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Harm Reduction

Shining a Light: Hidden Circumstances Affecting the Health and Well-being of Children and Families

Each year, pediatricians, family physicians, nurses, mental health clinicians, and other child health affiliates throughout Maine gather at our educational conferences for professional development and networking. Key topics for this year’s conference include childhood trauma and mental illness, promoting post-trauma growth using the Trauma Responsive Framework, the management and treatment of obesity, suicide risk assessment and treatment, human trafficking in Maine, Innovative Plans of Care for Substance Exposed Children & Families including Fetal Alchohol Syndrome, and substance use and vaping among adolescents. SAVE THE DATE

Maine Impaired Driving Summit

Impaired driving is a growing problem on our roads. While driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in all 50 states, 28% of all traffic-related deaths are due to alcohol-impaired crashes. Drugs other than alcohol account for another 16% of motor vehicles crashes.Use of marijuana, prescription drugs and alcohol is on the rise, and The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and AAA are committed to raising awareness and fostering a dialogue that will promote safe driving habits.
The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and AAA Northern New England invite you to attend the 2020 Maine Impaired Driving Summit. With impaired driving crashes and fatalities on the rise we are bringing together national experts from law enforcement, prosecution, pharmacology, and traffic safety researchers to discuss and share their expertise on impaired driving. Presentations include former Idaho law enforcement officer Jermaine Galloway “The Tall Cop” with his “High in Plain Sight” training, complete with visuals and physical props to show the prevalence of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and how drugs have become integrated in to modern culture as well as Romana Lavalas from the National Traffic Law Center who’ll cover masking CDL offenses.

Reducing Stigma and Using Harm Reduction When Working with People Who Use Opioids

The words we choose have an impact. How we talk about drug use and people who use drugs is informed by our preconceived notions and internalized biases. When we use words like “clean,” we necessarily imply that the opposite is “dirty.” Opioid Use Disorder continues to be a highly stigmatized medical condition, despite many advancements in our understanding of the neurobiological, social, and environmental determinants that impact individual health. People with an Opioid Use Disorder continue to report high rates of discrimination from medical providers, service denials from government entities, and continued unfair targeting by law enforcement. The ramifications of stigma in care environments are far reaching and further compound the opioid crisis. During this workshop, participants will explore personal biases related to opioid use and examine the way that these biases present in language. We will consider the effects that stigmatizing speech and actions have on people who use drugs, and we will discuss how to create an affirming environment that will enhance care for people who use drugs. Registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

Youth Mental Health First Aid: Two-Day Intensive Workshop

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in crisis.
Thank you for making time for this two day training. We are excited to work with you all. This opportunity is available for TWO people from your organization who work with young people in any capacity.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Two-Day Intensive Workshops

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

The Science and Art of Threat and Risk Assessment in School

This important and timely workshop focuses on assisting school personnel and mental health professionals to improve their understanding of models of risk and threat assessment.

Tennies will discuss the characteristics of adolescent development that makes this process so challenging as well as the changes in our society that have contributed. The differences and commonalities of threat versus forensic risk assessments are reviewed as well as the findings of the Safe School Initiative by Homeland Security and Department of Education, which form the foundation to understand the principles of threat assessment. Tennies will introduce you to the threat matrix for decision-making about the level of risk of threats to assist participants in developing more precise ways to assess threats made in school settings.

In the afternoon, the elements and examples of forensic risk assessments are reviewed. Dynamic versus static risk and protective factors are delineated. Specific risk management interventions and strategies are provided with time for small group activities to individualize these strategies for your own organization.

Early bird fee: $55.00 if registration fee is paid by 11/15/19.

2019 Clinical and Legal Opioid Update

2019 Clinical Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review latest research relating to opioid + pain prescribing practices
  • Constantly consider harm reduction
  • Discuss opioid use disorder and treatments

2019 Legal Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review impact of Chapter 488 in Maine
  • Discuss opioid laws, rules and initiatives of the new administration
  • Study Chapter 21 requirements & logical implementation
  • Investigate methods to further transform local and regional prescribing

Co-Prescribing Benzodiazepines and Opioids: The Black Box of Increased Overdose Risk: Learning Objectives:

  • Review the trends in benzodiazepine prescribing
  • Evaluate risks of co-prescribing benzodiazepines and opioids
  • Consider taper plans
  • Recall importance of risk reduction

Registration is Free – Advanced Registration is required.  Light snacks will be provided.

2019 Clinical and Legal Opioid Update

2019 Clinical Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review latest research relating to opioid + pain prescribing practices
  • Constantly consider harm reduction
  • Discuss opioid use disorder and treatments

2019 Legal Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review impact of Chapter 488 in Maine
  • Discuss opioid laws, rules and initiatives of the new administration
  • Study Chapter 21 requirements & logical implementation
  • Investigate methods to further transform local and regional prescribing

Co-Prescribing Benzodiazepines and Opioids: The Black Box of Increased Overdose Risk: Learning Objectives:

  • Review the trends in benzodiazepine prescribing
  • Evaluate risks of co-prescribing benzodiazepines and opioids
  • Consider taper plans
  • Recall importance of risk reduction

Registration is Free – Advanced Registration is required.  Light snacks will be provided.

2019 Clinical and Legal Opioid Update

2019 Clinical Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review latest research relating to opioid + pain prescribing practices
  • Constantly consider harm reduction
  • Discuss opioid use disorder and treatments

2019 Legal Opioid Update: Learning Objectives:

  • Review impact of Chapter 488 in Maine
  • Discuss opioid laws, rules and initiatives of the new administration
  • Study Chapter 21 requirements & logical implementation
  • Investigate methods to further transform local and regional prescribing

Co-Prescribing Benzodiazepines and Opioids: The Black Box of Increased Overdose Risk: Learning Objectives:

  • Review the trends in benzodiazepine prescribing
  • Evaluate risks of co-prescribing benzodiazepines and opioids
  • Consider taper plans
  • Recall importance of risk reduction

Registration is Free – Advanced Registration is required.  Light snacks will be provided.

2019 Clinical and Legal Opioid Update