Clinical Disorders (Adult) Category

The Shame Spiral of Addiction

Negative Self- Conscious Emotion and Substance Use

1 CE Hour
1,309 members have taken this course
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About the Course

This is a research intensive course. The goal of this study is to investigate the bidirectional associations of negative self-conscious emotions and substance use, such as stimulants, alcohol, other substances, and injection drug use. The participants in this study were all sexual minority cisgender men with biologically confirmed recent methamphetamine use, enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in San Francisco, CA.

This course is based on the reading-based online article, The Shame Spiral of Addiction: Negative Self- Conscious Emotion and Substance Use created by Abby Batchelder, PhD et al. in 2022.

Publication Details

Publication Date: PLoS ONE 17(3): e0265480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265480 Mar 2022

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Abby Batchelder, PhD

Dr. Batchelder is a clinical health psychologist with a public health background. Her research focuses on identifying and addressing psychological barriers to HIV treatment and prevention, such as stigma and shame, among underserved people who use substances and have other stigmatized identities (for example, being a sexual minority). Clinical interests of Dr. Batchelder include improving health-related self-care, affective disorders, trauma, and substance use.

Tiffany R. Glynn, PhD

Dr. Glynn is a clinical health psychologist whose research interests include the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to health disparities in marginalized communities. She has published multiple articles in peer reviewed journals.

Course Creator

Danny Wamsley, LCASA

Danny Wamsley is a licensed addiction specialist with a clinical certification with the National Association of Dual Diagnosis (NADD). Danny currently works in manage care as a DSS liaison. His primary goal is to provide consultation to social workers who are involved with child-protective services and In-Home Services. Danny also has 10+ years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with intellectual disability and substance use. Danny’s professional interests include addictions/recovery, intellectual disability, foster care, military, trauma, and domestic violence.

Target Audience

Addiction professionals, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for beginners.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Consider the causes of negative self-conscious emotions in substance users.
  2. 2 Examine the consequences and moderators of shame and guilt in the context of substance use.
  3. 3 Describe the bidirectional relationships between negative self-conscious emotions like shame and guilt and substance use.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Course Creator

Danny Wamsley, LCASA – No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Alabama Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association (AADAA)

1 CE credit hour
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2044
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

1 CE credit hour
Eligible until Sep 29th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Course Material

References begin on page 14.

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