Program Description

Substance use disorders (SUD) and overdoses are at an all-time high (Centers for Disease Control, 2021). Public safety professionals often find themselves to be the first point of contact for someone who is experiencing an overdose or engaging in a substance related-risky behavior (e.g., impaired driving, property crime). This program is intended to build public safety professionals’ capacity in successfully responding to substance use and substance use disorders in their day-to-day work. This will include recognizing substance use, brief screening, referring or transporting to the appropriate point of care, and preventing or responding to overdose. Public Safety attendees will also learn how evidence-based approaches to behavioral health challenges, can promote officer wellness and reduce burnout.

Who is this ECHO for?

• • Law enforcement
  • Court personnel
  • Fire and EMS personnel
  • Community corrections (e.g., probation, parole)
  • Dispatchers
  • Re-entry professionals (i.e., correctional staff specializing in re-entry services)
  • All other first responders

Learning Objectives

1. Describe signs and symptoms of substance use and substance use disorders encountered by public safety professionals.
2. Explain the intersection of substance use disorders and criminal justice involvement.
3. Compare and contrast models for substance use-related interventions that can be conducted by public safety professionals.
4. Describe strategies for successful transitions from the community to substance use disorder treatment or other behavioral healthcare services.
5. Implement evidence-based substance use disorder-related interventions in one’s daily work, as needed.