Target audience: social workers

After attending this course, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss risk factors associated with initiation of substance use and the development of substance use disorders among women.
2. Discuss patterns and prevalence of substance use among women.
3. Discuss the physiological effects and consequences of substance use and abuse on women.
4. Discuss barriers to treatment engagement among women and treatment placement and planning strategies and considerations.
5. Discuss substance use disorder treatment for women including treatment retention considerations and specialized women’s treatment issues and needs.

This Reading-based Asynchronous course was originally created in 2019.

Howard Fogel, Ph.D., CASAC, currently serves as the Educational Director of the program. Dr. Fogel received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from the City University of NY and his Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certification from the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). He has taught psychology and addiction related courses for the past 35 years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is currently a certified Education and Training Provider for the NYS OASAS Workforce Development Training Unit.

This course was developed for social work professionals. This course focuses on the unique issues and best practice philosophies for addressing the specific needs of women in substance abuse treatment.

Topics covered include:

• Special issues and unique needs of women in substance abuse treatment
• Women’s biopsychosocial uniqueness
• Principles of gender responsive treatment
• Patterns and prevalence of alcohol/substance use among women
• Physiological effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco on women
• Pregnancy and birth outcomes
• Screening and assessment issues
• Barriers to treatment
• Recovery management and special populations

15 Hours – $155