Event Calendar

Advice about how to gamble “responsibly” is widely promoted in many jurisdictions. However, until now, there has been no evidence-based, specific advice for people who gamble who want to reduce their risk of gambling harms. In 2016, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction began the first large scale international, comprehensive, multimodal project to develop evidence based Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs). Borrowing the same collaborative, evidence-driven approach used to develop the nation’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, the LRGG initiative produced a set of workable, evidence-based quantitative limits on gambling behavior to help people make informed decisions about their gambling. This project included collaboration with researchers in eight other countries, analysis of epidemiological data from over 60,000 people who gamble, consultation with a pan- Canadian, multi-sectorial advisory committee made up of over 20 members, input from over 10,000 regular people who gamble via a national online survey, and qualitative data obtained from focus groups and interviews.

This presentation from David Hodgins, PhD and Matthew Young, PhD will describe key deliverables from the LRGG project including the lower-risk limits for expenditure, frequency and number of types of games. It will also present a self-assessment quiz, a suite of posters and other knowledge mobilization tools that are freely available to those who with use or promote the guidelines (https://www.gamblingguidelines.ca).

Learning objectives

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Describe at least three (3) key elements of the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs) and how they were developed.
• Explain how LRGGs can be used in at least two (2) public health promotional activities.
• Specify at least three (3) resources that are available to support the guidelines and where to find those resources.

1.5 CME or CE credits available. See credit types here.

Sponsored by the Northwest and Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs) and the Western States Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network.

Series description: Substance use prevention is one of many human service fields that seek to improve the overall health and wellbeing of populations and communities. Collectively, these fields are known as public health. There are many areas of overlap across public health fields— from the types of issues that service providers seek to address, to the kinds of interventions they implement, to the community metrics they use to assess success, among others. However, despite these similarities, many public health professionals—including substance use prevention professionals—are unfamiliar with the work other professionals are doing in their communities or the opportunities for collaboration that exist. 

Course description: This webinar will discuss how substance use prevention professionals can build a public health approach to prevention. It will describe how the similarities across public heath fields can lead to specific collaborative opportunities and will identify examples of these opportunities. The webinar will also review the concept of integrating behavioral and physical health care services and how, among other benefits, integration can support the development of a comprehensive public health approach to prevention. Additionally, it will discuss strategies for prevention professionals to further develop this approach and how to reduce health disparities through it. The webinar will also discuss the barriers and challenges prevention professionals may face and the opportunities that may exist to overcome them. Lastly, the webinar will offer a small group peer learning discussion opportunity.

Learn how to create the space for meaningful conversations with youth in this 90-minute workshop from the National Council, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Join this upcoming session on leveraging the tools from Getting Candid: Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Use Prevention to increase your confidence and skill in youth prevention conversations. This virtual workshop covers engagement strategies for building trust, gleaning insights and framing conversations around substance use prevention, as well as updates to the foundational project research, substance-specific messages and newly released resources.

In this webinar, presenters will discuss the alcohol-related risk factors for suicide, including ways in which alcohol use can impact decision making when a person is experiencing distress. Presenters will also review the recent literature on cannabis, focusing on mental health concerns associated with the use of high-potency cannabis, as well as associations between cannabis use disorder and suicide risk. Implications for prevention, intervention, and public health will be discussed.

 

As part of the infant-early childhood mental health statewide tour, the HCA and partners are hosting an informal community networking event open to any organization that supports families of young children (prenatal through age six) eligible for Apple Health. These networking session is space to learn about available resources for early childhood mental health and connect with partners in your community. Learn more on the IECMH Statewide Tour webpage.

Please join the National American Indian & Alaska Native PTTC for its virtual talking circle. This group will be facilitated by a native guest and will focus on concerns about yourself, your family, your work, and/or your tribal community that you may be experiencing during these uncertain times. There is no fee or expectation to participate in this event. This is a respectful meeting space. Come share your concerns, offer support, and respect the group’s privacy.

