This workshop will examine current adolescent drug use trends. Participants will learn how these chemicals impact the health of the individual as well as understand the impact on the family. An emphasis will be placed on recognizing problems and identifying appropriate resources and interventions.

Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work, he is a licensed behavioral health provider with over a decade of experience in treating people with mental health and substance use disorders in Minnesota. In 2021, Thad founded the Center for Rural Behavioral Health which aims to ensure access to mental healthcare for outstate communities in Minnesota. That same year, he was named a Presidential Teaching Scholar and he was one of seventeen healthcare professionals in the country to be named a Rural Health Fellow of the National Rural Health Association. Thad and his wife, Lisa, along with their 3 boys make their home in North Mankato.