Substance Use Disorders in Military and Veteran Populations
Assessment, Stigma Reduction, and Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
- Speaker:
- Michael D. Gatson, PhD
- Duration:
- 1 Hour
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Jun 26, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS151043
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Military service members and veterans have high rates of alcohol and substance use disorders – particularly when trauma exposure and transition stress intersect.
But the stigma of getting help – combined with cultural norms of self-reliance – often translates into veterans not receiving treatment.
And many clinicians who are trained in general substance use treatment aren’t prepared to deliver culturally responsive care to veteran clients.
In this session, Dr. Michael Gatson – expert in military mental health – will give you a clinically grounded framework for assessing and treatment substance use disorders in veterans. You’ll learn:
- Cultural humility-based tools to address stigma and support treatment engagement
- Screening and assessment strategies to make treatment planning more effective
- How to integrate evidence-based interventions including CBT and medication-assisted treatment
Credit
Speaker
Michael D. Gatson, PhD Related seminars and products
Michael D. Gatson, PhD, is a renowned expert in military psychology/social work and issues related to military mental health. He brings with him an extensive wealth of knowledge as well as personal experience, having served in the Army Medical Reserves as a suicide prevention officer, sexual assault coordinator, and hospital administrator. Dr. Gatson is mental health program director at the Maryland VA Health Care System, contributing faculty in the online MSW program at Howard University, and lead faculty/assistant professor in the Barbara Solomon School of Social Work at Walden University. He is the author of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a children’s book that explains the aftermath of war from a child’s perspective, and he has published in several professional journals on PTSD, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ military consultation, workshops and training to behavioral healthcare providers.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michael Gatson has employment relationships with Annapolis Vet Center, Walden University and the Catholic University of America. He receives royalties as a published author. Michael Gatson receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michael Gatson is a member of the American Society on Aging, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychological Association, and the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
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Objectives
- Identify at least three military-specific risk factors associated with substance use disorders.
- Evaluate substance use disorder severity using DSM-5-TR™ diagnostic criteria.
- Utilize at least two evidence-based treatment approaches appropriate for veterans with substance use disorders.
Outline
Military Cultural and Other Risk Factors
- Prevalence of AUD and SUD
- Trauma exposure and comorbidity
- Help-seeking barriers and military culture
- Stigma and hypermasculinity
- Racial and systemic disparities
Assessment and Diagnosis
- DSM-5-TR™ SUD diagnostic criteria
- Severity classification
- SBIRT application in veteran settings
- Stage-of-change assessment framework
Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
- Core strategies from CBT for substance use disorders
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (naltrexone, acamprosate, buprenorphine)
- Integrated PTSD + SUD treatment planning
- Risks of untreated alcohol withdrawal and coordination of care considerations
- Limitations of the research and potential risks
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Addiction Counselors
- Other mental health professionals
Reviews
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