Substance Abuse - SWEET INSTITUTE - Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals

K2 and Marijuana

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 20:21:00 +0000

Patients and clients bear witness to the dangers and adverse effects of K2. How can we capitalize on the principle of social currency and that of peership, to help our patients and clients, like Raj, who uses K2, a dangerous drug with significant adverse effects? After all, this is in line with the principle of harm reduction.

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Two Crucial Facts About K2

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 20:16:22 +0000

New strategies for substance use assessment will help us master the needed skills, so we can continue to do the best work possible for our patients and clients, helping with relapse prevention, promoting full recovery, paying attention to integrated care, lessening fragmented care, and feeling gratified, as we continue to do this challenging though noble work.

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Caring for Individuals with Substance Use Disorder: Addiction and its Comorbidities

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Physical neglect, emotional neglect, and emotional abuse are often overlooked, yet, are highly correlated with substance use disorders and internalized symptoms like anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the sense of self becomes very unstable, which makes the coping mechanisms rather unhealthy, hence the tendency for traits of personality disorder to be present in this patient population.

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What Causes Addiction?

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, while personal efforts can contribute to one’s attendance to appointments, groups, and to one taking medications as prescribed, addiction or substance use disorders are caused by a combination of bio-psycho-social and cultural factors, and the treatment also requires the same multidimensional approach. As clinicians, it is our role and duty to follow this framework in our assessment, treatment, and approach with our patients and clients, and especially in how we communicate with them and talk about them and about addiction, as a whole.

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Steps to Integrate Substance Use Treatment and Mental Health Services

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Split treatment remains a challenge and has been shown to be detrimental to our patients and clients. This becomes more significant when it involves a patient population with several comorbidities. Patients with both mental health and substance use treatment needs are particularly vulnerable to split treatment, and integrating substance use treatment and mental health services is not only advised but also essential if we are to make meaningful changes.

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Making a Difference in the Lives of Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The first five questions, described in the previous article, help with establishing rapport, with joining in, and with understanding and formulating a plan. Once you have reached this point, it is time to go to the next step that will prepare you to problem solve. This step involves having a clear picture of the magnitude of substance use, including the related consequences; assessing the stage of change for your patient and client; and discovering which barriers need to be overcome. Here are the five additional questions to ask when conducting a strategic substance use assessment, as part of this second phase.

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5 Ways to Serve Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:26:00 +0000

And so, it went, five questions to ask as part of your New Strategies for Substance Use Assessment. Next time you meet with your patient or client.

Patterns of use;

You will be able to say like Maryann and Edward, “Things have been feeling different with Raj…we feel we have been making a difference in his life.” You also will avoid falling into the trap of unknowingly and unintentionally failing to provide the right care for your patients or clients with substance use disorder.

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“Addiction”: How to Work with Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:17:00 +0000

To be able to identify our biases and think of ways to practice in a more integrated way, will enhance our advocacy skills while working with individual with substance use disorder. Also, to help lead our agency towards this effective way of thinking: enhancing communication, enhancing clinical outcomes, halting the cycle of fragmented care, and upholding educated expectations. Lastly, we will stop falling into the trap of unknowingly and unintentionally failing to provide the right care for our patients and clients.

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