Substance Use and Addiction: Effects, Risks, and Harm Reduction Strategies for Clients
with Kimberly May, LPC-S, LMFT
THIS PROGRAM HAS LIMITED APPROVAL FOR DISTANCE LEARNING CES. PLEASE CLICK ON THE SPECIFIC CE INFORMATION LINK BELOW FOR FULL PROFESSION/STATE DETAILS.
It is the participant's responsibility to check if their state is approved for CEs. No refunds will be given on CE purchases for failure to check state approval. Please click on the Specific CE Information link below for more details.
Kimberly May, LPC-S, LMFT is a therapist and the founder of Substance Use Therapy in Austin, TX. Kimberly specializes in serving individuals, couples, and families whose lives have been impacted by substance use. She works from a harm reduction model to support people wherever they are on the continuum of use. Kimberly has worked in harm reduction and community mental health programs since 2009. Her passion is empowering people to make changes on their terms and works to foster this through compassion, pragmatism, and collaboration. In addition to her clinical work, Kimberly has provided training to clinicians, physicians, paraprofessionals, and law enforcement, all with the goal of enhancing our capacity to do our most important work—helping people be well.
Substance Use and Addiction: Effects, Risks,
and Harm Reduction Strategies for Clients
with Kim May, LPC-S, LMFT
This course begins by introducing key concepts and terms regarding substance and harm reduction as well as highlighting the need for more clinicians to gain comfort in serving this population. Educational information about drugs, how they work, why people take them, the associated risks and harm reduction strategies are provided. Finally, information about treatment options and how to help clients identify their treatment needs and preferences are covered.
Education Goals: Learners will have gained knowledge of harm reduction and how to provide potentially life-saving psychoeducation. Additionally, learners will have a working knowledge of various drugs that will support their work with clients. Learners will have greater sophistication in their knowledge of various types of treatment and how to help guide clients to the most appropriate treatment based on the substances used and their client preferences. Overall, clinicians should have a greatly enhanced capacity to serve clients who are struggling with a substance use disorder.
Substance Use and Addiction: Effects, Risks,
and Harm Reduction Strategies for Clients
with Kim May, LPC-S, LMFT
Course Agenda
2.5 Hours - 2.5 CEs
Module 1: Creating Connection Through Understanding – 36 minutes
Overview: Drug overdose deaths have been increasing with alarming frequency and only 6% of people who meet the criteria for a substance use disorder receive any kind of support. In this session, we will learn about the foundations of harm reduction, as well as some key concepts related to understanding psychoactive substances.
Session content:
• Understanding the need for safety and connection based on drug use trends (7 mins)
• Introducing mission and goals of harm reduction (7 mins)
• Key concepts and terminology related to substance use disorders (9 mins)
• Review of 6 important neurotransmitters with closer look at dopamine and the role it plays in addiction (7 mins)
• Voices of harm reduction, how harm reduction fosters safety and connection (6 mins)
Module 2: Club Drugs – 29 minutes
Overview: The so-called “club drugs” or “mind-expanding drugs” are often believed to be without the same risks. Further, since these drugs are often lumped together, less is known about how these individual substances work and the need for more specific harm reduction interventions to increase safety.
Session content:
• MDMA: what it is, how it works, why people like it, the risks, and harm reduction strategies (11 mins)
• Hallucinogens (LSD & psilocybin): what they are, how they work, why people like them, the risks, and harm reduction strategies (8 mins)
• Dissociative Anesthetics (ketamine & nitrous oxide): what they are, how they work, why people like them, the risks, and harm reduction strategies (10 mins)
Module 3: Stimulants – 25 minutes
Overview: Although stimulants differ from each other, they share many similarities, especially in how they impact the central nervous system. Stimulants range drastically in their half-life, creating a range of intensity and user experience.
Session content:
• Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Rx Stimulants: how they impact the brain and body and why people like them (12mins)
• Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Rx Stimulants: the risks and harm reduction strategies (13mins)
Module 4: Central Nervous System Depressants – 37 minutes
Overview: CNS depressants vary in drug class, but all pose similar risks of overdose. This section covers benzodiazepines, alcohol, and opioids.
Session content:
• Benzodiazepines: what they are and harm reduction strategies (4 mins)
• Opioids, part 1: what they are, why humans are wired to like them, the experience (9 mins)
• Opioids, part 2: withdrawal symptoms, the risks, harm reduction strategies, and the importance of Narcan (8 mins)
• Alcohol, part 1: how it works on the brain and the body, why people like it (7 mins)
• Alcohol, part2: the risks, and harm reduction strategies (9 mins)
Module 5: Substance Use and Treatment – 37 minutes
Overview: All too often, clients with substance use disorders are provided generic referrals for treatment that is unnecessary or does not reflect their needs and preferences. In this session, we explore various treatment options and learn how to support clients into making informed decisions. Also covered is how to incorporate harm reduction interventions into clinical practice.
Session content:
• Traditional and abstinence-based approaches (10 mins)
• Medical and harm reduction approaches (7 mins)
• Ancient and emerging approaches (6 mins)
• Treatment selection, and fostering safety and connection through the implementation of harm reduction plans (14 mins)
Substance Use and Addiction: Effects, Risks,
and Harm Reduction Strategies for Clients
with Kim May, LPC-S, LMFT
Learning Objectives
- Identify two principles and goals of harm reduction for each type of substance.
- Describe the benefits, risks, and harm reduction strategies for “club drugs”, including MDMA, LSD, Psilocybin, Ketamine, and Nitrous Oxide.
- Describe the benefits, risks, and harm reduction strategies for stimulants, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants.
- Describe the benefits, risks, and harm reduction strategies for central nervous system depressants, including benzodiazepines, alcohol, and opioids.
- Name multiple treatment options, matched appropriately to substance and client needs and preferences.
For beginning mental health professionals including Social Workers, LPCs, and LMFTs.
Continuing Education Credits
To receive Distance Learning/Home Study continuing education credit, applicants must complete all course materials, purchase the CEs, submit an evaluation form, and pass a post-test with a score of 80% or greater. It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if the CE credit offered by Academy of Therapy Wisdom meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.
Cost
There is a CE Processing Fee of $15 for the Distance Learning CEs, which will be available for purchase after the entire course has been completed.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS OFFERED:
Psychology: Not offered for this training.
Counseling:
Academy of Therapy Wisdom has been approved by NBCC as an Approved
Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7370. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Academy of Therapy Wisdom is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This program is approved for 2.5 CE Credit hours.
Social Work: This program has been approved for 2.5 Distance Learning Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D92238.
Marriage/Family Therapy: See below for CAMFT information.
California Professionals:
Academy of Therapy Wisdom, Provider #1032323, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. Academy of Therapy Wisdom maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 2.5 hours of continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
This course is $127. You can purchase it here.
Cancellation
If you for some reason are not satisfied with the course you have 7 days from the first live call or your purchase date, whichever is later, to request a cancellation and refund. Please reach out to support@therapywisdom.com for help with any cancellations.
Commercial Support Disclaimer
This program is provided solely by the Academy of Therapy Wisdom and its teachers. There is no conflict of interest for this program.
Disability Access
If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
Cancellation Policy
You may request a refund up to 7 days after your date of purchase. Please contact support@therapywisdom.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.
After 7 days from your date of purchase, you will no longer be eligible for a refund and will be responsible for the payment in full.
Grievance Policy
Grievances shall be submitted via the form found here and acknowledgement of receipt sent within 24 hours. The Program Administrator will review the grievance and respond back to the participant within 2 business days. Please use this form if you would like to submit a grievance with Academy of Therapy Wisdom for any of the following reasons:
- Refund requests
- Complaints about course content
- Complaints about facilities
- Complaints about non-receipt of certificates
- Complaints about miscellaneous occurrences
If you have any questions about this, please contact support@therapywisdom.com.
For questions or concerns, please send an email to support@therapywisdom.com.