Tools and techniques to improve the assessment and treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders in your patients

At least 1 in 8 teenagers have used an illicit substance in the last year, with 31% of 10th graders and 44% of 12th graders ever having used an illicit substance. As many as 60% of youth with mental health disorders have misused substances, more than 15% have a substance use disorder (SUD), and 60% or more of youth with SUDs also have a mental health disorder. Many child and adolescent psychiatrists do not have specialized training in SUDs and thus may be hesitant to address and treat substance use when it presents in their patients. Given the above significant clinical and educational needs, this proposed Workshop will help participants, their trainees, and their clinical teams develop skills to increase their own competency in screening, assessing, and treating SUDs. Focusing on cannabis and opioid use within the general child and adolescent psychiatric setting, speakers will review best practices for screening, assessment, and treatment including psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological interventions. Speakers will also review free online resources on adolescent SUDs. We will use case-based learning and interactive teaching methods designed to improve knowledge and self-efficacy of participants to screen, assess, and treat adolescent SUDs. We will highlight situations relevant to work with diverse populations. Participants will develop increased knowledge, skill, and comfort in the screening, assessment, and treatment of SUDs in their clinical setting. Participants will leave this Workshop with increased knowledge, skill, and comfort to screen, assess, and treat co-occurring SUDs in their patients. Participants will leave with an action plan to take their practice to the next level.