Community Voices in Recovery – Introduction to Addiction

The Community Voices in Recovery course centers minoritized voices in continuing education (CE) through the art of storytelling. Storytelling holds the potential to promote empathy and understanding perspectives because it counters negative stereotypes and promotes connection on a universal human level. We use this narrative approach to help healthcare providers and allied health professionals provide optimal addiction care for minoritized patients. Minoritized treatment seekers (e.g., racial or ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those formerly incarcerated and/or homeless) are more likely to experience discrimination in healthcare. In addition, many addictive disorders are co-occurring, resulting in the need for coordinated care. This course takes a holistic approach by considering multiple substance-based and behavioral expressions of addiction, with a particular focus on problem gambling.

This module introduces this course by addressing the question, “What is addiction?” within a broad view, where it considers not just substance use disorders but also behavioral addictions. This course is designed to improve the delivery of care to people who have historically been medically underserved and stigmatized. All of the storytellers you’ll meet throughout this course have experienced addiction and another life experience or identity that has been devalued in healthcare and society more generally. These experiences and identities do not exist independently of each other. Instead, they intersect, creating complex modes of discrimination and/or privilege.

Learners will earn 3.0 hours of continuing education (CE) credit for completing the Primary Course Series, which includes passing a 10-question quiz after each module. No partial CE credit will be offered. Learners must complete all 3 modules in the series in order to receive CE credits.

M-TAC strongly recommends that learners complete this Primary Course Series prior to completing any of the Supplemental Course Series modules to gain foundational knowledge about addiction along with specific tips and tactics for treating marginalized patients.

Learning Objectives 

As a result of completing the Primary Course Series, you will be better prepared to: 

1. Identify barriers to addiction treatment faced by marginalized individuals, including associated stigma and racial disparities.  

2. Recognize ways in which you as a provider can support recovery among your marginalized clientele, including the use of empathy and cultural formulation. 

3. Understand addiction as a syndrome by identifying common risk factors across various expressions of addiction, including gambling addiction.  

4. Recognize how various structures of power (e.g., racism, sexism) interact to create inequities and injustices that disproportionately impact minoritized populations. 

Continuing Education (CE) credits

• American Psychological Association (APA) – The Division on Addiction is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Division on Addiction maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Primary Course Series offers 3.0 hours of continuing education (CE) credit.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – This program has been approved for 3.0 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D92042.
• Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) – The Massachusetts Technical Assistance Center for Problem Gambling Treatment is authorized by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to sponsor, conduct or approve continuing education programs for alcohol and drug counselors/assistants (LADCs). The Primary Course Series offers 3.0 hours of continuing education (CE) credit.
• National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) – This course has been approved by the Division on Addiction, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 3 CEs. NAADAC Provider #84058, the Division on Addiction is responsible for all aspects of its programming.
• The Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC) – MBSACC does not accredit online trainings but will recognize most online trainings approved by NASW. 

Funding Statement: The Division on Addiction and Health Resources in Action collaborated to produce this M-TAC course, which is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling Services. The instructors have no financial interests that might create a conflict of interest in the development or delivery of this training. Click here to access our full list of our funders and conflict of interest/grievance policies and procedures.