Substance Use 101

Registration deadline 4/30/2026

Trainer:

Debby Haskins, MS, LADC (Masters of Science-UVM), Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor. She began her work at the Dawnland Center in Montpelier- at the time the only Native American Treatment Center in Vermont.  She was a former Student Assistance Counselor who worked in two Central VT High Schools for 10 years, then served as the Executive Director of the Association of Student Assistance Professionals of Vermont (ASAP of VT) for 15 years, overseeing 92 programs throughout Vermont. She was a U Matter Suicide Prevention Specialist/trainer/consultant for the Center for Health and Learning in Suicide Prevention; taught three courses online at Union Institute on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug courses, Injury, Violence Prevention, and Cannabis & Mental Health; and travels throughout Vermont presenting Substance Misuse education to staff, parents and community members. She recently served as a School-Based Prevention Workforce Facilitator for Prevention Works VT! Debby is again the Executive Director for ASAP of Vermont.

Debby was the former chair of the Vermont Certification Board and has a private practice in Central Vermont.  She has been in the substance abuse field for 30 years, from prevention to treatment. She has presented throughout Vermont on Vaping, Electronic Devices & Artificial Intelligence, and Cannabis and the connections to healthy mental wellness. Her passion is working with adolescents and their families in breaking the cycle of addiction and presenting information in an experiential and thought-provoking way.

Description:

Welcome to the Substance Misuse Workshop for Beginners, a supportive and informative space where we embark on a journey towards understanding and addressing the challenges associated with substance misuse. In this workshop, I aim to create a non-judgmental environment where participants can openly explore the complexities of substance use, understand our belief systems about addiction, its impact on individuals and communities, and the pathways to recovery. Through interactive discussions, educational resources, and personal reflections, attendees will gain valuable insights into the factors contributing to substance misuse and the importance of early intervention. My goal is to empower participants with knowledge and practical tools that can be used with any client while fostering your own personal exploration.

Agenda:

Morning: 9:00 am – Noon
 Welcome & Introductions
 Engagement & Boundaries
 Substance Misuse Overview
 Exercise: Risk Factors-
Break 10:30 – 10:45 am.
 Protective Factors
 Promoting healthy coping mechanisms
Lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
 Technology – How Artificial Intelligence is being used.
 Supervision & how to use it
 Dealing with Grief, loss and Suicide: How do you ask the tough questions?
 Exercise:
Break 2:30 – 2:45 pm.
 Intervention techniques – case studies and discussion
 Just what is spirituality & why it’s so important in treatment
 Evaluations & Closure-
Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Learning Objectives:

Objectives: To understand our bias with addiction, develop new tools to work
with the substance misusing clients, practicing techniques that will foster
engagement and help counselors look at hidden strengths that build trust.
This interactive workshop will provide hourly skills, visuals, time to reflect,
learning how to set boundaries and more. Be prepared to have fun and learn
in a very relaxed style.
Each hour we will focus on readings, personal reflection, movement, activities, discussion and group interactions.