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CE Course Description

Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a widespread challenge that often intersect with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma. Mental health professionals regularly engage with clients who are impacted by substance abuse, making a foundational knowledge of addiction essential to their effective care. This introductory course explores the basics of substance abuse disorders, risk factors, recognition of signs and symptoms, and evidence-based treatment approaches. Culture competence and ethical considerations are also addressed to support inclusive, stigma-reducing care. This course will equip mental health professionals with the foundational knowledge to identify substance use disorders, engage in brief interventions, and connect clients to appropriate care resources.

Author: Alisha Powell, PhD, LCSW

CE Course Objectives

1. Define substance use disorders (SUDs), including their prevalence, key characteristics, and impact on individuals and communities.
2. Identify common risk factors and co-occurring mental health conditions associated with substance use.
3. Apply basic screening tools and assessment strategies to recognize signs of substance use and determine when referral is appropriate.
4. Describe evidence-based treatment approaches, including brief interventions, harm reduction strategies, and referral pathways.
5. Analyze ethical and cultural considerations in the care of individuals with substance use disorders, including strategies to reduce stigma and support diverse populations.

Social Work Approval

Social Work CE Credit for this course is offered with the following approvals. Many state boards of social work will accept the approvals listed. Provider Approvals by state and license type can be found here.

• Quantum Units Education is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, CAMFT Provider #89970, to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEP. Quantum Units Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
• Florida board for Social Workers CE Provider #50-8650 (Quantum 'immediately' reports CE Credits to Florida licensees) 
• Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, License No. 159.001261 approved CE Sponsor
• Ohio CSWMFTB #RCST091701 approved CE Provider
• Texas Board of SWE #5070 approved CE Provider
• Quantum Units Education, #1289, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 01/03/2023 - 01/03/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 'General' continuing education credits.

To see other approvals in your state, see our state by state provider approval listings here.

Course Development: Each course is identified and reviewed by the appropriate Quantum Units Education consultant with professional and licensed expertise in the various disciplines we serve. Our professional consultants oversee course development to satisfy the needs of various professionals based on their board requirements, rate course degrees of difficulty and ensure the course content and exam questions are appropriate, relevant and comprehensive. See our professional staff and their bios here.

*Questions regarding how to take a course, refunds, grievance policy and ADA policy can be found here.
*Questions regarding this course or need support? Contact us at support@quantumunitsed.com.

Added On: 06/13/2025