Many new drugs are making local and national headlines such as K2/Spice and Bath Salts. This interactive webinar will discuss the latest developments and information regarding synthetic cannabinoids, MDPV, Mephedrone, Kratom, Salvia and other designer drugs that have been emerging over the past few years. Webinar participants will be introduced to the physiology of these drugs and how they can possibly impact, mimic and exacerbate mental health disorders such as anxiety and depressive disorders. Epidemiologic trends in drug abuse in both youth and adults will be discussed as will the latest trends from the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services. Webinar participants will participate in interactive discussions and exercises in differential diagnosis of similar symptoms produced by these emerging drugs of abuse and other mental health disorders. Patterns of use, abilities for urine detection, and other legal aspect regarding these emerging drugs will be discussed. [This webinar will complete your prescription opioid social work license requirement.]

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate the major elements the Federal Government uses when classifying drugs from schedule 1 through schedule 5.
• Identify at least two differences (in terms of negative effects) that occur with the ingestion of synthetic cannabinoids.
• State which class of drugs synthetic cannabinoids & bath salts (synthetic cathinones) are classified under in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Workshop participants will be able to list at least three negative side effects of each.
• Compare differences that drugs of abuse such as Adderall, Oxycodone and Suboxone are classified under in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Workshop participants will be able to list three negative side effects of each drug listed in this lecture.
• List and describe two different best practice therapy approaches regarding counseling clients who are abusing these emerging substances of abuse.
• Discuss current legal issues both locally and nationally as they relate to using these emerging substances of abuse.