Kids and Cannabis
Workshop Description
Cannabis is not new to our culture but our perceptions of it and relationship with it has continued to evolve. Decriminalization and legalization trends around the country have raised additional concerns, particularly with regards to our youth. In this presentation, we will revisit adolescent development, risk and protective factors and why we need to pay special attention to the use of Cannabis (or any mood-altering substances) in young people. There will be information about the evolution of cannabis in our culture, trends in use and the potential impact on adolescent functioning; tackling myths about the harmlessness of Cannabis.
There will be attention to early prevention strategies and ways to promote drug resilience and healthy dialogue with our teens. This information may be helpful to school personnel, prevention specialists, mental health and substance use professionals and parents. There will be time for dialogue and group discussions as well as Q&A at the end.
Participants will:
1. Gain an understanding of the development of the young brain as it relates to decision-making and substance use.
2. Be able to contrast the Marijuana from the past to today’s Cannabis products.
3. Identify universal prevention strategies that create resilience in young people and reduce the risk of early substance use.
Workshop Instructor
Barbara Burke received her MSW from the VCU School of Social Work in 1978. Before she retired in 2020, the focus of her clinical work was with Substance Use Disorders, particularly with teens and young adults. She ran the early intervention program and adolescent IOP for a local outpatient treatment program where she worked closely with the schools and DJJ. She has taught “Substance Abuse” and “Coping and Adaptation” for the VCU School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and has served as a consultant to area schools and colleges.
Barbara is an experienced presenter and has been providing training to the community, professional organizations and schools for many years.
She is the co-founder of “Rams in Recovery”, a Collegiate Recovery Program at VCU where she serves on the project team and it’s advisory board. Barbara believes in the importance of family involvement and meeting folks where they are. Her focus has been on helping young people understand their relationship with substances and their risk factors for dependence in order to make responsible decisions. She stresses the importance of respect and healthy communication for everyone in the conversation.
Free Registration
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