LIVE, Interactive Webinar Training – The Impact of Substance Use Disorders Among Older Adults

2 continuing education (clinical) credits available

Course Description: In American society, older adults with a substance use disorder can experience stigma and ageism. This can result in a lack of attention from healthcare providers, family, and loved ones. Ageism has even led to fewer assessment tools and effective treatments that are specific to older adults. This course will provide an overview of how substance use disorders affect the brain which can lead to an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and Alzheimer’s. Substance misuse, PTSD, depression, and other mental illnesses are underdiagnosed among older adults due to the overlapping of symptoms for all of these disorders, as well as normal, age-related health changes. Participants will then learn about the connection between substance use disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, especially chronic alcohol misuse and early onset Alzheimer’s disease. This course will then explain the specific barriers older adults experience when accessing healthcare which can lead to an oversight of chronic substance misuse. Lastly, attendees will explore how to incorporate the family and support systems in treatment and recovery to ensure a comprehensive approach. This course is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussions, as well as case vignette discussions, and a Q&A session at the end.

From this course you will be able to:

1. Define addiction and different forms of substance use.
2. Identify the relationship between substance use and neurodegenerative disease.
3. Describe substance use-related stigma and neurodegenerative disease-related stigma.
4. Assess different barriers to access and meaningful treatments for intervention.
5. Apply effective strategies to reduce stigma leading to an increase in health/well-being of individuals w/substance use disorders.

For complete course description, please click here.