Assessing Substance Use Risk

Nearly half of all adults in the United States have used alcohol in the last month, and 13.5% have used other substances. Substance use risks and needs are often not identified when clients present with a primary concern of another co-occurring conditions, yet all clinicians will be providing care to clients who are actively using a substance. Effective screening for substance use can increase our identification of clients’ substance use needs and increase our effectiveness in treating co-occurring conditions. In this presentation you will learn approaches to categorizing substance use related needs, tools to effectively assess various aspects of substance use, and conversational skills that can increase client disclosure of needs.

1.5 hours CE. Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 1.33 hours (use duration added above)

CE CREDITS: 1.50 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Introductory

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE: 9/20/2022

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Distinguish across types of substance use related measurements (e.g., risky use, substance use diagnoses, quantity, etc.)
• Identify measures that can be integrated into clinical practice to increase identification of client’s substance use related needs
• Integrate conversational approaches that can increase client disclosure of substance use

1.  Review rates of substance use and substance use disorders across co-occurring diagnoses
   
   1. Rates of substance use in the community
   2. Rates of substance use across major diagnostic groups
2. Identify types of substance use assessments that can be used in practice 
   1. Frequency/quantity measures
   2. Risk measures
   3. Needs assessments for substance use
   4. Diagnostic tools
3. Approaches that increase disclosure and lead to effective needs assessment 
   1. Reducing stigmatizing language
   2. Use of behavioral questions
   3. Non-judgmental approach
   4. Harm reduction frame
4. Connecting assessment outcomes to treatment needs 
   1. Person-centered planning as opposed to abstinence only approaches
   2. Identify substance use specific and medical reasons for referrals
   3. Assessment as a treatment tool (i.e., tracking substance use throughout treatment course)