Approaching the Elephant in the Room Seminar Provided Much Needed Education About Substance Abuse
- Angelic Health Palliative and Hospice Care
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Supporting education of healthcare professionals and the community in an important Angelic Health initiative. Recently we were happy to partner with Stockon University, Join Together Atlantic County, The Opioid Response Network, and the Overdose Fatality Review Team for Approaching the Elephant in the Room, a free CEU seminar on starting the conversation on substance abuse. Healthcare workers including APN, social workers, nurses, hospice care professionals, recovery professions were in attendance for this interactive and engaging discussion.
Often times, our nervousness will delay or stop us from talking to someone about their behavior, especially if it has to do with drinking or using other substances. So how do we bring it up without offending them or losing them in the process? This discussion offered simple and helpful motivational interviewing strategies to sensitively raise the concern of substance use in a person-centered conversation that keeps the individual engaged and supports their motivation to address change. Topics discussed included Substance Use in a Sensitive Person-Centered Conversation with Dianna Padilla; and Words Matter: Reducing Stigma Through Language in Substance Use Services with Dr. Von Wade.
Dr Bob Zlotnick, Executive Director of Atlantic Prevention Resources who welcomed the attendees and spoke about the importance of understanding Substance Use Disorders and Dependence to be able to assist people suffering w Substance Use Disorders and their families.
Dianna Padilla from the Opiod Response Network who presented "Raising the subject of substance abuse in a sensitive person-centered conversation". She offered strategies and interventions to engage a person with substance use disorder in meaningful ways to discuss/understand their journey and options for care.
Dr VonZell Wade LPC, PhD, Co-Founder of Lost Dreams Awakening and Presenter for the Opiod Response Network. He presented "Words Matter - Reducing Stigma Through Language in Substance Use Services". He stressed the importance of language in all aspects of healthcare and had us look at direct and indirect "shorthand stigma" and disguised stigma as barriers in our attempts to treat people with substance use disorders. He addressed what can happen when understanding and listening to what people are NOT always saying as opportunities to engage them in a therapeutic relationship.
Jennifer Pielhau MBA, CTS Community Initiatives Coordinator for Atlantic Prevention Resources closed the event and discussed upcoming events and the hope that the days conversations were a start to ongoing collaborative networking.
Angelic Health is a premiere hospice care organization serving southern New Jersey and the greater Myrtle Beach SC area. To learn more about us visit www.angelic.health
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