ODL 245: Youth and Substance Use

Created on 04/22/2023

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, case managers, nurses, and counselors.

Overview:

Adolescents go through many important biological and developmental changes. Their brains are growing rapidly, and they are constructing imperative cognitive and emotional processes. They inherently seek novelty and risk, which can often lead to experimentation with substance use and the development of addictive behaviors. Statistics show that the earlier an adolescent begins using substances, the greater likelihood they will develop addiction. Unfortunately, only about 30% of all treatment facilities in the United States today have specialized services for adolescents. Furthermore, treatment of adolescent substance use and addictive behaviors can be challenging due to unique treatment issues such as identity formation and addiction conceptualization. Presented by Rhonda DiNovo, LMSW, ADC-IP, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work, this workshop will examine the connection between adolescent development and substance use; substance use trends and prevalence among adolescent populations; various risk, protective, and system factors that impact adolescent substance use and current treatment services.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session – the participant will be able to:

• Discover the complexities of adolescent development
• Summarize the current trends in and prevalence of adolescent substance use
• Examine risk and protective factors influencing adolescent substance use
• Identify the unique substance use patterns and treatment needs of diverse adolescent populations
• Describe the theoretical models of addiction and current laws used to guide adolescent behavioral health care systems, treatment services and recovery support

Presenter: 

Rhonda DiNovo, LMSW, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina College of Social Work

Rhonda DiNovo serves as Clinical Assistant Professor, MSW Program Coordinator, and Coordinator of the Graduate Drug and Addictions Studies Certificate Program in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina.   She teaches students important theoretical and practical approaches in interdisciplinary health and mental health, as well as principles and practices of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior therapy.   DiNovo also serves as Field Supervisor and Director of the West Columbia Outreach Program, a police social work outreach service offered through the West Columbia Police Department that provides brief screening, assessment and referral to treatment services and community resources to those in mental health and substance use crises.  Prior to becoming a full-time faculty member in the College of Social Work, Rhonda served three years as Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Education for the University of South Carolina, and eight years as Prevention Specialist for adolescents and their families at LRADAC.

5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 CE Credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact Hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Contact Hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact Hours
Counselors
NBCC ACEP – 5 Contact Hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact Hours

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.