4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Methamphetamines: An Overview for Forensic Mental Health Professionals is presented by Shawn Acheson, Ph.D. in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program provides an in-depth overview of methamphetamine with implications in forensic psychology and mental health. This topic is of relative importance for those working in forensic and/or correctional settings where many residents have a history of abuse or misuse.  

This program provides a history of psychostimulant use before taking a deep dive into the mechanism of action of these drugs. Particular attention is given to methamphetamine and newer-generation synthetic drugs with methamphetamine-like properties. Methamphetamine abuse and its subsequent effects are commonplace in forensic and correctional settings. The knowledge gained in this should provide a better understanding of those who misuse or abuse methamphetamines or related synthetics.

This program is devoted to understanding these drugs' short- and long-term effects on cognition and behavior and the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes. Research concerning the impact of pre-and peri-natal exposure is discussed.

This program is intended for mental health professionals at various stages of their careers who are seeking a better understanding of methamphetamines and related synthetic compounds. The presentation is provided from a forensic perspective, but an in-depth understanding of or experience in forensic mental health is not required. This program should be well suited for those working in forensic or correctional settings.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the history and culture of psychostimulant use
  • 2 Describe the pharmacology of psychostimulants, including methamphetamine and synthetics
  • 3 Describe the effects of methamphetamine and synthetics on mental states

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health professionals at all stages of their careers who seek a deeper understanding of methamphetamines and related synthetic compounds, with a particular emphasis on a forensic perspective. It is especially relevant for those specializing in forensic psychology, correctional mental health, or addiction treatment, and is designed to enhance knowledge and skills for professionals who encounter individuals with substance use histories and related challenges.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Correctional Mental Health Clinician
    • Addiction Counselor
    • Substance Use Disorder Specialist
    • Rehabilitation Program Therapist
    • Community Reentry Services Clinician

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of their careers who seek a foundational to advanced understanding of methamphetamine and related synthetic compounds, particularly in forensic and correctional settings.

    Beginner:
    Participants with limited prior knowledge of psychostimulants or forensic mental health, seeking to understand the history, pharmacology, and basic effects of methamphetamine and synthetics.

    Intermediate:
    Participants with some experience in mental health or forensic settings, looking to deepen their understanding of the mechanisms of action, risk factors, and behavioral effects associated with methamphetamine use.

    Advanced:
    Participants with substantial experience in forensic or correctional mental health, aiming to expand their expertise on complex topics such as pre-/peri-natal exposure, long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes, and the latest research on synthetic psychostimulants.

  • Practice Setting

    Mental health professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where they encounter individuals with substance use histories, particularly within forensic, correctional, or community-based settings. These settings often involve working with justice-involved populations, individuals in rehabilitation or reentry programs, or clients in specialized addiction treatment facilities. The practice environment may be structured, such as correctional institutions or forensic hospitals, or community-based, such as outpatient clinics or reentry services, where professionals assess, treat, and support individuals affected by methamphetamine and related synthetic compound use.

    • Correctional facilities (prisons, jails, detention centers)
    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals or units
    • Community mental health centers serving justice-involved clients
    • Substance use disorder treatment programs (inpatient or outpatient)
    • Rehabilitation centers focused on addiction recovery
    • Court-mandated treatment programs
    • Community reentry programs for individuals transitioning from incarceration
    • Crisis intervention teams working with law enforcement or probation services

Presented By

Shawn Acheson, PhD, Acheson Forensic NeuroPsyche Consulting (Owner)

Dr. Acheson earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL in 1997. He completed specialized training in clinical neuropsychology during his pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. He spent most of his career teaching and conducting clinical and pre-clinical research on TBI and the neurodevelopmental effects of alcohol and marijuana. In 2011 he joined the Duke Center for Psychiatry and Law and served as Lead Psychologist from 2015 – 2017. He also served as Staff Neuropsychologist in the Compensation & Pension and Neuropsychology Clinics at the Durham VA Medical Center from 2016 – 2017. In 2017 he returned to private practice in Asheville, NC where he provides clinical and forensic neuropsychology services in civil, criminal, and administrative courts.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Shawn Acheson, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • History, Sociology, and related Crime Statistics

  • Pharmacology
    -Basics of Pharmacology & Drug Action
    -The 5 Windows of Risk / Impact
    -Psychostimulants, Meth, and Synthetics

  • Effects on Cognition and Behavior
    -Short and Long Term Effects
    -Psychosis
    -Pre-/Peri-Natal Effects

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.