Substance use disorders are a significant public health concern in the United States. They are defined in terms of eleven criteria including physiological, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms, as well as consequences of criteria, any two of which qualify for a diagnosis. The individual and community costs of substance use are estimated at over $193 billion and approximately $78.5 billion for opioids alone. Group therapy can be a powerful source of therapeutic healing. It is the delivery and shared experience that sets group therapy apart. Group therapy can serve as an indispensable element of effective substance use treatment. This webinar provides the therapist who runs groups with practical tools and methods along with a deeper understanding of the efficacy of group treatment.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• List several goals of group treatment.
• Describe at least 5 benefits of group therapy.
• Troubleshoot methods to deal with distinct types of participants in groups.
• Explore group leader roles, methods, and responsibilities in therapy.