Understand the inner workings of the brain on drugs and how to work effectively with cognitive impairment

Alcohol and other drugs can affect the brain in both consistent and idiosyncratic ways. In this workshop, learn about the parts of the brain that can be affected by drug use and the impact on functioning. You will gain a thorough understanding of how the brain works, the functional impact of drugs, and the effect on treatment.

Up to 70% of people in alcohol and other drug treatment have significant temporary or long term cognitive impairment related to drug use, lifestyle, or other factors. You will learn how to improve client engagement and adapt treatment strategies to improve outcomes for people with cognitive impairments.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand how alcohol and other drugs affect the brain in the short and long term
• Gain skills in assessment of functional impairment and daily functioning
• Adapt treatment to make an impact with people who have cognitive impairments

Who should attend:

This is a specialist skills workshop suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners. This workshop is suitable for workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

Facilitator: Dr Richard Cash

Quotes from previous attendees:

The training consisted of a lot of information with a good focus on how substances affect the prefrontal cortex in particular. The workshop suggests ways of asking questions to elicit better information from clients.