Educational Activities Archives

Other substance use disorders can often co-occur with opioid use disorder (OUD). These can include benzodiazepines and other tranquilizers, cocaine and stimulants, and cannabis. Alcohol and nicotine are also considered commonly used substances alongside opioids. In this educational activity, these other substances will be reviewed leading to a discussion of principles of diagnosis and evaluation of treatment for each substance by themselves, and in the context of OUD.

Co-occurring psychiatric conditions are frequently seen in patients with substance use disorders. Clinicians should be alert to the signs and symptoms of common psychiatric disorders and should understand how to distinguish independent psychiatric disorders from substance-induced disorders. Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, are the most common co-occurring conditions, though ADHD is often encountered across the range of substance use disorders. Substance use disorder patients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders will respond to most standard psychological and pharmacological treatments for these psychiatric conditions, though clinicians should avoid the use of scheduled medications and must always focus on sobriety as a primary treatment goal. Treatment that integrates addiction and psychiatric care is the most effective.

Developed by AAAP and ASAM, this guideline focuses on the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with stimulant use disorder, stimulant intoxication, and stimulant withdrawal.

Developed by AAAP and ASAM, this guideline focuses on the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with stimulant use disorder, stimulant intoxication, and stimulant withdrawal.

Psychiatric pharmacists are advanced practice clinical pharmacists committed to being part of an interdisciplinary team treating substance use disorders, often in combination with serious mental illness. The following SUD toolkits were developed to further the knowledge of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.

This module provides clinicians with tools to screen and diagnose patients with psychiatric illnesses and discusses how to treat common psychiatric comorbidities in patients with co-occurring substance use disorders. Covered topics include the epidemiology of co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use disorders, comorbidity theories, clinical relevance, and diagnostic and treatment implications. The module utilizes three case vignettes to highlight specific diagnostic and treatment challenges and provides up-to-date treatment recommendations.