Online Workshop Opportunity

An announcement from the Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England (ATTC-NE) regarding an online workshop beginning 18 Feb 2008:

Adolescent Chemical Dependency:

Current Perspectives And Treatment Approaches

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is offering an online course on substance abusing adolescents.

This workshop will review current perspectives on this very difficult treatment population. A discussion of the participants' experiences with the clinically challenging tasks of treating adolescents and their families will occur. A number of effect treatment techniques and approaches will be presented. Specific topics to be reviewed will include: Developmentally appropriate assessment techniques, bio-genetic influences and consequences, neurological functioning and condition progression. As well as intervention and recovery strategies that are developmentally functional and engaging that combine cognitive behavioral and 12 step approaches.

This course will be taught by Michael Torch, M.A., L.A.D.C., C.C.S., an addiction treatment provider with over 20 years experience. Currently working in Student Assistance, Outpatient Practice, and Behavioral Health consultation. He has been a trainer of alcohol and drug counselors for over 15 years, with extensive experience treating chemically dependent trauma victims in Public Schools, Correctional environments, law enforcement personnel, inpatient chemical dependency programs, and outpatient practice. Mr. Torch has served on the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Review Board in New Hampshire for 15 years, is Chair of the State Advisory Board on Juvenile Justice, member of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and Chair of the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Forum.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Gain an understanding of the developmental differences between adolescent and adult chemical dependency.
  
• Identify the current adolescent use patterns and their relationship to effective treatment techniques.
  
• Gain an understanding of the neurological conditioning that creates cognitive barriers to recovery for this population.
  
• Discuss some productive activities that are useful with patients.
  
• Interact with others that understand why we want to work with this population.

The total cost of this course is $40.00 the course payment is due by February 18, 2008.

View the full announcement for details on accreditation.