Addiction Medicine 101

Brittany Tenbarge McCafferty, Ph.D.

Behavioral Health Consultant/Staff Psychologist

Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) Clinic

Cherokee Health Systems 

Substance use disorders, and especially opioid use disorder, have been declared a public health emergency by multiple organizations.  Patients with these diseases access the healthcare system through a variety of mechanisms and nearly all specialties of medicine.  It is imperative that providers across the spectrum of healthcare understands the basics of addiction medicine and, if not assuming the role as treatment provider, be able to assist patients who desire access to care for substance use disorders.  This presentation will provide an overview of addiction medicine, from diagnosis to screening to treatment, and enable the viewer to appropriately address the patient who presents with this disease.

Objectives:

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• Define addiction, identify the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders, and review U.S. prevalence data for substance use and addiction.

• Identify screening tools and recommendations for drug and alcohol use in adolescents and adults.

• Describe the components of outpatient treatment for opioid use disorder and identify the FDA approved medications used in treatment.

• Describe the concept of harm reduction in substance use disorder treatment and strategies to manage referrals for, and access to, treatment.

This program is presented at the post-doctoral introductory level. The program's content is designed for psychologists who may have little or no background in the content area but who can become acquainted with the theoretical underpinnings, principles, methods, and perspectives of the content area.