Addictions, Substance Use Category

Child Maltreatment and the Development of Substance Use and Disorder

1 CE Hour
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About the Course

This review explores the pathways linking child maltreatment to the development of substance use and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) using a developmental psychopathology framework. It outlines various vulnerabilities associated with child maltreatment and discusses prominent pathways, particularly the externalizing pathway, which shows strong empirical support. The review also touches on the emerging research around the internalizing pathway. Biological processes such as neuroendocrine mechanisms, allostatic load, and neurobiological pathways are examined to understand the underlying risks of child maltreatment. Contextual factors are also considered. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding these processes to inform developmental theories and design effective prevention and intervention programs. It concludes by proposing implications for preventive interventions and suggesting critical directions for future research in the field of child maltreatment and developmental pathways to substance use and SUD.

This course is based on the reading online article, Child Maltreatment and the Development of Substance Use and Disorder created by Dante Cicchettia, PhD et al in 2019.

Publication Details

Publication Date: 1st Edition Jan 2019

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.

Dante Cicchettia, PhD

Dr. Cicchettia is professor emeritus at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota. His research interests include alcohol and brain development as well as developmental neuroscience. He has more than 50 articles published in peer reviewed journals.

Elizabeth D. Handley, PhD

Dr. Handley is an Associate professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the Mount Hope Family Center. Her research focuses on advancing an understanding of the impact of family adversity on development for individuals and families. She has more than 80 articles published in peer reviewed journals

Course Creator

Allison Brown, LCSW 149014591

Allison Brown holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice with a Psychology focus and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works at a Long-Term Insurance company bringing clinical experience to claim processes. Additionally, she developed and continues to lead the Continuing Education Program for Social Workers and Nurses and often leads complex process improvement projects Prior to this, her primary focus was in mental health and worked in both the outpatient and inpatient settings providing support to adults with mental illness.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Identify the various vulnerabilities associated with child maltreatment that contribute to the development of substance use and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in adolescence and beyond.
  2. 2 Describe the externalizing pathway as a prominent risk factor for SUD following child maltreatment, supported by empirical evidence, and discuss the emerging research on the internalizing pathway.
  3. 3 Explain the biological processes such as neuroendocrine mechanisms, allostatic load, and neurobiological pathways implicated in the development of substance use and SUD among children exposed to early adversity like child maltreatment.

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

Allison Brown, LCSW 149014591 – No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

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

Hawaii Board of Psychology

1 CE credit hour
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Joint Accreditation (JA)

1 Psychologist CE credit hour
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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American Psychological Association (APA)

1 CE credit hour
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Logo: American Psychological Association

Course Material

References begin on page 7.

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