Studies show that 30-80% of people in need of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment have some level of cognitive impairment (CI). CI is an umbrella term used to describe conditions including intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, serious mental illness resulting in loss of cognitive functioning, and more. Due to the opioid epidemic, the number of people with CI caused by overdose is on the rise. Yet many clinicians feel under-prepared to effectively treat people with SUD and CI. This webinar will provide a brief overview of CI, its impact on treatment engagement and outcomes, possible signs of CI in individuals with SUD, and techniques and strategies to improve the SUD treatment of individuals with CI.
Presenter
Julia Brower is a Special Education teacher-turned-SUD counselor. As the Clinical Director of a unique SUD clinic for people with Developmental Disabilities, she combined both backgrounds to develop effective treatment approaches and adapt evidence-based practices to meet each individual’s needs. Ms. Brower now shares her expertise with others to help improve treatment outcomes for people with cognitive challenges in traditional treatment settings.