There are three competing narratives regarding cannabis. The first is religious, denoted in the Hindu Atharva Veda (2000 BCE), which described cannabis as a sacred plant the gods provided for people’s happiness when eaten or smoked as Ganga, identified today with Jamaican Rastafarians. The second is political; the British demonized it as promoting violence, i.e., resistance to British colonial rule in India. The third was the enthusiasm of French intellectuals engendering the narrative that cannabis opened new dimensions of perception and enlightenment beyond ordinary consciousness. Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2012, punitive measures have yielded to commercialization. The consequences are unregulated cross-pollination of various cannabis species with increasing concentrations of Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, responsible for the high, producing greater potency in pursuit of expanding conscious experience. The potential, however, is greater addictive potential and higher risk for disease than the species that formed the foundation for the medical opinion to legalize the drug. This webinar will examine the impact on individual health and the community.

Series description: Prevention professionals can choose from many types of strategies and interventions available to help address substance use issues. Among these are efforts to support and implement policies designed to reduce the likelihood of substance use. Policies can take many different forms, from federal laws to local regulations and ordinances. All of them, however, seek to reduce community and societal risk factors for substance use and strengthen protective factors. Implementing appropriate policies can have many strengths, including being a means to address inequities and reduce health disparities. However, they can also come with several drawbacks compared to other types of prevention interventions. As such, they should be implemented as part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. Part one of this two-part webinar series will describe the importance of policy change for advancing substance use prevention outcomes. While part two of the series will review the steps prevention professionals can take to support and improve policy change.

Course description: This webinar will summarize the importance of policy change as a strategy for prevention professionals. It will discuss why and how policy changes can have significant impacts on substance use prevention goals, including addressing inequities, and reducing health disparities. The webinar will describe the different types of policy options that exist and how they align with substance use risk and protective factors, including the social determinants of health. It will also discuss the strengths and challenges that policy change efforts can have compared to other prevention interventions and why they should be part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. As part of this discussion, the webinar will also provide an example of such an approach.

Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and colleagues for a discussion on issues related to the intersection of mental health and substance use impacts on the lives of young black males and identify resources available to assist and support people seeking recovery or on their pathway to recovery.

This four-session distance learning series offers participants an interactive opportunity to explore and experience Ripple Effects Mapping (REM), a participatory evaluation tool designed to identify the outcomes and impact of complex community work. REM provides the ability to collect stories of the direct and indirect impacts of your work, while simultaneously being a reflective and engaging process for participants. The series will include skill-based learning opportunities, individual and group activities, reading assignments, and group discussions. By the end of the series, participants will have increased their capacity to:

• Understand the flow (from start to finish) of a ripple effects mapping event by observing a peer organization participate in a REM session
• Discover the benefits of using this technique to identify the intended and unintended outcomes of your work
• Explore the theory behind the core components
• Learn how to develop appreciative inquiry questions and appropriate prompts for effective mapping
• Participate in appreciative inquiry conversations; followed by a mind-mapping exercise
• Develop a communications plan to hold your first event
• Discuss coding frameworks and qualitative analysis processes that would be relevant to a prevention/public health framework SAMHSA’S Northwest (Region 10) Prevention Technology Transfer Center
• Discover reporting best practices for REM data

Session dates and times: 
August 22 & 29 and September 5 & 12, 2023; Noon to 1:30 p.m. 

Join us for a Minerva 2.0 technical assistances/support call for Minerva 2.0 Users (CPWI, CBO and Project Providers).

Whether you've just started using the system, or have been a seasoned user, this session is designed to support users through Minerva 2.0 functions, features and answer any data entry-related questions. There is no registration needed, please join using the Microsoft Teams link below.

Additional Information:

• Ensure you have Minerva 2.0 accessible during the call for hands-on guidance.
• Questions will be answered in the order shared. If there are particular questions or topics you wish to have addressed during the call, consider sending you question(s) in advance to PrevMIS@hca.wa.gov.  
• Don't have a specific question? Feel free to join and listen. 

