Special Substance Use Training Held On Leech Lake Reservation

Law enforcement officials and opioid treatment providers from the Leech Lake Reservation are participating in a special week-long training on a new way to help substance users.

The trainings last four days and are common in the Twin Cities Metro area. It looks at life management for those in recovery and puts the focus on helping individuals after they have completed regular treatment programs. It also dives into the mental health aspects of substance use. The main goal is to give the providers a new perspective on their clients.

Karen Edens, director of training for Edens Group and the facilitator of the training, says, “It’s a way for individuals to reframe their recovery in the context of a comprehensive health condition. It is not a behavioral condition, it is a health condition, so we do spend time also looking at the brain, the impact of substance use and mental health services on brain functioning, and also how brain function plays into relapse prevention.”

After they complete the training, attendees are encouraged to use what they’ve learned with clients and in their own substance use programs.