Special Topics in Prevention of Substance Misuse

This course will cover the basics of adolescent brain development, how substance misuse can impact brain development and behavior, and how differences in age of initiation, and using other substances may influence brain development. Highlighting findings from the multisite longitudinal Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and the University of California San Diego Department of Psychiatry’s Tobacco-Cannabis study, this course provides the latest information on research in this area. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the basics of adolescent brain development
2. Identify how adolescent substance use impacts brain development and behavior
3. Explain how pre-existing neural differences, age of initiation, and co-occurring substance use may influence neurodevelopment in adolescent substance users
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ABCD Study
5. Summarize kef findings related to the study of cannabis and nicotine in the brain

This course was developed by the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

Certificate of Completion Available 

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The major focus of this online course is to discuss how opioid misuse and overdose prevention strategies can be coordinated with efforts around infectious disease control in order to improve data collection, align resources, increase access to focus populations, and address shared risk and protective factors. 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the current intersections between the opioid epidemic and the increases in infectious disease.
• Share evidence-based and promising interventions for addressing the epidemic.
• Identify potential roles for prevention practitioners.

Developed by the South-Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

3.0 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners is a 4.5 hour self-paced course that provides important information on what prevention professionals need to know about cannabis. Dr. Hayden Center presents the following 3-part series:

• The Effects of Cannabis
• Cannabis and the Adolescent Brain
• Cannabis Pharmacology

The ideal audience for this training is prevention organizations/coalitions and the prevention professionals serving at the local, state, regional and/or national levels that would like to learn and/or review updated and science-based information on cannabis to be better equipped to serve their communities.This can include coalition members, agencies, sector representatives and partners, volunteer staff, and other key partners, stakeholders, and collaborators. This training can also be appropriate for the broader public, with interest in the role cannabis policies is impacting, informing, influencing and shaping changes in their communities.

This training was developed by the PTTC Cannabis Prevention Working Group, with special support from the New England PTTC (1 H79 SP081020-01).

About the PTTC Cannabis Prevention Working Group:The mission of the PTTC Network Cannabis Prevention Work Group is to develop training and technical assistance tools, products, and service, related specifically to cannabis risk education and prevention, that can be deployed across the nation.

Certificate of Completion Available

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In this 1.5 - hour video course, we discuss engaging youth prevention leaders in the virtual setting to address substance misuse prevention. By the end of this course, participants will gain an understanding of tools for communicating safely and effectively with youth, virtual project planning tools and techniques to build youth buy-in and ways to foster youth development virtually.

Developed by the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC). 

Certificate of Completion Available

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The following e-learning course provide an overview of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol for use with adolescents (ages 9 to 22). The content of this e-learning course was designed for prevention professionals, school personnel, social workers, addictions counselors, and other non-medical professionals.

Course Objectives:

1. Describe what SBIRT stands for and what each component means.
2. Identify why SBIRT is relevant and important for use with adolescents and young adults.
3. Demonstrate the ability to recognize the prevalence of substance use among youth and how SBIRT can prevent longer-term problems.
4. Define standard measures of various types of drinks/alcohol to increase knowledge of baseline information and guidelines regarding moderate and high-risk alcohol use.

This e-learning course was developed by the Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (MPPTTC).

Certificate of Completion Available

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This is the first course in a two-part course series. Participants will learn about the importance of gathering data for assessment and evaluation and you will learn about the types of data to gather. Key risk and protective factors associated with substance use and mental health are discussed. The course explores existing sources of data, assessment of data gaps, and options for collecting primary data at the local level.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have learned about: 

1. Key risk and protective factors to assess at the individual, family, peer, school, and community levels;
2. Sources of existing data on risk and protective factors; 
3. Strategies for developing a data collection plan in order to address data gaps at the local level.

This course was developed by the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center. 

1 Hour Certificate Available

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During this second course in the two-part online course series, you will learn about data quality and quantity – having enough data, and having the right data. Processes for prioritizing risk and protective factors to determine which to address with prevention efforts are explored, and examples are shared. This course will conclude with recommendations for ongoing monitoring to inform evaluation efforts.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have learned about: 

1. Tips for assessing the quality and quantity of the data they’ve gathered to determine readiness for prioritization and planning;
2. Prioritization processes, including how to format your data; prioritization dimensions to consider, and tips for making the process interactive and engaging, and
3. The importance of ongoing data gathering and collection in order to evaluate local prevention efforts.

This course was developed by the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center. 

1 Hour Certificate Available

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This course, developed by the Southeast PTTC, provides an overview of how policy change can be an effective strategy for prevention professionals to address community-level problems with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The goal of the course is to dispel some of the concerns around policy and help community coalitions and partners see that it is feasible, do-able and most importantly, impactful.

