Public Safety Solutions for SUD ECHO
Program Description
Substance use disorders (SUD) and overdoses are at an all-time high (Centers for Disease Control, 2021). Public safety professionals often find themselves to be the first point of contact for someone who is experiencing an overdose or engaging in a substance related-risky behavior (e.g., impaired driving, property crime). This program is intended to build public safety professionals’ capacity in successfully responding to substance use and substance use disorders in their day-to-day work. This will include recognizing substance use, brief screening, referring or transporting to the appropriate point of care, and preventing or responding to overdose. Public Safety attendees will also learn how evidence-based approaches to behavioral health challenges, can promote officer wellness and reduce burnout.
Who is this ECHO for?
- Law enforcement
- Court personnel
- Fire and EMS personnel
- Community corrections (e.g., probation, parole)
- Dispatchers
- Re-entry professionals (i.e., correctional staff specializing in re-entry services)
- All other first responders
Learning Objectives
- Describe signs and symptoms of substance use and substance use disorders encountered by public safety professionals.
- Explain the intersection of substance use disorders and criminal justice involvement.
- Compare and contrast models for substance use-related interventions that can be conducted by public safety professionals.
- Describe strategies for successful transitions from the community to substance use disorder treatment or other behavioral healthcare services.
- Implement evidence-based substance use disorder-related interventions in one’s daily work, as needed.
Watch our most recent session:
Hub Team
Cynthia Mendiola, MSW, LCDC
US Probation Officer, Retired
Core Correctional Solutions, Instructor
Subject Matter Expertise:
Chemical dependency in correctional settings, wokforce development, Core Correctional Practices (CCP skills), immigrant safety, supervision and transportation
Dr. David Miramontes, MD, FACEP, FAEMS
San Antonio Fire Department, Medical Director
UT Health San Antonio, Clinical Assistant Professor
Subject matter expertise: Fire and emergency medical services (EMS), nursing, intensive care services, “street medicine”
Jeremiah Goulka, JD
SHIELD Training Initiative, Executive Director
Subject Matter Expertise: Law enforcement, first responder opioid disorder response, health and safety (overdose in emergency/ambulatory settings)
Joe Smarro
SolutionPoint +, Chief Executive Officer
Subject Matter Expertise: Military services, law enforcement, officer mental health, public safety professional suicide prevention