Substance Use in Teens and Young Adults: Concerns and Strategies

Virtual Workshop Description

This interactive workshop provides an overview of adolescent development, compares healthy curiosity with problematic substance use, and what is “normal” in our culture. It identifies the ways substance use may impact various areas of a teen’s life and growth as well as look at who is most at risk. Emphasis will be placed on how to address concerns, proper language, terminology, and how to create effective dialogue. This workshop provides an overview of prevention levels with attention on how and when to intervene, options for early intervention and treatment, and how to support young people in recovery.

This workshop is suited for parents, educators, administrators, prevention professionals, clinical personnel as well as policy makers.

In this virtual workshop you will

• Learn about of the impact of substance use on aspects of development and why early substance use posses concern
• Gain an understanding of who is most at risk for problems with substances
• Consider what may be “normal” adolescent curiosity and experimentation and when to become concerned
• Understand recent trends in substance use (focus on vaping, nicotine, marijuana and alcohol)
• Look at various ways to address concerns; appropriate language, levels of intervention and treatment options for teens and young adults

Workshop Instructor

Barbara Burke received her MSW from the VCU School of Social Work in 1978 and most of her work over the past 40 years has been with Substance Use Disorders. She recently retired from clinical practice, where she specialized in the assessment, early and treatment of Adolescents and Young Adults. Barbara believes in the importance of family involvement and meeting folks where they are. Her focus has been on helping young people understand their relationship with substances and their risk factors for dependence so they can make informed decisions. She is the co-founder of “Rams in Recovery”, a Collegiate Recovery Program at VCU where she remains part of the project team and a member of its advisory board. She is currently adjunct faculty in the VCU School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences where she teaches courses in Substance Abuse and Coping and Adaptation. She also contracts with the University of Richmond to provide early intervention groups and is a consultant to area schools.