Description

This course provides a comprehensive overview of substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs) among older adults. Participants will learn about the unique challenges of substance use in this population, including physiological changes that increase sensitivity and interactions with medications. The course covers common substances misused by older adults, risk factors, and protective factors. Participants will gain skills in recognizing risky substance use using non-judgmental language and effective screening tools. Various treatment options and interventions are explored, including recovery-oriented approaches, harm reduction strategies, and culturally responsive treatment. Throughout the course, participants will develop practical skills for discussing substance use with older adults, making appropriate referrals, and connecting individuals to resources. By the end, participants will be better equipped to address substance use issues in older adults, dispel common myths, and provide compassionate, effective care to improve quality of life for this population.

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand characteristics and prevalence of substance use disorders and substance misuse among older adults
  2. Link substance use to health and social impacts for older adults
  3. Identify risk factors and protective factors; recognize disparities
  4. Learn about common screening tools and treatments
  5. Practice interventions you can use in your work with consumers

Audience

This course is recommended for:

  • Staff and volunteers working in the aging services network (Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Aging and People with Disabilities, etc.)

  • Staff in community based organizations

  • Service coordinators in senior housing

  • Mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, art therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health providers

  • Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors

  • Qualified Mental Health Professionals

  • Qualified Mental Health Associates

  • Long-term care and home and community based services staff

Instructors

Instructor Regina Koepp

Dr. Regina Koepp, PsyD, ABPP is a board certified clinical psychologist, gerontologist, and founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging. She is a sought-after speaker and educator, and provides continuing education courses to professionals on topics surrounding mental health and aging as well as sexual health and aging. She was formerly a lead psychologist at University of Vermont Medical Center, Assistant Professor at Emory University Department of Psychiatry, and psychologist at the Atlanta VA Health Care System, where she provided direct patient care and consultation on the Geropsychiatry Outpatient Mental Health team for more than a decade and served on the VA Central Office’s Geriatric Mental Health Field Advisory Committee. Dr. Koepp is a contributing writer at Psychology Today and Psychotherapy Networker, where she discusses mental health and aging. She has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Chicago Tribune, Next Avenue, AARP, and other national media outlets.

Instructor Eve Klein

Eve Klein, MD is a Senior Medical Director for substance use treatment programs in Oregon. Dr. Klein is CODA’s Senior Medical Director. She is board certified in neurology and addiction medicine, and completed fellowships in both pain medicine and addiction medicine at OHSU. She has worked at CODA since 2016 and also currently serves as the Associate Medical Director for the Oregon Medical Board. Dr. Klein is an assistant professor at OHSU, where she teaches medical students on the topics of opioids, pain, substance use disorders, and medical regulation. Prior to her work in addiction medicine, Dr. Klein practiced pain medicine.

Instructor Lydia Bartholow

Lydia Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP, CARN-AP is a doctorally prepared psychiatric nurse practitioner with a specialty in addiction medicine and trauma-informed care. She currently works as the medical director of addiction services at a large behavioral health hospital and is on faculty at UCSF and OHSU. She speaks nationally on topics such as co-occuring disorders, harm reduction and substance use disorder care system improvement. She focuses all parts of her practice on radical public health, harm reduction and anti-oppression work. Lydia lives in Portland, OR, on Chinook, Kathlamet, Clackamas and Kalapuya land.

Pricing

This course is free of charge, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority (OHA)

ACORN

is committed to excellence.

ACORN has been approved by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) to provide continuing education courses. Additionally, ACORN has been 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.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) logo
Portland State University (PSU) Institute on Aging (IOA) logo
Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) logo
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) logo