A Psychologist’s Guide to Treating Opioid Use Disorders: Integrating Behavioral and Pharmacological Interventions
Description
A rising tide of nonmedical use of prescription painkillers and other opioid drugs during the past two decades has resulted in unprecedented rates of addiction, overdose deaths, emergency room visits, and treatment admissions. The extraordinary and growing prevalence of opioid use disorders, especially among individuals seeking mental health services, underscores the need for all psychologists and other mental health practitioners to have a clinical working knowledge of opioid addiction and its treatment. This webinar will describe demographics of the current opioid epidemic, the pharmacology of opioid drugs including mechanisms of action in the brain, medications for treating opioid dependence (including naltrexone and buprenorphine), and evidence-based behavioral interventions. Lecture material combined with case vignettes will be used to demonstrate how to motivate and engage clients “where they are”, formulate an initial treatment plan, respond to various challenges and setbacks, and work collaboratively with medication prescribers.
**This webinar fulfills the NJ psychologist CE requirement on opioid addiction**
Learning Objectives
Participants completing this webinar will be able to:
- List major trends that have contributed to the emergence of the current opioid epidemic
- Compare the pharmacological actions of opioid agonists vs. antagonists
- Describe the subjective and physiological effects of opioids that contribute to their high addiction potential
- List the most effective medications for treating opioid use disorders and clinical indications for their use
- Describe the elements of a client-centered psychotherapeutic approach for opioid use disorders.
Instructor Bio
A psychologist specializing in the treatment of substance use and other behavioral health problems, Dr. Washton is co-founder of The Washton Group, a private practice in Princeton NJ and NYC. He has served as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, as director of several nationally recognized addiction treatment and research programs, and as consultant to professional sports teams, government agencies, media organizations, and major corporations. Dr. Washton has been a recipient of research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has served on the Substance Abuse Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and has given expert testimony before special committees of The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on drug abuse trends in America. He is the author of several books, including "Treating Alcohol and Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice: Doing What Works" (Guilford Press) and “Willpower’s Not Enough: Understanding and Recovering From Addictions of Every Kind” (Harper-Collins). Dr. Washton has devoted his professional career to developing individualized approaches to treating addiction that incorporate the principles and practices of client-centered psychotherapy.
Dr. Washton has no conflicts of interest for this program.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu
Continuing Education Information
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 8145. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.