PCSS-MOUD Clinical Roundtable: Substance Use Disorder in Adolescence-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

This educational presentation, led by Dr. Anthony Dekker and organized by the Providers Clinical Support System – Medications for Opioid Use Disorders (PCSS-MOUD), focuses on Substance Use Disorder (SUD) among adolescents, emphasizing opioid use disorder (OUD) and evidence-based treatment approaches. PCSS-MOUD provides free training and mentoring to healthcare and counseling professionals to increase competence in managing SUD, particularly with medications for OUD.<br /><br />The session outlines the unique risks adolescence presents for substance misuse, including factors such as low self-esteem, need for acceptance, impulse control challenges, neurodiversity, cooccurring psychiatric disorders, and family dynamics. A case study of a 20-year-old male with autism, polysubstance use, and repeated overdoses illustrates challenges in engagement and treatment refusal. Techniques such as motivational interviewing, Screening Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT), and contingency management are emphasized to foster therapeutic alliance and improve outcomes.<br /><br />Critical risk factors identified include adverse childhood experiences, high-risk peer groups, economic deprivation, family conflict, juvenile justice involvement, and lack of stable housing. Interventions prioritize safety, acceptance of monitoring, recovery support, and parental collaboration to enhance communication and reduce stigma. The presentation stresses the importance of developmentally appropriate, non-punitive family communication and the role of academic, occupational, and prosocial support in prevention.<br /><br />Further, the session reviews the Transtheoretical Model of Change and motivational interviewing as useful frameworks for encouraging adolescent patients to recognize substance use consequences and engage in recovery. Resources such as schools, drug courts, and community programs are noted as essential supports.<br /><br />PCSS-MOUD also offers a national mentoring program and discussion forums to support clinicians in delivering evidence-based care for OUD. This initiative, supported by SAMHSA, aims to broaden access to effective treatments and improve outcomes in youth affected by substance use disorders.

Keywords

Substance Use Disorder

Adolescents

Opioid Use Disorder

Evidence-Based Treatment

Motivational Interviewing

SBIRT

Contingency Management

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Transtheoretical Model of Change

PCSS-MOUD