1. Treatment Options and Referral Resources for Substance Abuse Treatment
Elizabeth F Howell, MD, DFAPA, DFASA
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Paula J Cook, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine
University of Utah School of Medicine
Alicia Bott, LCSW
University Neuropsychiatric Institue
July 2016

2. Treatment of Addiction
Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain
Motivation, reward and memory affected
Long-term treatments are required, just like for other chronic diseases
Discontinuation of treatment will likely result in relapse
Relapse does not indicate failure of treatment
Rates of relapse and recovery for addiction are equivalent to (or better than) other medical diseases like asthma, hypertension and diabetes

3. Improving Effectiveness of Referrals
Call the referral source with the patient in the room, have MA/RN follow through
Warm handoffs
Know your referral sources
Make practical referrals (close proximity to pt, transportation possible, affordable, doable)
Attend open 12-Step or other mutual help meetings before you refer to them
Schedule close followup with PCP
Ask questions about recovery, relapse on every visit

4. Referral to Treatment
In the ED, Crisis service can assist with referrals, which vary with funding, insurance, medical needs, etc.
Outpatient Treatment: Including IOP, Day Treatment, and OP Treatment : Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Detox:
University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), other area hospitals depending on funding
Volunteers of America social detox
We have limited detox options in the SL Valley!
Keep in mind that inpatient and residential options are not the only treatment available. There are several outpatient options available: day treatment, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services.
Assessment and Referral Services (ARS) groups and evaluations for ongoing treatment:

5. Factors To Consider When Choosing a Treatment Provider
Payment for Services:
Does the provider accept insurance? If not, do they have a sliding fee scale?
County funding options
Population Served:
Who are you referring? Consider if pt is a parent, has criminogenic factors, age, gender, trauma history.
Services Offered:
Individual therapy, group therapy, parent-child therapy, case management services, child care offered.
Location/Accessibility of Treatment:
Near bus/trax line, token availability.

6. ASAM Criteria
Defines one national set of criteria for providing outcome-oriented and results-based care in the treatment of addiction.
Criteria uses six dimensions to create a holistic, biopsychosocial assessment of an individual to be used for service planning and treatment across all services and levels of care.
Today the criteria have become the most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, continued stay and transfer/discharge of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions.
Source: asam.org

7. Learn more about addiction
Shadow an addiction treatment provider
Resident rotation through UNI detox service
Consult with an addiction specialist
Seek continuing education about addiction
Call us! [All available through SmartWeb]
Elizabeth F Howell, MD
Paula J Cook, MD
Duy Pham, MD
Robert Birch, MD
Jeremy Thueson, MD

8. Resources
Online Resources and Textbooks
texts on addiction [free online access through the Eccles Library]
Principles of Addiction Medicine
Lowinson’s Substance Abuse
Enduring CME, Webcasts, etc.
Others

9. Referral Resources Nation-Wide https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
State- Wide
County-Wide

10. Dr Howell’s Wikispaces Sites

11. Questions? Alicia Bott, LCSW
University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute
501 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(pager)