Addiction 101 is a professional development training designed to increase the capacity of local community professionals (e.g., circuit and district court judges, Extension agents and healthcare providers) to engage more effectively with clients dealing with substance use disorders (SUDs). Addiction 101 characterizes SUD as a chronic disorder and encourages communities to devise continuums of care to support long-term recovery. UK Extension engages with multiple state and local agencies to offer this program. Partners include the Administrative Office of the Courts, UK Dentistry, Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and various substance use treatment centers.

Evaluation data from 421 training participants show that Addiction 101 improved participants’ understanding of addiction and successfully reduced addiction-related stigma. These initial outcomes have eventuated policy, systems, and environmental-level changes in implementation counties. For example, in Hart County, a continuum of care aimed at supporting people in recovery from substance use disorder was developed as a direct result of the community’s experience with Addiction 101.

Contacts: Alex Elswick & Katherine Jury