Description:

Anyone who has tried to help a loved one obtain treatment for a substance use disorder knows how challenging it can be to find quality, affordable care that’s accessible when someone is ready for help. Even for professionals working in healthcare and related fields, evaluating the options available and navigating payment and other hurdles can be overwhelming. This workshop will help educate participants about treatment options for opioid, stimulant and other substance use disorders and how to overcome barriers to care. We’ll discuss factors to consider for treatment referrals, resources to connect people with peer support, and how services are evolving to support families and offer person-centered, trauma-informed care. We’ll also discuss the neurobiology of addiction, how brain changes can impact decision-making, and strategies to improve treatment engagement.

Goals:

Increase understanding of different treatments for substance use disorders (including medications for opioid use disorder), address concerns about treatment effectiveness and practices, and provide tools to help improve connections to care.

Workshop Outline:

• Review criteria for a substance use disorder and how it is defined.
• Present statistics about treatment for substance use and mental health disorders, using sources such as the 2022 NSDUH and other surveys.
• Describe the treatment gap and how it can be addressed by removing barriers to care.
• Discuss goals of care for people with substance use and mental health challenges.
• Explain how different medications for opioid use disorder work (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone).
• Discuss options for treating stimulant use disorders, including contingency management.
• Discuss the neurobiology of addiction (e.g. how brain changes impact decision-making).
• Discuss factors to consider for treatment referrals and resources to connect people with treatment and peer support as well as services for families.
• Address misperceptions about treatment and how services are evolving to embrace person-centered, trauma-informed care.

Trainer Bio:

Susan Stellin, MPH is a writer, educator, and public health consultant focusing on health-centered responses to substance use and addiction. Since earning a master's in public health at Columbia University, she has worked on projects about ways to reduce overdose deaths, reform punitive drug policies, and expand access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. Recent clients include NYU Langone’s Health x Housing Lab, the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Opioid Response Network, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Overdose Prevention Program at Vital Strategies, and the Vera Institute of Justice. She regularly leads training workshops for service providers working with people experiencing substance use, mental health, and housing challenges, and has also taught undergraduate courses about media ethics, collaborative storytelling, and the history of journalism.

Other Session in this Series:

Session 1: Addressing Myths About Substance Use, Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery

Session 2: Current Substance Use Trends and Evolving Risks

Session 3: Harm Reduction Principles, Strategies and Limits