Webinar: Harm Reduction and its Place in Gambling $20

October 11, 2023 (10am-11:30pm CDT)  1.5 CEUs

According to SAMHSA, “Harm reduction is critical to keeping people who use drugs alive and as healthy as possible and is a key pillar in the multi-faceted Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy.”  Harm reduction has been identified as an evidence-based approach and support from several organizations within the substance use and mental health profession.  With harm reduction receiving increased movement and attention, it has led to professionals and people impacted by gambling to ask the question, “What about harm reduction and gambling?”

To learn about harm reduction and its place in gambling, it is important to understand harm reduction itself.  Reviewing the history and understanding some of the stigmas associated with it are crucial in overcoming some of the barriers to implementing harm reduction strategies to help educate, prevent, and treat gambling-related issues.  Many people have a misunderstanding of what harm reduction is and, therefore, it’s use has been underutilized in many areas.

What is familiar to some working in the gambling profession and possibly unfamiliar to others is that harm reduction and gambling already have a history together. Harm reduction can play crucial roles in addressing gambling-related concerns for professionals and the individuals who are impacted.  It can be used before someone even makes their first gamble to someone experiencing severe consequences because of their disorder, and to support someone’s ongoing recovery.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about what harm reduction is and its place in prevention, treatment, and recovery.
2. Explore some of the stigmas, concerns, and critiques of harm reduction and the impact it has on helping others.
3. Review ways in which to apply harm reduction strategies that can be used to help address gambling-related concerns and issues.

Presenter Bio:

Andrew J. Schreier is an Independent Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and International Certified Gambling Counselor – II.  Mr. Schreier graduated from Ottawa University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Counseling.  He is the Wisconsin Clinical Coordinator for Community Medical Services provides medicated-assisted treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder.   He provides oversight and guidance for all clinical and behavior health services.  Mr. Schreier also works at New Life Resources, Inc. that provides individual counseling/therapy, children and adolescent services, couples/marital counseling, step/blended families, group therapy, addiction counseling, psychological testing, and consultation.  Experience over the years include working in group home, halfway house, residential, medicated-assisted treatment, and outpatient treatment settings working with a variety of addictions.  He presents on various topics related to substance use, mental health, gambling, clinical supervision, ethics, and various other topics to statewide and national audiences.   Mr. Schreier is the host of “Talking Addiction & Recovery” Podcast.

Continuing Education Units applied for:

• Social Workers
• WI Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• WI Dept. of Safety and Professional Services
• NAADAC
• EACC
• IGCCB