Description:
Mental illness and substance use disorders often occur together. The joint occurrence of these conditions means that one or the other will not be recognized, that treatment is complicated, and that the outcomes are worse. Co-occurrence may be a major factor in the increased suicide rate in African Americans and the wave of opiate overdoses. This webinar will address why there is co-occurrence, both from a psychosocial and biological perspective. The presenter will also discuss how to develop effective treatment strategies.
Presenter:
William B. Lawson, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A. is Founder and Director of the Institute to Reduce Disparities LLC, Director of Psychiatric Research for the Emerson Clinical Research Institute and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland
School of Medicine. He is emeritus professor of psychiatry, at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, and emeritus professor and formerly chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Howard University School of Medicine. He received a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and M.D. from the Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago, did his residency at Stanford University and a fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has held faculty positions at the University of Illinois, Urbana, University of California, Irvine, Vanderbilt University, University of Arkansas, and Howard University. He has held numerous senior positions and received national recognition including past President of the DC Chapter of Mental Health America, Past President of the Washington Psychiatric Society, past Chair of the Section of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the National Medical Association, and past president of the Black Psychiatrists of America. He has received several honors, including the American Psychiatric Foundation Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Exemplary Psychiatrist Award. He has over 200 publications, and is the former editor in chief of the Journal of the National Medical Association.
Learning Objectives:
• Describe common neurobiological mechanisms in mental illnesses and substance use disorders
• Discuss how to determine which came first, “the chicken or the egg”
• Explore cultural and sociological factors that promote mental illnesses and substance use disorders
• List the unique treatment issues involved in addressing comorbidity
Who Should Attend?
Clinicians, case workers, addiction counselors, peer recovery support staff, administrators, and others who work on behalf of adults with mental illnesses and substance use disorders
Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). CEUs are not offered for this session. The webinar slide presentation and recording will be posted to the website.