
Course Title: Screening, Assessment, and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Presenter(s): Derek Blevins, MD
Course Description: Unhealthy substance use and substance use disorders may often go unrecognized in primary care settings, either due to insufficient screening or provider discomfort with how to manage a positive screening. There are brief, simple, validated screening tools and strategies that can provide information to indicate risky substance use or the possible presence of a substance use disorder. This information can help clinicians determine if a simple brief intervention or a referral to treatment is warranted. This course will: introduce screening tools related to alcohol and other drug use; review more detailed substance use, medical, and psychiatric assessment considerations; demonstrate effective strategies for brief interventions; and discuss considerations for treatment referrals.
Educational Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Screen and assess for substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring disorders, using brief and extended assessment tools
- Utilize Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) strategies and principles
- Apply good clinical judgment and/or American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria when referring to treatment
- Identify considerations for treatment referrals
Curriculum Overview: Healthcare professionals are often on the front lines of treating substance use disorders (SUDs), yet many have limited formal training in this area. The SUD 101 Core Curriculum is designed to build a strong foundation in current research, evidence-based practices, and available resources.
The curriculum includes:
- Foundational Courses: Eight interactive, case-based courses that simulate real-world clinical scenarios and provide foundational SUD training
- Supplemental Courses: These courses offer a deeper exploration of specialized topics and expand on core concepts
Together, these courses enhance healthcare professionals’ competence and confidence in caring for patients with SUDs across the continuum of care, with a particular focus on opioid use disorders (OUD).
This is a foundational course within the SUD 101 Core Curriculum. Visit the SUD 101 Core Curriculum page to explore additional educational trainings as new courses become available.