An Introduction to the Brain’s Addiction Pathway (Afternoon)

CEUs: Prevention, CHES
3 Hours
Domains: P2- Prevention Education & Service Delivery

Description: Understanding the role our brains play in addiction is crucial for all prevention professionals, regardless of their background in neuroscience or addiction studies. Why, you might ask? This training is the perfect opportunity to find out! Designed as an introductory course for beginner prevention professionals, participants will embark on a fascinating exploration of the brain's inner workings, focusing on the reward circuit and its relevance to prevention work. Throughout the session, we'll uncover how substances can hijack our brain's reward circuit, leading to the formation of addiction pathways. We'll break down these pathways and relate them to the developmental stage of adolescence and conclude with an examination of language and stigma while providing practical tips for reducing stigma. Discover how this knowledge can empower us in our prevention work. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify the addiction pathway of the brain and explain why it is important for prevention professionals to understand the effects addiction has on the brain.
2. Participants will be able to describe the impact of substance exposure to adolescent brains.
3. Participants will be able to describe how the stigma around addiction impacts individuals and what we can do as prevention professionals to address that stigma.

Presenter(s):
Katie Wolf MS, CHES, OCPS
Amy Hamilton MPA, OCPS