Offered by the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

*Assessment and Effective Treatment of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders

Mark Albanese, MD

August 1 – 5, 2022 • Monday – Friday
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This seminar will provide an overview of the assessment and treatment of alcohol use disorder and other chronic substance use disorders. A comprehensive approach to evaluation will be provided, articulating the multiple levels of assessment, starting with screening. Similarly, an overview of treatment elements, including an integrated approach, will be reviewed. Non-medication treatment options, including behavioral treatment strategies will be reviewed as well as pharmacological interventions. There will be an emphasis on the role of psychotherapy, referral to AA and SMART Recovery and helping family members of patients with substance use disorders. The seminar will emphasize effective techniques to deal with the denial, ambivalence, and reluctance to change of the unmotivated patient. It will be then demonstrated how to motivate, persuade, and confront effectively. A specific area of focus will be assessment and treatment of patients with co-occurring disorders. 

Among the substance use disorders, alcohol use disorder will be emphasized – especially the underlying neurobiology and associated targets of medication intervention. Also emphasized is opioid use disorder with special attention given to medication treatment options and how best to use them as well as especially at-risk subpopulations. Finally, among the co-occurring psychiatric disorders, trauma will be a topic of more in-depth review.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate indications for and use of common substance use disorder medications;
  • Develop helpful strategies for family members of those with substance use disorders;
  • Determine options for abstinence vs. cutting down;
  • Distinguish substance-induced disorders vs. independent psychiatric illness;
  • Refer patients knowledgeably to mutual-help groups such as AA or SMART Recovery;
  • Evaluate key properties of the common drugs of abuse;
  • Practice techniques to deal with denial, ambivalence, and reluctance to change;
  • Demonstrate how to motivate, persuade and confront effectively;
  • Develop helpful strategies for patients who want to cut down but who you think should abstain;
  • Analyze models of both psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric illness.

FACULTY

Mark Albanese, MD is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance; and Medical Director of the Physician Health Services of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. Albanese has published extensively on alcohol and substance use disorders with particular focus in the area of substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

*Risk Management Credits: This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 9.00 credits of Risk Management Study. This includes 3.0 credits in Opioid Education and Pain Management Training. Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.

Date and timeAgenda Item
Monday, August 1
8:30am – 9:00amRegistration
9:00am – 10:15amTreatment of substance use disorders: an overvire of general principles; descriptionof non-medication treatment approaches - including 12- Step AA, SMART Recovery, and psychotherapy; helping family members of patients with substance use disorder.
10:15am – 10:30amCoffee Break
10:30am – 12:15pmScreening, diagnosing, and beginning treatment at the same time: key things to know for an effective initial interview; Recommend abstinence or cutting down? What to do when the patient wants to cut down and you think that abstinence is the best course?
Tuesday, August 2
9:00am – 10:15amMedication treatment of alcohol use disorder; naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate; basic neurobiology; FDA-approved pharmacological interventions – pros and cons of each; promising non-FDA-approved medications. medication options for nicotine use disorder; medication treatment of cocaine use disorder; marijuana use and abuse; hallucinogens.
10:15am – 10:30am Coffee Break
10:30am – 12:15pmContinued: Medication treatment of alcohol use disorder; naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate; basic neurobiology; FDA-approved pharmacological interventions – pros and cons of each; promising non-FDA-approved medications. medication options for nicotine use disorder; medication treatment of cocaine use disorder; marijuana use and abuse; hallucinogens.
Wednesday, August 3
9:00am – 10:15amMedication treatment of alcohol use disorder; naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate; basic neurobiology; FDA-approved pharmacological interventions – pros and cons of each; promising non-FDA-approved medications.
10:15am – 10:30am Coffee Break
10:30am – 12:15pmMedication treatment of alcohol use disorder; naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate; basic neurobiology; FDA-approved pharmacological interventions – pros and cons of each; promising non-FDA-approved medications.
Thursday, August 4
9:00am – 10:15amCo-Occurring disorders (AKA “Dual diagnosis”) – epidemiology, implications, assessment, clinical pearls; treatment-overview and general principles; medications; integrating treatment for patients with co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use problems.
10:15am – 10:30am Coffee Break
10:30am – 12:15pm(continued from a.m. course) psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic strategies; focus on trauma-epidemiology, implications, pertinent recent findings.
Friday, August 5
9:00am – 10:15amOpioid use disorder: epidemiology; neurobiology; medication treatment options – naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone – and the pros and cons of each; high-risk populations – pregnant women, pain patients, traumatized patients, transitional age youth, and patients misusing alcohol or other drugs.
10:15am – 10:30am Coffee Break
10:30am – 12:15pmcontinued: Opioid use disorder: epidemiology; neurobiology; medication treatment options – naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone – and the pros and cons of each; high-risk populations – pregnant women, pain patients, traumatized patients, transitional age youth, and patients misusing alcohol or other drugs.
12:15pmAdjourn