Improving Care of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders: Effective Approaches for Assessing, Treating, and Engaging Teens
Adolescents who use alcohol and other drugs are at increased risk for a wide range of negative outcomes across family, peer, school, and legal domains. Substance use treatment can help improve adolescent outcomes but unfortunately, less than 1 in 10 teens with a substance use disorder (SUD) will receive treatment.
Our regional annual adolescent conference is designed for treatment providers and health care professionals who are looking to improve the detection and care of adolescents affected by substance use and SUDs. This conference is relevant for professionals from a broad range of settings such as substance use treatment agencies, behavioral health care agencies, juvenile justice, schools, primary care, child welfare, hospitals, and other allied health settings.
Conference Learning Objectives
Providers who attend our regional conference will be able to:
- Describe common symptoms and consequences of substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental health disorders in adolescents.
- Explain the most common effects of marijuana legalization on adolescents with or at risk of SUDs
- Recognize appropriate strategies to support youth in recovery from SUDs
- Apply at least one evidence-based approach to treating or engaging adolescents with or at risk of SUDs and their families.
Resources from 2017 3rd Annual Conference in Augusta, Maine:
Conference opening remarks by Commisioner Ricker Hamilton of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Plenary Session #1:
- Adolescent Conference 2017 - Adolescent Substance Use and Co-Occuring Mental Health slides
- Watch it LIVE!
Plenary Session #2:
Rise Together Presentation on Youth in Recovery:
- Adolescent Conference 2017 - Rise Together Inspirational Speakers, informational worksheets
- Watch it LIVE!
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workshop:
Resources from 2016 2nd Annual Conference in Lebanon, New Hampshire:
Plenary Sessions:
- Adolescent Conference 2016 - Youth SUD Continuity of Care slides
- Adolescent Conference 2016 - Technology Assisted Treatment slides
- Watch it LIVE!
SBIRT Panel:
Trauma and Substance Use:
Cannabis Workshop:
Resources from 2015 1st Inaugural Conference in Mashantuket, Connecticut:
Download Power Point Presentations and PDF documents from the 2015 Adolescent Conference:
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - SBIRT Panel Questions
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - Adolescents Hepatitis C Overview
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - An Overview of HIV and HCV in Adolescents and Young Adults
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - Assessment, Treatment & Continued Care of Adolescent SUD: Challenges & Opportunities
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - Substance Monitoring Procedure
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - Trauma-Informed Approaches to Assessing and Treating Teens
- Adolescent Conference 2015 - Using Motivational Interviewing with Adolescents
NIDA Adolescent Publication:
AIDS.gov Adolescent Publication: