Whole Person Care and the Importance of Harm Reduction (06-12-25) VIRTUAL

Presented by: Steven Samra, M.P.A. | Dedicated Specialist, C4 Innovations, LLC

Session provides a basic overview of substance use disorders (now called "conditions"), explores differentiating between dependence and addiction (and why it matters), and the impact of co-occurring conditions on sud and recovery. The neurobiology of addiction is discussed in layperson terms to illustrate how brain changes due to chronic use alters and hijacks the brain's evolutionary reward system, and why treating an opioid with an opioid actually works. Session briefly reviews the three medications used to treat an opioid use disorder and explores the importance of harm reduction as a critical component of "Whole Person Care" for people experiencing addiction, homelessness, incarceration, trauma and/or mental health conditions.

Session also discusses MAT/MOUD outcomes vs abstinence-only approaches, why MAT is a superior choice for opioid addiction, and why the acronym MOUD is problematic and should be revised.

Objectives:

· Define and cite examples of whole person care and how Harm Reduction works as a central component

· Discuss the difference in outcomes between a medication assisted treatment vs abstinence- only approach for opioid use disorder

· Explain how the brain's reward system is hijacked and altered by chronic opioid use

· List the three medications used to treat opioid use disorder

· Describe the difference between dependence and addiction and why it matters

· Generalize the role dopamine plays in substance use disorders

· Discuss MAT intervention stigma and its role in creating barriers to treatment and recovery

· Explain the importance of understanding the impact of co-occurring disorders on substance use and recovery

** Montgomery County Ohio residents (or those working in the county) and those in the surrounding area will be given preference.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Steven Samra, M.P.A. | Dedicated Specialist, C4 Innovations, LLC.

Mr. Samra has been a Recovery Consultant for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) for six years and is a senior content expert for the SAMHSA Program to Advance Recovery Knowledge (SPARK). He is skilled at both virtual and onsite T/TA across a diverse cross-section of behavioral health and recovery services. He has a master’s degree in public administration and currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife and two rescue dogs, who provide more support and joy to his own recovery than anything else. He utilizes his extensive personal experiences, direct service delivery, and professional expertise when providing technical assistance and training.

CEUS:

C4 Innovations will provide CEs for social workers (ASWB), addiction professionals (NAADAC), and certified counselors/LMHC (NBCC)

In order to ethically provide CEUs, we use a platform that generates attendance time reports. We must have a total time in attendance for each participant in order to issue CEUs and the CEUs issued are based on the total amount of time accumulated between the time an attendee joins and the time the attendee logs off. We are ethically bound to report the accumulated amount of time a participant attended, therefore we cannot issue CEUs to those:

· sharing a monitor, computer, and/or login

· failing to ensure their name label includes their first and last name

· joining by phone

· missing more than 10 minutes of a training that is 60 minutes in length

CEUs will be adjusted to the nearest quarter hour to reflect the amount of time present for sessions over 60 minutes in length.

By registering and attending this session, you acknowledge and agree that your photo may be taken and used by Montgomery County ADAMHS. If you do not agree to have your photo used, you must contact the organizer prior to the class.

If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in a training session, please contact the organizer.