ADDICTION STUDIES PROGRAM

While initiatives to increase the number of mental health workers in Wyoming have expanded by adding to the Counseling and Social Work graduate programs in Casper, no current efforts are underway to increase substance use disorder counselors from the associate to graduate level practitioners. This expansion is designed to boost awareness of – and enrollment in – substance use disorder programs and work to increase the number of Certified Addiction Practitioners and Licensed Addictions Therapists (LAT) in the state of Wyoming.

This project aims to:

• Increase the number of currently licensed individuals to also hold the LAT license as well as those who are seeking licensure/certification at the undergraduate level.

• Increase awareness of substance use disorder counseling to individuals who are interested in the helping profession and demonstrate a pathway at each educational level where they can practice.

• Enhance the training facilities of those students who are currently in a substance use disorder class or training program at Casper College and UW-C.

• Develop a graduate-level curriculum in substance use disorders that will qualify already licensed individuals for the LAT license.