7th Annual MS School For Addiction Professionals April 1-4

In an effort to help educate Mississippi’s Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention Professionals, about alcohol and drug abuse and prevention the 7th Annual Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals, hosted by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services, will be held April 1-4 at the Hattiesburg Convention Center.

 

“We provide a learning experience where professionals or nonprofessionals can come together to learn from innovative individuals who are leaders in the field of substance abuse treatment and prevention,” said Dr. Jerri Avery, DMH Director of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services.  “The MS School is an excellent way to educate people on the best practices available to produce the best outcomes for those we serve.”

 

The MS School for Addiction Professionals will offer exciting plenary sessions, special events and a variety of courses in prevention, intervention and treatment, all of which are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of each participant. The MS School offers many courses that address contemporary topics to help professionals remain abreast as to the latest trends in their areas. The MS School is open to treatment professionals, service providers, educators, parents, nurses, social workers, school counselors, law enforcement, faith based organizations, concerned citizens and others.

 

Keynote presenters include: Dr. Chip Dodd, When Does Therapy Become Therapeutic?; Dr. David Mee-Lee, Understanding DSM-5; David Mineta, Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; Dr. Earl Suttle, Enjoying Excellence – Becoming the Best You Can Be; Jamie Huysman, Run Towards the Roar; and Kelly Wilson, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT).

Substance abuse disorders don’t just affect the individual, but their family, friends and the community. Thousands of Mississippians are in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. They are neighbors, friends and family members leading healthy and productive lives in our communities.

 

More than 23 million people, aged 12 or older, needed treatment for a substance use disorder in the United States in 2007, and in Mississippi alone, 183,000 people and their families are affected by this disease. Each year, the alcohol and drug residential treatment centers in Mississippi certified by DMH’s Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services, provide residential treatment to more than 6,000 Mississippians suffering from substance abuse and dependence problems.

 

For more information about The Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals, contact 601-359-1288 or visit www.themsschool.ms.gov. If you or someone you know is in need of treatment, call the DMH’s Helpline at 1-877-210-8513.