SUD INFORMATION & LEARNING - VIDEOS

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Peter Fifield, EdD, MLADC, LCMHC, 

Substance Use Disorder

 & Integrated Health Program Manager  

This session is designed to introduce the basic concepts relative to understanding substance use disorders. We will discuss the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM)’s levels of care, the criteria included in substance use disorder diagnosis, and lastly, the concepts of stigma, harm reduction and connection; how all three of these matter in maximizing interactions with people who use drugs. 

 Daniel R. Seichepine, PhD, 

Associate Professor of Neuropsychology, 

University of New Hampshire

For the past 6 years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared the opioid crises a public health emergency. In  2021, approximately 107,000 Americans lost their lives due to drug overdoses, with most of these deaths being caused by opioids (~80,000). This represents a 51% increase since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This presentation will discuss how opioids, such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription medications, work on the brain. We will begin with a review of current trends in the ongoing opioid epidemic, which will then be followed by a review of basic neuroanatomy with a focus on brain structures affected by opioids. Finally, we will discuss how opioids are absorbed by the body, used by neurons, and are eliminated by the body.  

Krystal L. Chase, LICSW, CBIS, 

Director of Programs and Services, 

Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire

This session was created to give an increased understanding of how brain injury, substance use disorder, and overdoses are interrelated with examples of best practice treatment and counseling, including the use of harm reduction strategies. Attendees will learn brain injury basics and how this can impact the effectiveness of SUD treatment, as well as compensatory strategies for individuals receiving treatment to have more favorable outcomes. Viewers will learn about initiatives at the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire including work through various grants to meet the needs of this growing population.