View in browser

Help Your Clients Succeed with a Trauma-Informed Approach
By Thomas Becher

Is your team prepared to manage the trauma your clients face?

Violence, abuse, neglect, loss, disaster, war, natural disasters, pandemics, and other emotionally harmful experiences can all trigger trauma, affecting just about everyone, no matter the age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or geography.

According to the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

It’s no surprise, then, that studies of people in the juvenile and criminal justice system have found a direct correlation between personal trauma and high rates of substance use disorder. While not a new phenomenon, today’s angst-filled headlines remind us that those who provide care must establish a process to treat clients facing trauma.

That’s why Averhealth encourages social service agencies, probation departments, and treatment court programs to embrace a trauma-informed approach – applying the knowledge and understanding of trauma and its far-reaching implications – to provide specific assessment, accommodation, and treatment of clients.

Please read our latest blog to learn about the six principles of the trauma-informed approach and 10 ways you can implement – or refine – your approach to make a difference for your clients.

Drug Trends: Dabbing

Officer Jermaine Galloway, better known as "The Tall Cop," is an ongoing featured contributor to the Averhealth Digest on drug trends — providing you with highlights of street drug trends your clients may be using. This month, Officer Galloway informs us about dabbing, or dabs – a form of marijuana concentrates that strongly resemble honey, wax, or butter.

Upcoming Conferences

Make plans to see Team Averhealth at these upcoming state conferences:

Missouri Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP), March 30-April 1 at Branson Hilton Convention Center in Branson, MO.

Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP), March 30-April 1 at Lansing Center in Lansing, MI.

Industry News

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

There’s an opportunity this week to help educate youth in your community about the dangers of substance use.

Recent research tells us how youth and young adults perceive harm from drugs and alcohol is often wrong. SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2020 shows 57% of youth ages 12 to 17 did not think there was great harm in having five or more drinks once or twice a week. Even more concerning is that as many as 62.6% of those in that age group did not think it was very harmful to smoke marijuana once or twice a week.

To counter those misperceptions, this week’s National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) offers another opportunity to inform your community about prevention initiatives.

Here’s what you can do to help:

Promote National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week as a prevention tool for practitioners, communities, and families to move beyond conversation and inspire action.
Share the facts on substance misuse and connect people you know to evidence-based resources, such as:

SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign, including its new mobile app, helps parents and caregivers start conversations about substance misuse prevention.
The Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts and the Tips for Teens series, designed to communicate the facts and consequences of substance use to youth.
NIDA for Teen’s Drug Facts is the trusted source for science-based information on teen drug use and its effects.

Deputy Public Defender Nancy Shand Speaks with a Client, courtesy of Law Offices of LA County Public Defender

LA County Introduces Court for LGBTQ+ Clients

Los Angeles, Calif., County has introduced a Collaborative Court designed for the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This comes as judicial systems around the nation tackle ways to reduce substance use and recidivism with culturally appropriate services.

Terminology to Help LGBTQ+ Clients Feel Respected

Averhealth recently attended a webinar hosted by our friends at the National Drug Court Institute, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Participants in Treatment Courts” presented by Kim-Monique Johnson.

She emphasized the need for treatment courts to continue moving from punishment to compassion and evidence-based treatment. With that in mind, Johnson provided some suggestions to encourage LGBTQ-plus clients to show up for testing and support their road to recovery.

It starts with understanding terminology. Johnson shared this handy glossary to help your team support recovery in this unique community.

Part 2 of this webinar, “Gender Identity and the Participant of Transgender Experience in Treatment Court,” is scheduled for June 9. Click here to register.

Let's Connect

We want to connect with you on social media! Did you know Averhealth has a Facebook and LinkedIn account? By following our pages, you can make sure you never miss important Averhealth information again!

Click the icons below to follow us!