Missed Opportunities: Substance Use Education and Intervention Strategies
Presenter(s)
Kimberly Bitz, MScOT (Reg, SK), DScRHL (Candidate)
This workshop aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the crucial role OTs and human services professionals play in substance use screening and intervention across diverse practice areas. Interactive sessions will challenge participants’ personal biases and societal stigma, and practical exercises will provide participants with heightened expertise and a comprehensive toolkit to navigate the intersection of occupational therapy and substance use.
In session one, participants will learn about psychoactive substances, mechanisms of action, and the effect of substances on the person and occupation. In session two, we will continue to discuss the effects of substance use, as well as explore the dominant discourse around the treatment of substance use disorders. Participants will be encouraged to challenge their perceptions of substances and people who use substances and to consider how substance use is an occupation. In sessions three and four, we will cover screening, assessment, and scoring of standardized substance use and mental health assessments, goal setting and intervention planning. These sessions will also review considerations for selecting a therapeutic approach and counselling techniques.
Who is this workshop for? Clinicians of all experience levels will benefit from this workshop and will develop strategies to improve their clinical practice through evidence-based guidelines and trauma-informed approaches