Addiction Training for Registered Dieticians - Sponsored by Telus Health

This webinar introduces a modern framework for understanding substance use disorders that moves beyond labels, quantity thresholds, and moral narratives. Mike explores how problematic substance use often functions as an emotional regulation strategy tied to deeper deficits in connection, meaning, and coping skills. The session equips dietitians with practical language, assessment insights, and collaboration strategies to address substance use within the broader context of health, behavior change, and quality of life.

One of the central challenges in healthcare is the binary thinking that frames people as either “addicted” or “not addicted,” often delaying support until problems become severe. Mike addressed this by introducing a spectrum-based model of substance use that prioritizes impact on quality of life rather than labels or moral framing. Drawing on motivational interviewing, the Invitation to Change model, and a skills-based view of recovery, the training offered practical tools for collaborative conversations that increase motivation, reduce stigma, and support meaningful behavioral change.