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Trauma and substance use: Supporting youth clients who use substances with compassion
Build foundational knowledge and practical approaches to support youth navigating trauma and substance use.
Trauma and substance use often intersect in complex ways and pose multifaceted challenges for young people and the professionals who support them.
Did you know:
- Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
- People with a mental illness diagnosis/psychiatric diagnosis are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder compared to the general population. At least 20% of people with a mental illness diagnosis/psychiatric diagnosis have a co-occurring substance use disorder.
(Source: CAMH – Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics)
This training will focus on supporting youth clients who have experienced trauma and substance use, emphasizing a compassionate approach. We will begin by reviewing foundational information on substance use, including key terminology, understanding internal biases and reviewing different drug classifications. Participants will explore the principles of harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches for youth clients who use substances. This training combines theory, frameworks, therapeutic techniques, and practical applications to effectively work with clients.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the risks and reasons why individuals use substances
- Explore the connection between managing trauma symptoms and substance use
- Build introductory knowledge of the impact of trauma on the body
- Learn trauma-informed application of harm reduction principles
- Build knowledge of terminology, types of substances, risks, and vulnerabilities for developing challenges with substance use
Register today to strengthen your trauma-informed approach when supporting youth who use substances.
