Substance Abuse and Youth

- Creating Opportunities for Change (1 day)

Intervention attempts with youth who are struggling with substance abuse are often met with resistance. While some youth choose not to use substances or their use stays as experimentation, for others, their use quenches a much larger unmet need and a pattern of use and abuse develops. Participants of this workshop will examine the needs underlying youth’s choices to use substances. They will also consider issues that make working with youth different than working with adults and explore short term and longer term intervention strategies.

Workshop Outline

How Big is the Problem?
Why Youth Use
Adolescent Development 101
When Use becomes Abuse
Identifying Youth at Risk
Addressing Underlying Needs
Coping and Regulation
Attachment Styles
The Role of Attachment
Impact on Families
Support Strategies that Don’t Work
Setting the Base for Opportunities for Change
Role of Families in Creating and Supporting Change
Setting and Maintaining Boundaries
Realistic Expectations
Best Practice Approaches & Evidence Based Interventions
Intervention Strategies
Short Term Intervention Strategies
Creating Longer Term Outcomes

Target Audience

This is an introductory-intermediate level workshop intended for social workers, teachers, parents, social service and health care professionals, youth corrections officers, support workers and anyone working in a helping role with youth struggling with substance abuse.

Method of Delivery

Lecture, personal reflection, video, case study review and small group discussion