- Recorded Webinar
Is Addiction A Mental Illness: An Overview of the Science of Addiction
Sean Knowles, MD
- Recorded Webinar
Overview:
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences (DSM-5, 2013). It is a brain disease because it involves structural and functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes, as these conditions disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of organs in the body, have serious harmful effects, and are, in many cases, preventable and treatable. If left untreated, all of these diseases, including addictive disorders, can last a lifetime and may lead to premature death.Â
Recently, our understanding of the brain’s role in addictive behaviors has improved dramatically. Because addiction is a consequence of fundamental changes in brain function, the goal of treatment must be to reverse or compensate for those brain changes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the brain’s role in substance addiction and behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder is vital for the development and implementation of effective treatments. Â
This presentation provides an overview of the science of addiction. It discusses the brain and its role in addiction, the parts that genetics plays, the behavioral effects of addiction, the impact of substance use on the developing brain, and the addiction cycle, focusing mainly on the role of dopamine in maintaining these addictive disorders. The presentation also provides treatment options for persons battling addictions and discusses the importance of eradicating stigma, which impedes treatment and recovery.
Objectives:
- Define essential terms such as mental health, addiction, and stigma;
- Discuss why addiction is a brain disease;
- List the common types of addictions;
- Explain how genetics may play a role in persons who are vulnerable to developing an addiction.
-
Sean Knowles, MDDr. Sean Leonardo Knowles, MD, is a physician at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in Nassau, Bahamas, where he works in the Substance Abuse wards. With an impressive academic background, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Saint John's University in Minnesota, followed by a Master of Science degree in Mathematics & Statistics from Youngstown State University in Ohio. He also completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of the West Indies and earned a Master of Science degree in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Dr. Knowles has received numerous awards throughout his career, including The Dr. Mortimer Moxey Most Outstanding Performance in Community Medicine Award in 2013 and the Most Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics Award in 2005. He is also a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and has completed the University of Minnesota – Duluth and the North American Training Institute’s Studies in Gambling Addiction: Counseling the Pathological Gambler Certification course. Dr. Knowles' ultimate career goal is to serve the public health sector of The Bahamas as a physician, health policymaker, and educator, utilizing his background in psychiatry, clinical medicine, mathematics, and immunology of infectious diseases. He is a man of faith, having been raised by his maternal grandmother, who instilled in him the values of hard work, believing in oneself, and having faith in God. Dr. Knowles' dedication to his community is evident in his mentoring of young men and his desire to become a Minister of Health in The Bahamas someday.
National Approvals
eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.
Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. E Care Behavioral Health Institute maintains responsibility for this course.  ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2020 – 06-03-2026.Â
CE Broker
CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)
State Approvals
States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
| Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee |
| Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
States that Accept NBCC Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Indiana |
| Iowa | Maine | Maryland | Missouri | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
| Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee |
| Texas | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | Â | Â |
Notes:
- Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
- North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training
States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Delaware | Hawaii | Indiana |
| Kentucky | Maine | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Montana | Nevada | New Jersey |
| New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oregon | Rhode Island | Tennessee |
| Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
States that Accept APA Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Delaware | District Of Columbia |
| Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas |
| Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Virginia |
| Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | Â | Â | Â |
Note: Please note that Individual Board Rules are subject to potential changes. The approval and acceptance details we furnish are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of documentation.
Should you have any inquiries or uncertainties not addressed by the provided information, it’s advisable to consult your State Regulatory Board. Ultimately, the decision of whether your license renewal credit hours are accepted or denied rests with you.
Georgia Addiction Counselor:Â E Care BHI is recognized by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (ADACBGA) #19-12-17-1212.
Florida Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Florida Certification Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (FCB) #5387-A.
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling: The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
Oklahoma Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (OBLADC) #20220136.
Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure: E Care BHI is an approved CE provider for LPC & LMFT
Ohio Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (OCDP)#50-29024
The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
VA Mental Health Employee: E Care BHI VA COMMERCIAL VENDOR # 81-3353387-01
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP): E Care BHI is recognized by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-22-344-0526
Connecticut Certification Board CCB Approved): E Care BHI is recognized & approved by the Connecticut Certification Board.
Texas Certification Board (TCB): E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Texas Certification Board as an approved education provider. Number 2041-19
South Carolina E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board as an approved education provider Provider #4628
New York (MHC) E Care Behavioral Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0277
New York (SW) E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0745
LA-ADRA – E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by Louisiana The Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority as an approved educational provider AEP #E122
Who This Training is For:
This program is intended for mental health professionals such as Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Addiction Counselors, Psychologists, & MFTs
Free CE Guarantee
If you leave this training unsatisfied, you can keep your certificate and we'll give you another CE course of your choice for free
Unlimited Access
Enjoy unlimited replays to the video lesson that you can always review later for your own resource
Anytime, Anywhere
Take this course at your own time & pace on any device. Whether you're at the office or from the comfort of home!
If you're from Florida, Ohio, or South Carolina, we'll report your CEs to the CE broker
How It Works
Sign Up & Watch The Training
Pass Quiz & Complete Evaluation
Receive Certificate Immediately
Testimonials
Trusted By Thousands of Professionals
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we are approved Continuing Education providers by ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, APA & many other state boards.
Programs that do not qualify for ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, & APA are clearly identified. eCare Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
To view all of our board approvals, click here
1) After watching the video lesson, you’ll be prompted to complete a short course evaluation
2) Pass the quiz
3) Receive your certificate immediately
80% or above with 3 attempts.
No. Our courses are not “book to buy” and do not require any other materials in advance.
Yes. (If you’re from Florida, Ohio, & South Carolina). We report CEs to the CE broker daily for courses completed the day before. For both live and recorded webinars.
Recorded Webinar CE Courses:
- Refunds are only eligible if the course was purchased within 30 days or less.
- If the customer doesn’t want the course anymore, or was unsatisfied from it – We can transfer credits to another course of their choice (with same CE credit amount).
Unlimited CEs for $297/year
Save more with access to all 350+ courses today
   
  
Get all 350+ courses with our