Improve Staff Training on Substance Use and Addiction Treatment

COVID-19’s Impact on Substance Use, Addiction, and Relapse

Many people are experiencing the negative effects of COVID-19, including those in recovery. Being in social and physical isolation, dealing with feelings of worry and anxiety, and potentially dealing with unexpected grief or loss can be significant triggers to relapse. While some AA and NA meetings have moved to virtual formats, there is no true replacement for the in-person support one receives from their peers.

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, more people are forced to find ways to handle their stress, anxiety, and worry. This can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, such as binge drinking and/or overusing prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Over time, these coping behaviors become dangerous and can lead to undiagnosed addiction.

No matter the practice setting, all healthcare practitioners should be aware of SUDs, including opioid use disorder (OUD) signs and symptoms. The following resources can help your staff and organization screen and treat substance use now and beyond COVID-19.

Challenges in Treating SUDs

Complexities and High Costs

Addiction is a complex disease, meaning treatment is also complex due to the nature of SUDs. These complexities, including their link to co-occurring disorders and serious mental illnesses (SMIs), complicate how you’re able to provide the best care for people living with addiction.

Even though we’re advancing our clinical treatment options, whether through therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), or long-term residential treatment, high costs prevent people from seeking treatment and healthcare organizations from offering ongoing training and development to their staff.

Integrated care policies are necessary, specifically for those with SMIs and/or SUDs, to help treat the whole patient. Reaching integrated care, however, is easier said than done.

Delivering Integrated Care

Inefficiencies in integrated care stem from a lack of training and ongoing professional development. Primary care physicians are often the first to see the warning signs of SUDs. However, because they don’t have the right substance use training, these symptoms go untreated until things get worse. By incorporating early intervention techniques and medication-assisted treatment in doctor’s offices and healthcare facilities, we’re able to deliver integrated care and support those in recovery.

Combining Peer-Support and Evidence-Based Treatment Practice

Peer support services can effectively extend recovery once individuals are no longer in a clinical setting. However, the lack of evidence to support the positive effects of peer-support servicesmakes them difficult to incorporate into evidence-based treatment practices.

LCASs, CSAPCs, ICAADCs, and others involved in treating persons with substance use disorder need to find a way to balance the two to provide better treatment plans and improve the likelihood of sustained recovery.

Relias Resources

For free courses on telehealth, self-care, and more, please visit our Coronavirus Toolkit. You can also check out these additional free resources below:

Suicide Prevention Training

No matter your care setting, having up-to-date knowledge on identifying, assessing, and responding to suicide risk in persons served and staff should be an integral part of your practice. Watch suicide survivor stories and preview Relias courses that can help your staff and organization navigate suicide during COVID-19 and beyond.
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Telehealth

COVID-19 has forced organizations and people to shift to telehealth. Learn the benefits of telehealth and receive unlimited access to telehealth courses for you and your staff.
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Trauma-Informed Care

The connection between SUDs and trauma spans a wide range of populations, types of trauma, and types of SUDs. Review these resources to help you learn more about trauma and the trauma-informed framework
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Additional Resources

• National Council for Behavioral Health
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Center on Addiction
• Mental Health First Aid
• Mental Health.gov
• American Society of Addiction Medicine