Developed by the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center at Wake Forest School of Medicine.  

1.0 Hour Certificate Available

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This 1.5 hours course provides an overview of a policy framework adopted and modified by the Southeast PTTC - The Policy Adoption Model. Prevention providers will follow the path of a fictitious prevention coalition as they develop and implement a local policy campaign. 

Developed by the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

Certificate of Completion

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We are currently living in unprecedented and difficult times. Prevention specialists, in addition to experiencing the current global pandemic, also listen to painful and distressing experiences which can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout. This presentation will help us to learn more about possible signs of burnout, how to implement self-care practices to your daily life, and receive available resources to combat the effects of work-related stress.

Developed by the Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

1.0 Hour Continuing Education Available

Certificate of Completion

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Cannabis laws and policies are rapidly changing in states. Various decriminalization, medical marijuana, and adult-use marijuana policies are being debated and moving through state legislatures and ballot boxes. Amid all of this change, where does prevention fit in? This course shows participants how these policies can evolve, the implications for public health and safety, and how and where prevention fits in. Participants will learn from a presenter with hands-on experience both in prevention and shaping marijuana policies. Additionally, participants will learn about the marijuana prevention training and technical assistance services from the New England PTTC.

Developed by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center. 

Certificate of Completion Available

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In this 1-hour webinar, Carlos Morales will discuss Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the importance of providing accessible educational materials to the prevention work force. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: Define Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Identify audiences impacted by Section 508; Define accessibility of information; and, Identify ways to increase Section 508 compliance within own work. 

Developed by the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network's  Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Practices Workgroup which is working on efforts to decrease health disparities across the country.  

1.0 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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Dr. Karen Simone, Director of the Northern New England Poison Center, will provide an overview of factual information about today’s marijuana products. They are stronger, often times contain no or less CBD in relationship to THC, and are vastly available in edible and other forms. Information is plentiful, while facts are difficult to extract with confidence. People using marijuana are confused regarding the safety of driving. CBD is promoted as a cure for everything and anything. Learn what is known and unknown.

This webinar was presented on September 19, 2019 by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC).

Certificate of Completion Available

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In this one-hour self-paced course, participants will:

• Review milestones in this history of prevention certification in Maine
• Review background that led to the development of the SAPST course
• Understand the structure and content of a University course focusing on the SAPST
• Learn about example content of the SAPST course, and
• Examine implementation and logistical methods and challenges of the SAPST course

1.0 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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Hey, the 90s called … they want their slide deck AND presentation back! Coalitions use presentations as a primary strategy to disseminate information, build skills, ignite calls to action and influence change. However most of us never receive any formal training in presentation design – despite all we expect them to do for us. Consequently, our presentations are as dated as dial-up Internet. In this session, you’ll learn a framework based in brain science to develop and deliver exceptional presentations – every time – using the tools and resources you already have. Get ready to transform your audience with modern and powerful presentations.

1.5 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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Those working with young children have long known the importance of early experiences and relationships in healthy child development. Newer terms such as toxic stress and ACES are used when describing these not-so-new ideas, and are particularly important when working with families impacted by substance abuse.  During this online training, learners will expand their current knowledge about early development to include up-to-date science that is accessible and useful in daily real-life interactions. Using a case-based approach, participants will apply new knowledge to familiar scenarios to enhance their engagement with high-risk young children and families.

Certificate of Completion Available

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Substance misuse prevention work is inherently concerned with place. As we work to prevent substance-related harms, the community context is an important consideration when deciding where to implement prevention strategies. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) allows users to focus on the community context with a robust set of tools supporting data visualization and analysis. The Geospatial Academy for Prevention Professionals (GAPP) will provide you the skills necessary to implement geospatial analyses of community data to communicate work to key stakeholders, assess community need, and evidence the impact of prevention initiatives.

This is part 1 of a 3 part training series that will introduce you to the Quantum GIS software package, culminating in producing maps and analyses to support substance misuse prevention work in your community. Each part of the online training series is self-paced and supported by individual technical assistance.

1. GAPP I: Introduction to GIS
2. GAPP II: Creating a Basic Map
3. GAPP III: Using Local Data to Support Prevention Goals 

This 2.5 hour self-paced course will introduce participants to GIS and a free software application to implement GIS in your prevention work.

This course requires you to download a free software package. Please see our disclaimer. 

This course was developed by the Northeast & Caribbean PTTC located at the Center for Prevention Science in Rutgers University’s School of Social Work. This work was supported by  grant 5H79SP081033-04 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Certificate of Completion

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