematic use in adolescence and emerging adulthood through a range of cannabis use motives (e.g., emotional coping, ...
Effecting Change Through the Use of Motivational Interviewing: Interactive Training for Skill Development
Motivational interviewing (MI), a treatment approach developed by William Miller, has been well established as an effective way to promote behavior change in individuals across a range of health settings, including improving engagement and retention. This face-to-face training requires previous training and experience using motivational interviewing techniques in clinical practice. This experiential MI Skill Development training will focus on ways to help clients engage in change talk in order to make commitments for behavioral changes based on collaborative goal identification. It will provide in-depth instruction, ...
Motivational Interviewing for Adolescents and Young Adults Using Cannabis
This training is tailored for interactions with younger populations to engage in a dynamic and open dialogue regarding cannabis use. The importance of building the skills, spirit, and strategies of motivational interviewing is discussed with case examples. Providing psychoeducational information in reflective ways is explored. There is also an emphasis on goals and values to guide the change talk that is foundational within motivational interviewing. Anytime session recorded on June 12, 2020.