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Breaking Down the Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment Divide

In-Person
1.5 CE Hour
Clinical

Presented By

Dates and Times

  • -
    In-Person

Location

Description

The persistent divide between harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment approaches remains a significant barrier to providing comprehensive care for individuals with substance use disorders. Bridging the divide between harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment is essential for providing comprehensive care to those with substance use disorders. By adopting innovative models like MAPs, MOUD, and Overdose Prevention Centers, and fostering a culture of emotional safety and inclusivity, we can create a treatment landscape that meets the diverse needs of individuals and supports their journey to recovery. 

 

This presentation, featuring Liz Evans and John Hamilton, aims to bridge this divide by discussing innovative models and examples that effectively engage hard-to-reach populations. The session will emphasize both practical interventions and the cultural shifts needed within treatment teams to foster an emotionally safe environment for clients and staff, ensuring inclusive and effective care. This workshop is aimed at advancing the conversation on integrating harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment and will provide actionable insights and practical examples, including recommended staff training,  to guide organizations in implementing these integrated approaches effectively.  It underscores the need for innovative models and cultural shifts to create a holistic and inclusive approach to substance use disorder treatment while addressing the critical aspects of trauma, human rights, and social justice.

Target Audience
  • • Counselor
  • • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • • Nurses
  • • Physicians
  • • Social Worker
  • • Substance Use Disorder Professionals
  • • Psychologist
Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain how managed alcohol programs (MAPs), Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), and overdose prevention centers are effective strategies for engaging hard-to-reach populations.

  • Describe 2-3 ways harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment can be synergized to offer a continuum of care that respects and supports various recovery paths.

  • Identify 3 cultural changes needed within treatment teams to create emotionally safe environments that do not alienate abstinent clients while embracing harm reduction principles.

  • Summarize how addressing trauma, advocating for human rights, and incorporating social justice principles are integral to effective addiction treatment.

References

  • Ayonrinde, O. T., Bell, K. D., & Rodriguez, M. (2021). Client-centered approaches to substance use treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 16(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00363-3

  • Arredondo, J., Bazzi, A. R., & Andrade, A. C. (2021). "They make it too hard and too many hoops to jump": System and organizational barriers to drug treatment during epidemic rates of opioid overdose. Harm Reduction Journal, 18, 1-12.

  • Browne, A. J., Kwan, A., & Fortin, M. (2021). Policy recommendations for integrating harm reduction into substance use treatment. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(9), 2666-2675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06869-9

  • D’Onofrio, G., et al. (2021). Integration of harm reduction and treatment for opioid use disorder: A systematic review. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.

  • Evans, J., Semeniuk, P., & Desmarais, J. (2021). Exploring the experience of inpatients with severe alcohol use disorder on a managed alcohol program (MAP) at St. Paul’s Hospital. Harm Reduction Journal.

  • European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2021). Preventing overdose deaths in Europe: Perspectives on drugs. Lisbon: EMCDDA.

  • Hagan, H., et al. (2020). Peer-based approaches to harm reduction: A systematic review. American Journal of Public Health.

  • Haver, L., et al. (2021). Trauma-informed care in addiction treatment: A framework for practice. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.

  • Humphreys, K., Shover, C. L., Andrews, C. M., Bohnert, A. S. B., & Caulkins, J. P. (2022). Responding to the opioid crisis in North America and beyond: Recommendations of the Stanford-Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 399(10324), 555-604.

  • International Drug Policy Consortium. (2023). The impact of overdose prevention centers on reducing drug-related deaths.

  • Kahn, K., Michalak, M., & Gabriele, R. (2021). Integrated care models for substance use treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 16(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00338-4

  • Krawczyk, N., Buresh, M., Gordon, M. S., & Blue, T. R. (2021). Barriers to medication for opioid use disorder treatment in the context of the opioid overdose epidemic. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 15(3), 221-229.

