Sessions 4 & 17: Substance Misuse and Process Addictions
Among the complicating factors that arise in parenting plan evaluations and family court matters, the misuse or abuse of substances by parents/caregivers stand out as some of the most complex. The use of prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol in excess can be personality altering, causing a significant impact to family members. Assessment and ongoing monitoring often involve biologically based testing, and treatment encompasses many layers of consideration. Similarly, process addictions, which can include the obsession with non-substance behavior such as gambling, pornography, shopping, or the internet, are equally disruptive. Screen addictions have also become more common among adolescents. When the person with addiction or substance misuse concern is a parent or a minor, how the issue is addressed, and treatment undertaken is critical for the next phase of parenting time or familial relationships. The panel will examine addictive behaviors and discuss options for addressing them successfully before, during, and after separation and divorce.

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* 1. The content of the presentation was consistent with the abstract in the conference brochure

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* 2. Based on the content of this session, I am able to: (1=Strongly disagree, 5=Strongly agree)

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1. Explain how substance misuse and process addictions can impact parenting capacity and family dynamics
2. Discuss how to incorporate monitoring and assessment into parenting plans in a constructive and trauma-informed way
3. Identify when and why neutral professionals (e.g., monitors, parenting coordinators, evaluators) can improve outcomes in high-conflict cases
4. Explore legal and clinical frameworks that support recovery while protecting the child’s best interests
5. Promote collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to addressing addiction-related concerns in family court
6. Identify the relevant legal standards that courts apply in cases involving substance misuse and/or process addictions by parent(s)
7. Discuss resources the court has available to promote family stability by ensuring parents address their substance misuse issues, improve their parenting skills, and access recommended therapeutic and/or mental health services.
8. Explain how courts use admissible evidence to create parenting plans and court orders that are family-focused and ensure that parents are improving parenting capacity and abilities.
9. Identify how courts can effectively utilize child custody evaluations and subsequent recommendations to assess and monitor substance misuse.

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* 3. Please rate presenter: Jeffrey Soilson, Esq. (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

  1 2 3 4 5
Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 4. Please rate presenter: Hon. Jessica M. Delgado (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

  1 2 3 4 5
Level of knowledge and expertise
Teaching ability
Maintained my interest
Was responsive to questions, comments and opinions

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* 5. Please rate this session presentation overall (1=Poor, 5=Excellent)

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* 6. How much did you learn as a result of this CE program? (1=Very little, 5=Great deal)

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* 7. Information presented in this session reflected the most current evidence on this topic (1=Disagree, 5=Agree)

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* 8. How useful was the content of this CE program for your practice or other professional development (1=Not useful, 5=Extremely useful)

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* 9. Additional Comments

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