Co-Occurring Disorders and Substance Use Treatment (16 CE)

Course Level: Intermediate

This course is for: Social Workers, Psychologists, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Addiction Counselors

Course By: Helen Hinton, LPCC

Content By: Content by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 42. SAMHSA Publication No. PEP20-02-01-004. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020.

Course Description: Individuals who present with substance use disorder (SUD) frequently have co-occurring mental disorders.  The presence of co-occurring disorders can complicate the clinical landscape. The number of feasible and effective treatment modalities that can be used to treat this dually diagnosed demographic has shown an increase over the past 20 years. However, diagnostic inaccuracy, combined with insufficient levels of integrated care, may hinder treatment for these individuals. Insufficient access to care and faulty treatment modalities (modalities not designed to address the complex and bidirectional relationship between SUD and mental health disorders) are cited as the causal factors that prohibit the delivery and receipt of effective treatment services for this demographic.  

This course provides an overview of COD developments inclusive of current treatment options, the provision of integrated/concurrent services, and best-practice guidelines. These guidelines are intended for screening, assessing, diagnosing, and managing individuals who present with COD’s. Common co-occurring mental disorders are discussed, as are additional demographic-specific risk-factors. Additionally, consideration of population-specific individuals who are diagnosed with COD is further explored. These populations include those who are homeless, incarcerated, women, and traditionally underserved racial/ethnic groups.

Finally, strategies employers can use to mitigate workforce demands and challenges will be considered. Discussion pertaining to related COD competency and training will also be reviewed.

Learning Objectives:

1.Identify the prevalence, treatment needs, and trends in COD (substance use and mental health disorders) populations

2.Describe the complex, unstable, and bidirectional nature of CODs

3.Examine the 6 guiding principles for effective COD treatment services and identify related application strategies

4.Discuss the elements of evidence-based treatment as described in the 6 core components of effective treatment guidelines for practitioners

5.Identify and discuss competencies, attitudes, and values that are essential for successful service delivery

6.Examine effective strategies that COD practitioners can employ to mitigate burnout and turnover

7.Discuss how research and practice can be successfully integrated into COD programming

8.Identify effective COD screening and assessment procedures including employment of the biopsychosocial approach

9.Examine diagnostic criteria, features, prevalence, and treatment for disorders that typically co-occur with SUD

10.Explain how trauma and suicide risk-factors impact individuals who present with substance disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders

11.Understand the 10 guidelines for establishing rapport and maintaining a therapeutic alliance with individuals who present with COD and the ways that these guidelines are incorporated into clinical practice

12.Identify various treatment modalities and effective therapeutic approaches that can be implemented when working with this demographic

13.Understand the challenges faced by populations who present with increased vulnerability to treatment and methods for modifying treatment in consideration of such challenges          

14.Examine various treatment models and understand how the Four Quadrant Model serves as a framework for treatment

15.Discuss the way integrated care is designed as a best practice guideline and understand the related methods, modalities, and settings that can be modified to meet the needs of individuals who present with CODs.

16.Identify the ways in which adverse side effects of common medications can complicate the clinical presentation of CODs

17.Describe how burn out and turnover factor into treatment considerations for individuals with CODs.

18.Explain the steps supervisors and administrators can take towards improve training, supervision, and professional development so that individuals can maintain long-term recovery

Course Outline:

• Guiding principles for effective COD service delivery
• Screening and assessment of COD
• Descriptive and diagnostic features and of common COD
• Strategies for working with people who have CODs
• CODs among special populations
• COD treatment models and settings
• Supervisory and administrative concerns for those working with individuals with CODs

Approvals: