Medications for Common Mental Health Issues: What Substance Abuse Counselors Should Know

This workshop is a two day educational activity aimed at increasing substance abuse counselors’ knowledge of psychiatric medications. Participants will learn basic neuropharmacology and the brain chemistry of psychiatric disorders. Participants will learn the names, rationale for usage and frequent side effects of medications that treat these disorders. Our current understanding of the dual diagnosis population and how substance abuse interacts with psychiatric illness and issues that arise from side effects and/or abuse of commonly prescribed medications will be discussed.  Efforts will be made to provide practical information that will help front line staff as they treat clients who have mental illnesses. No prior knowledge of psychopharmacology is needed.