The Chemistry of Craving:
Addiction Pharmacology for Substance Abuse Professionals Few societal problems remain as misunderstood as addiction. In this training, (3 day and 5 day versions offered) participants learn and apply knowledge of basic principles of drug use, misuse, and addiction. The history of drug laws and public policy in the United States of America; the fundamental rules of drug action; an overview of cell permeability and neuronal functioning; and seven major drug categories will be covered. Participants apply their knowledge through dynamic, interactive group activities and role-plays, with an emphasis on socio-cultural and clinical applications of the material.

Alcohol 101:
Societal Costs and Treatment Issues Alcohol, the most widely abused and most aggressively promoted drug in our culture, remains widely misunderstood in terms of its effects, risks, and overall role in society. This 3 day training provides participants with a general survey of alcohol, including physical, historical, cultural, and treatment perspectives.

Together We Can: Community Organizing and Public Policy
This 3 day training provides knowledge and practice of comprehensive community-based prevention planning and implementation, with special consideration given to the nature, mechanics, and challenges of effective collaboration. Additionally, this training will help prevention professionals, volunteers, law enforcement officers, and activists develop the capacity to review and apply current research-based practice to the planning process. This training focuses primarily on projects, coalitions, community mobilization, and advocacy rather than simply on "prevention programs," and will consider issues of diverse populations within the larger community.

Media Literacy for Professionals, Community Members, and Youth
Media messages are all around us, often encouraging young people to be attracted to alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances and behaviors. In this training, participants learn how to deconstruct media messages and gain a fuller understanding of the pull of mass media in 21st Century life.

Social Marketing: Selling the Message of Public Health in Today's Marketplace
Many prevention and public health groups develop terrific projects, but lack success because they fail to effectively market their ideas and solutions. This training provides participants with simple tools for marketing their projects and their ideas.

Interests and Issues:
A Mediation Approach to Communication In the workplace, in the home, or in the world of public policy advocacy, effective communication is crucial for success. Using the concepts and skills of mediation, participants in this workshop will learn how to separate issues from interests and build common ground for negotiation and understanding.

We Know What's Wrong, so Now What? - Strategic Planning for Community-Based Organizations
Communities grow, change, and become ready to tackle social problems at their own pace. Using tools, questions, and concepts from this training, advocates and grass roots activists will learn how to guide communities to greater willingness to overcome substance abuse, violence, and other problems.

Media Advocacy on a Budget
If the public doesn't know about your cause, you are invisible. This workshop will teach participants how to access and make effective use of local media using tools such as the press conference, news events, and op-ed articles.

Youth Leadership in Substance Abuse Prevention Our society holds many biases and stereotypes about young people, when in fact they are often very effective, dedicated community activists just waiting for the right guidance and support. Learn how to provide it in this training workshop.

Body Image and Addiction: The Symbiotic Sicknesses Teens and children today are exposed to thousands of images that normalize an ideal body image. As a result, many young people become alienated and frustrated with the realities of their own bodies, placing them at greater risk for substance abuse and other harmful behaviors. This workshop will teach ways to counter the media's idealized images and help young people realize their own inherent value.

Club and Rave Drugs: The Dark Side of the Party
Ecstasy. GHB. Rohypnol. We've all heard the names and the hype. This training will teach participants the truth, including addiction and overdose risks, patterns of abuse, and methods for intervention and treatment for someone using these supposedly "peaceful," but in fact extremely dangerous, drugs.

Roots of the Problem: Prevention from an Environmental Perspective
All too often, substance abuse prevention focuses on the individual, and on ways to increase resiliency. While this approach may work well for those individuals directly impacted by a prevention program, it is incomplete. "Environmental prevention" focuses on the conditions around us, and how to improve them and create a healthier community. Participants in this workshop will learn how to identify, assess, and work to change the conditions that allow or encourage substance abuse, teen pregnancy, school drop out, and other problem behaviors.

I also conduct meeting and retreat facilitation, and deliver keynote presentations and consulting services on the above topics.