Substance use is very common among psychiatric patients. Depending on your practice, up to 50% of your patients suffer from an addiction that may be aggravating their primary symptoms. It is impractical to refer all such patients to addiction specialists, who are in short supply. This extremely practical guide will enhance your confidence in treating all substance use disorders. There are 14 brief chapters covering everything you need to know in order to evaluate the severity of substance use and to decide on the best treatments for your patients. You’ll find detailed instruction on how to frame your questions about this sensitive topic, how to order drug screens, how 12 step programs work, and how to prescribe medications that will help your patients recover. There are also many useful tips and pearls, along with user-friendly comparison charts to make on-the-spot decision making easier.
