An Overview of Substance Use with System-Involved Youth with a Focus on Alcohol, Marijuana and Opioids

Nicole Klasey, PsyD

Training Description

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service providers, foster parents, and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This workshop will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who misuse substances.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to identify at least one reason system-involved youth misuse substances.

· Participants will be able identify at least 1 alcohol related harm reduction strategy and 1 opioid related prevention strategy which they can teach system-involved youth.

· Participants will be able to identify at least 1 way marijuana use affects system-involved youth.

Agenda

10:00-10:15am  Introductions

10:15-11:30am  Substance Use Overview

· Defining substance use disorders and categories of substances

· Prevalence of substance use amongst youth and young adults

· Substance use and system-involved youth – why youth use substances, trends with youth and young adults

11:30-11:45am  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

11:45am-12:45pm  Impact of Alcohol Misuse and Strategies to Support Youth

· Impact of alcohol misuse

· Warning signs of alcohol misuse

· Harm reduction strategies for alcohol use

· Vignettes on talking with youth about their alcohol use and how to talk with them about applying harm reduction strategies

12:45-1:45pm  Lunch (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:45-3:15pm  Impact of Marijuana Misuse and Strategies to Support Youth

· Impact of marijuana misuse on mental health, relationships and school functioning

· Warning signs of marijuana misuse with system-involved youth and young adults

· Harm reduction strategies for marijuana use – how to apply harm reduction with marijuana use

· Vignettes – talking with youth about their marijuana use and applying harm reduction strategies

3:15-3:30pm  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

3:30-4:45pm  Impact of Opioid Misuse and Strategies to Support Youth

· Impact of opioid misuse on mental health, relationships and school functioning

· Warning signs of opioid misuse misuse with system-involved youth and young adults

· Harm reduction strategies for opioid use - how to apply harm reduction with opioid use

· Vignettes – talking with youth about dangers of opioids and safety planning

4:45-5:00pm  Wrap-up & Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Nicole Klasey is a clinical psychologist who has worked with trauma survivors for 14 years. She currently consults with agencies on trauma-informed care, programming for commercially sexually exploited youth, vicarious trauma, and leadership development. Nicole has been training multidisciplinary audiences on trauma-related topics since 2015 and provides guest lectures at local universities on human trafficking.

This course meets the qualifications for (5.5) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.