The Impact of Mental Health Reform on Licensure Changes in
Substance Abuse Services
Program Description
The transformation of substance abuse services in the era of Mental Health Reform
presents opportunities and challenges for improved services to addicted clients and their
families. This short course of instruction will overview the changes using the ASAM
Patient Placement Criteria and the new Service Definitions. Current status and indications
of how this major change is affecting Licensure and Certification of clinicians will be
discussed.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:
1. Discuss appropriate placement and definitional limitations in incomplete
continuum of care situations;
2. Recognize advantages and constraints of developing service structures in an
3. evolving service environment;
4. Identify areas of change regarding Licensure and Certification in Substance
Abuse Services and the implied impact of these changes.
Target Audience
Psychologists, counselors, social workers, substance abuse professionals and other
interested mental health professionals
Contact Hours
3.0 hours
Program Agenda
Available upon request
Faculty
L. Worth Bolton, ACSW, LCAS, CCS, has worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor at
the UNC-CH School of Social Work since 1997 and coordinates the Certificate in
Substance Abuse Studies Program. From 1974 through 1997 he worked with outpatient,
inpatient, residential, and institutional programs for adults and adolescents with
Substance-Related Disorders. Worth has served as past Chair and Member of the NC
Foundation for Alcohol & Drug Studies and the NC Substance Abuse Professional
Certification Board. In addition to his current teaching responsibilities, Worth is an
experienced field trainer working with the DMHDDSAS to assist in the development of
the NC Training of Trainers Network.