Webinar – Unraveling Complexities: Navigating a New Wave of Clients With Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders and Severe and Persistent Mental Health Challenges

A concerning and complex trend has emerged in the realm of substance use disorder (SUD), characterized by a new wave of clients driven by potent and often deadly substances such as fentanyl and xylazine. This evolving landscape presents a formidable challenge to healthcare and mental health professionals alike. The convergence of these highly potent substances with individuals’ increased mental health needs has created a unique set of circumstances requiring both attention and innovative approaches.

Fentanyl, with its unparalleled potency, and xylazine, a veterinary sedative gaining prominence among human users, have altered the trajectory of the SUD landscape. The resulting surge in overdose cases and the distinct physiological and psychological impacts of these substances magnify the urgency of intervention. Furthermore, the intersection of these substances with heightened mental health needs has given rise to a population with a layered complexity that goes beyond the conventional dual diagnosis.

This webinar is designed to help professionals respond to this paradigm shift by drawing from evidence-based practices and real-world cases studies. It will address:

• Intervention tools designed to facilitate stabilization.
• New screening tools for placing clients in the correct levels of care.
• Integrated treatment planning for a new level of CD and mental health.
• Crisis management, and sustained management through a trauma-informed perspective.
• Ongoing interventions and evidence-based strategies for keeping clients motivated.

Furthermore, the webinar will emphasize the importance of integrated care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and customized treatment plans. Participants will leave with actionable insights on tailoring treatment modalities, medication management, behavioral therapies, and harm reduction strategies to suit the specific needs of each client. Culturally sensitive approaches and trauma-informed care will also be highlighted to ensure a holistic and empathetic approach to healing.

Faculty

Alyssa Cunningham, MA, LADC, CPRSR
Treatment Director
Mn Adult & Teen Challenge

Kristi Rawleigh, MA, LADC, MFT Licensing Candidate
Mental Health Practitioner
Mn Adult & Teen Challenge