  • Langabeer, J. R., Yatsco, A. J., & Champagne-Langabeer, T. (2022). Flexibility in MOUD delivery during COVID-19: Reducing barriers for vulnerable populations. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 132, 108587.

  • Levengood, T. W., Yoon, G. H., Davoust, M. J., et al. (2021). Supervised injection facilities as harm reduction: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 61(5), 738-749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.04.017

  • McLellan, A. T., et al. (2020). The role of stigma in substance use disorders: Implications for treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

  • Miron, J. A. (2022). The global experience with overdose prevention centers and their role in harm reduction. Cato Institute.

  • Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2023). Overdose prevention centers: A systematic review of global data. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024). Overdose prevention centers and their role in harm reduction.

  • Pauly, B., Brown, M., Evans, J., & Gray, E. (2022). “There is a place”: Impacts of managed alcohol programs for people experiencing severe alcohol dependence and homelessness. Harm Reduction Journal.

  • Pauly, B., Vallance, K., & Stockwell, T. (2022). Managed alcohol programs in Canada: Reducing harms and improving engagement for people experiencing severe alcohol dependence. Harm Reduction Journal.

  • Potier, C., Laprévote, V., Dubois-Arber, F., Cottencin, O., & Rolland, B. (2021). Supervised injection services: What has been demonstrated? A systematic literature review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 145, 48-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.012

  • Strike, C., Gohil, H., D’Elia, A., & Tyndall, M. (2018). Educating healthcare providers about harm reduction. Harm Reduction Journal, 15(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-018-0230-9

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.

  • Weir, B. W., Goss, K. H., Gattuso, C., Borrell, E., MacDonald, K., & Carroll, J. (2020). Training in harm reduction for healthcare providers. Harm Reduction Journal, 17(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00331-1

Clinical
Counselor

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LPCCs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LPCCs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0220.

TPN.health has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7267. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. TPN.health is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage & Family Therapist

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0097.

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Nurses

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and TPN.health. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco LLC designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 ANCC contact hours.

Physicians

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and TPN.health. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Professions in scope for this activity are listed below. Amedco Joint Accreditation Provider Number: 4008163. Amedco LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Social Worker

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0654.

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LCSWs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

TPN.health, #1766, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/31/2022 – 03/31/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Clinical continuing education credits. ASWB ACE Credit is not available in NY and NJ.

Substance Use Disorder Professionals

This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programming.This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programing. Counselor Skill Group: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Development

Psychologist

Trusted Provider Network is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Trusted Provider Network maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

TPN.health is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1000101) to sponsor continuing education for LEPs. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0125.

CE Policy
This course is fiscally sponsored by Exchange Events. There may be potential biases or conflicts of interest inherent to this relationship, and it must be disclosed to participants. These conflicts of interest have no bearing on the course content and have been resolved.
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Liz Evans, BsCN, M.Ed.

Liz Evans has over 30 years of frontline experience working with marginalized individuals struggling with drug use. With a Nursing degree and a Masters in Adult Education, she founded the PHS Community Services Society, introducing housing first and harm reduction policies in Canada establishing North America’s first legally sanctioned injection site in 2003. She is a former Open Society Foundation Fellow. In New York, she led harm reduction organizations to pioneer a drug users health hub and expand overdose prevention services. Currently, as Senior Director of Harm Reduction at Liberation Programs, Liz advances harm reduction approaches for individuals at risk of overdose in Connecticut. She also works as a consultant, continuing her dedication to marginalized communities.

John Hamilton, LMFT, LADC

President and CEO of Liberation Programs, John Hamilton re-joined the organization in 2018, having previously served from 1996-2006. He is nationally recognized as an expert in addiction treatment and prevention, with three decades of experience. John chairs the advisory board for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and serves on the Governor’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Council. His extensive background includes leadership roles with the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network and the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). Throughout his journey with Liz, John has been advancing the understanding of how harm reduction principles can save lives.

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