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Though trauma is linked with substance use disorder for people from all walks of life, LGBTQ communities experience unique sources and dynamics of trauma, as well as distinct influences and social consequences that impact the prevalence of substance use disorders within the population. These may include family rejection and estrangement, increased incidence of childhood sexual abuse, identity discernment stress and faith-related shame, survivor’s guilt for those who lost dozens of friends in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and many other special situations. This webinar will highlight some of the dimensions of trauma specific to LGBTQ individuals, substance use behaviors linked to those events, and some of the unique sites of resilience and support available within LGBTQ communities.

Series description: Prevention professionals can choose from many types of strategies and interventions available to help address substance use issues. Among these are efforts to support and implement policies designed to reduce the likelihood of substance use. Policies can take many different forms, from federal laws to local regulations and ordinances. All of them, however, seek to reduce community and societal risk factors for substance use and strengthen protective factors. Implementing appropriate policies can have many strengths, including being a means to address inequities and reduce health disparities. However, they can also come with several drawbacks compared to other types of prevention interventions. As such, they should be implemented as part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. Part one of this two-part webinar series will describe the importance of policy change for advancing substance use prevention outcomes. While part two of the series will review the steps prevention professionals can take to support and improve policy change.

Course description: This webinar will summarize what prevention professionals can do to help develop or change policies that will advance substance use prevention goals, including to address inequities and reduce health disparities. It will identify and discuss the mechanisms by which policy change can occur. As part of this, the webinar will also review the collaborative partners that prevention professionals will need to work with to enact policy change, including elected officials and regulatory agencies. It will discuss the importance of advocacy as a tool for collaborating with these partners and the vital distinctions between advocacy and lobbying. The webinar will also review the restrictions on lobbying that federal grantees and non-profit organizations must follow. The webinar will also discuss other steps prevention professionals can take to support successful policy change, such as working with regulatory or enforcement agencies to ensure policy adherence. Lastly, the webinar will offer a small group peer learning discussion opportunity.

This is an expanded version of the popular TOR Care & Share sessions that began in early 2020, now open to all prevention, treatment, and recovery professionals working with native populations. This session is a guided discussion for participants to share their expertise, unique tribal and community practices, and offer peer-to-peer support for others serving native people and tribal communities. Discussion topics are determined by registration responses. 

Sessions are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. 

Beyond sobriety, programs dealing with substance use disorders have embraced a more comprehensive goal: Recovery.  There are four recognized domains of recovery: Health, Home, Purpose, and Community.  There are a myriad of resources, both internal and external, that make up recovery capital.  As a person begins their journey, they draw on their initial store of recovery capital and as that journey continues, they gain more recovery capital.  More recovery capital, more recovery.  More recovery, more recovery capital. By assisting an individual identify their recovery capital and make plans for its increase, their recovery becomes stronger. 

This session, presented by Norma Jaeger, PhD (ABD), Executive Director of Recovery Idaho, will explore the many potential elements of recovery capital and how to support an individual in building more recovery capital to support their life in recovery.

Loss of social contact, loss of loved ones, body betrayal, and increased isolation are common experiences for the elderly and can result in depression and suicidal ideation. This session supports social service providers in contemplating the risk factors and support options for caring for an elder who may be experiencing suicidality. From assessing threats, to addressing means, and engaging the elder in a safety plan, this course will offer both considerations and strategies to increase hope in this population and keep them safe.

• The current status of LGBTQI+ mental health in the U.S., including specific needs of the LGBTQI+ population and how the need for the subnetwork was identified.
• How the LGBTQI+ subnetwork was developed and how learnings from the LGBTQI+ subnetwork pilot have informed scale up efforts.
• Key considerations and the current status of the LGBTQI+ subnetwork, including how the subnetwork helps ensure the service is culturally competent.