What You'll Learn

By the end of this course, you will be better prepared to:

  • describe the importance of harm reduction in integrated co-occurring treatment;

  • consider at least one strategy for reducing harm that could be used in a treatment/service plan; and

  • explain the important role that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can play in chronic substance use.

Who Will Benefit

This course is especially useful if you:

  • work with people experiencing substance use, mental health, or other co-occurring concerns;

  • want to better understand how MAT fits within integrated care;

  • are interested in using harm reduction approaches to support people at different stages of change;

  • want practical strategies for reducing risk while respecting individual goals and choices;

  • support people who may not be ready or able to pursue abstinence; or

  • want greater confidence incorporating person-centered harm reduction principles into your practice.

Who This Course Is For

Mental health and addictions treatment providers and peer specialists across the globe, including:

  • Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC);

  • Qualified Mental Health Associates (QMHA);

  • Certified Recovery Mentors (CRM);

  • Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP);

  • family therapists, art therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health clinicians; and

  • those who work work in Oregon's approved Integrated Co-occurring Disorder treatment programs.

What Is Included

This on-demand course examines how harm reduction approaches can be applied to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), substance use, problem gambling, and the use of psychiatric medications.

  • The course includes presentations, videos, readings, and other resources.

  • We suggest you take your time, view content as many times as you like, and access suggested readings and resources when possible.

  • It is not necessary to complete the course in a single sitting. You are free to open and close the course as many times as you like.

  • Once you have reviewed and mastered the content, you will be required to pass short quizzes before you are eligible for verification that you have successfully completed the course.

Who Developed This Course

Instructor John McIlveen

John W. McIlveen, PhD serves as the State Opioid Treatment Authority for Oregon. He represents addictions and mental health on Oregon’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Advisory Commission and is appointed by the Governor to serve on the Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Board as the Oregon Health Authority representative. Dr. McIlveen is also the Principal Investigator for Oregon’s State Opioid Response grant and has collaborated with national organizations on substance use and opioid use disorder initiatives.

OHA Instructor David Corse

David Corse, LPC, CADC III, CGAC II has worked with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) since 2018, initially coordinating the Oregon Problem Gambling Treatment System and more recently supporting development of the OHA Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment and Recovery system. His clinical background includes crisis intervention, gambling disorder treatment, substance use disorder services, and community mental health. David has also served as a program director and clinical supervisor in nonprofit and county mental health organizations. In addition, he maintains a private practice providing therapy for individuals and couples and post-graduate clinical supervision for Licensed Professional Counselor Associates.

What Others Are Saying

5 star rating

Great description

Tara Bruecken

Beneficial to anyone working with people with SUD and MH disorders

Beneficial to anyone working with people with SUD and MH disorders

Read Less
5 star rating

Good training

Teisha Sawyer

lots of helpful information

lots of helpful information

Read Less
5 star rating

Relevant information

William Dittmer

I found this information very relevant in today's field,

I found this information very relevant in today's field,

Read Less
5 star rating

MAT, Harm Reduction, and Co-occurring Disorder Resources

Chelsey Allen

5 star rating

Learned a great deal to help in my current position

Michelle Dix

5 star rating

Good stuff

John DeRoin

Relevant info

Relevant info

Read Less
5 star rating

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Harm Reduction, and ...

Sabrina Bourasa

Training was good.

Training was good.

Read Less

What About CE Hours

Certificate of completion will be made available on the Student Dashboard after you complete all required course activities and the course evaluation survey.

ACORN is approved by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), Provider ID: 26-0044, to provide continuing education courses. Additionally, ACORN is approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7274. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACORN is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Start Learning Today

Free of charge, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority. For questions about Oregon’s Integrated Co-occurring Disorders Program contact OHA program support at [email protected].

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) logo
Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon logo
National Board for Certified Counselors logo
Oregon Council on Problem Gambling logo