Why Am I Like This? Understanding Human Behavior
2026-06-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Human behavior is not an accident. In many cases, it is quite predictable, and the people we become as adults are deeply connected to our childhood experiences and the environments that shaped us. This session explores how human development unfolds and how we can better support those looking to create new behavioral pathways.

Suicide Prevention and Substance Use/Co-Occurring Disorders
2026-07-20 11:00 - 12:30
Individuals experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions face an increased risk of suicide, underscoring the need for coordinated, evidence-based prevention efforts. This webinar will explore the relationship between substance use, mental health, and suicide risk while highlighting strategies that can be implemented across healthcare, behavioral health, public health, and community-based settings. Participants will learn how cross-sector collaboration, integrated systems of care, and sustainable prevention initiatives can improve access to treatment, strengthen recovery supports, and reduce suicide risk among individuals with co-occurring disorders.

By participating in this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide in individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.2. Explain the relationship between substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and suicide risk, including how these conditions influence one another.3. Apply evidence-based screening and intervention strategies to assess suicide risk and respond appropriately in clinical and community settings.4. Recognize protective factors and develop safety planning strategies that promote recovery, resilience, and suicide prevention for individuals with co-occurring disorders.5. Utilize appropriate referral resources and multidisciplinary collaboration to connect individuals with ongoing mental health, substance use treatment, and crisis intervention services.

Every Step Towards Better C.A.R.E.: SBIRT, Perinatal Behavioral Health, and the C.A.R.E. Certification in Alabama
2026-07-24 11:00 - 12:00
Pregnant and postpartum individuals in Alabama face significant barriers to receiving the behavioral health support while maternal health providers do not always have access to best practice tools, training, and frameworks that can be adapted to their specific patient population needs. Every Step Towards Better C.A.R.E. explores these barriers to person-focused maternal behavioral health and available tools to address them.

Attendees will learn about Every Step’s new initiative for community organizations and individuals: the C.A.R.E. Certification, a framework rooted in Compassion, Accessibility, Recovery, and Excellence. L.B. Brown will guide participants through how the C.A.R.E. Certification is designed to equip community organizations and providers with the knowledge and commitment needed to deliver stigma-reducing, trauma-informed perinatal behavioral health care. Attendees will engage in discussion regarding VitAL’s accessible toolkits and platforms for universal substance use and behavioral health screening, intervention and treatment, leaving the session with the skills and supports they need to identify and address substance use, depression, and domestic violence among perinatal populations across Alabama. Whether you are new to universal behavioral health screening or looking for a structured pathway to enhance your practice, this webinar is for you!

One CE credit available for attendees.

Not Another Puff: Youth Tobacco, Vaping and Treatment Summit
2026-07-28 08:00 - 17:00 | The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Galleria Circle, Birmingham, AL, 35244, United States
Nicotine use and dependence among young people are rising quickly due to vaping. This has become a serious public health issue that warrants urgent attention. The lack of programs designed specifically for youth who vape nicotine, tobacco and other mood altering substances makes it harder for them to recover and stay healthy. Research shows that teens who are dependent on nicotine and tobacco often struggle to find care to treat their individual needs. When service providers lack the latest information about vaping, and the clinical tools needed to support decreased use, adolescents may become more dependent on different substances instead of receiving the treatment they need. Learning about vaping trends, the availability of cessation resources, and how to access different options can help providers in Alabama guide youth to quality treatment services that result in decreased use and sustained recovery.

A Paycheck and a Date on Friday Night: What Recovery Looks Like
2026-08-04 08:30 - 10:00
This course will focus on the role of employment in recovery with a focus on justice-involved job seekers and the integration of clinical community behavioral health services with IPS supported employment services. Attendees will learn how clinicians and IPS supported employment services interact via the referral stream to support job seekers through their employment journeys. The course will also address stressors for job seekers in recovery and how stable, meaningful employment can be a protective factor against undesirable behavioral health outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will know how to apply the dignity of risk and the duty to care when referring justice-involved individuals to supported employment services.

Participants will define what a ‘niche’ is in the context of IPS and will give one example of a person with significant mental health challenges who was able to discover the job in which they shined.

Participants will list three ways in which boredom is stressful.

