Fredericksburg, Virginia – About 2.1 million Americans had an opioid use disorder in 2016. With the number of overdose deaths rising, connecting those individuals with treatment can be a matter of life-or-death. And behavioral healthcare providers can play a key role in helping individuals access treatment.
An upcoming training will help behavioral healthcare providers learn when and how to recommend treatment. Behavioral Heath Provider’s Role in The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment, Referral and Brief Interventions is a free training that will provide four continuing education units.
The 4-hour course will teach attendees how to use assessment tools, when and how to refer, and the basics of providing brief interventions for clients using or addicted to opioids. It is geared toward therapists and counselors but is open to anyone who wants to know more about assessment, referral and brief interventions.
This training will be offered on Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Room 105 of Germanna Community College’s Fredericksburg campus in Spotsylvania County. A second training will be offered Oct. 19, from noon to 4:15 p.m.
It is offered by Be Well Rappahannock, a collaborative of community agencies banding together to address the health and well-being of the region. Be Well Rappahannock’s Opiate Treatment and Recovery Taskforce is working to educate the community about opioid treatment and to improve outcomes for area residents struggling with opioid use disorder. For details, visit bewellrappahannock.org.
These trainings are supported by The Community Collaborative for Youth and Families and the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board.