VitAL Annual Conference
2026-08-20 08:00 - 2026-08-21 17:00 | Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487
Join Us for the 2026 VitAL Annual ConferenceAlabamians are leading the way in building a better future for behavioral health. The VitAL Annual Conference brings together professionals, advocates, and changemakers from across the state to share ideas, inspire action, and strengthen our collective impact. This year’s event will feature dynamic keynote speakers, practical workshops, and opportunities to connect with others who are passionate about improving mental health, substance use, and trauma-related outcomes. Don’t miss this chance to gain new tools, fresh insights, and renewed energy for your work.

Suicide Prevention During Community Reentry After Incarceration
2026-08-26 11:00 - 12:30
Individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community face unique challenges that can increase their risk for suicide, particularly when barriers to care and support exist. This webinar will explore the factors that contribute to suicide risk during incarceration and community reentry, while examining the impact of access to behavioral health care, housing, employment, substance use treatment, and other essential services. Participants will learn evidence-informed strategies that correctional systems, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, and community partners can implement to improve continuity of care, strengthen collaboration, and reduce suicide risk during the reentry process. By participating in this training, participants will be able to: Describe the factors that increase suicide risk for individuals during incarceration and throughout the reentry process.Examine common barriers to successful reentry, including access to behavioral health care, housing, employment, substance use treatment, and other community supports, and discuss how these barriers can affect suicide risk.Identify practical, evidence-informed strategies that correctional systems, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, and community partners can use to improve continuity of care and reduce suicide risk after release.

Hidden Hazards Webinar Series: The New Reality of Substance Use: Patterns, Predictions, and Case Studies
2026-08-26 14:00 - 15:30
The presentation will provide eye-opening information about the ongoing and ever-changing concerns of substance use in the U.S, and their clinical relevance. With Dr. Mathias’s role at the dual diagnosis unit of the psychiatric hospital, he is keenly in tune with the imminent needs for addiction treatment. This session will utilize several case studies to examine use patterns as well as social and behavioral trends that impact patient presentation and clinical needs. Understanding the dynamics of substance misuse in our society will help to develop much needed strategies for prevention and treatment geared towards those specific substances.

Learning objectives:

Identify emerging trends and shifts in substance use patterns across different populations, including changes in prevalence, substances of concern, and modes of consumption.

Examine the social, technological, and environmental factors driving these new patterns, such as cultural influences and policy changes.

Discuss the evidenced-based strategies for early intervention and treatment that address anticipated substance use challenges.

Community Connections - Jefferson State Community College (Clanton)
2026-09-01 12:00 - 14:00

Community Connections - Haleyville
2026-09-09 12:00 - 14:00
Free event – all are welcome!

Justice and Substance Use Alabama Summit (Birmingham)
2026-09-10 08:00 - 17:00

Justice and Substance Use Alabama Summit (Huntsville)
2026-09-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Jackson Center, 6001 Moquin Dr NW, Huntsville, AL, 35806, United States

Justice and Substance Use Alabama Summit (Mobile)
2026-09-17 08:00 - 17:00

Justice and Substance Use Alabama Summit (Prattville)
2026-09-18 08:00 - 17:00

Community Connections - Headland, Alabama
2026-09-29 12:00 - 14:00
All community members are welcome!

Hidden Hazards Webinar Series: Understanding Today's Evolving Addictions: Toxicology 102
2026-11-18 14:00 - 15:30
Gas station drugs are a category of substances that are sold legally at gas stations or convenience stores throughout the United States and are typically marketed as legal alternatives to illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine, or MDMA. However, these substances can be highly dangerous, as their chemical composition and potency can vary greatly. Furthermore, testing for gas station drugs can be challenging due to their varying chemical compositions and the fact that they are often not well understood by users or even some medical professionals. This presentation will discuss the various types of substances available and various testing methods to help identify misuse.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the presence and dangers of ‘gas station’ drugs – the growth and availability of multiple toxic substances without the need for Rx or ID to purchase.

Identify the ability to detect and test for some of these substances.

Describe the characteristics, intended effects, and potential adverse outcomes of common gas station drugs to enhance recognition and assessment of misuse in clinical and community settings.
