Integrating Effective Substance Use Disorder Treatment in the Psychiatry Treatment Setting

Melanie Bennett, PhD
University of Maryland, School of Medicine

ABSTRACT:
Patients with mental illness are diagnosed with tobacco and alcohol use disorders at rates 2-4 times higher than the general population and experience worse physical and mental health outcomes because of these comorbidities. FDA-approved medications and effective psychosocial interventions are available but underutilized in these patients, who are often referred to specialty SUD programs despite recommendations for integrated SUD/mental health care. In this presentation, Dr. Bennett will describe two research studies designed to increase the implementation of substance use disorder treatment in psychiatric treatment settings. Study 1 is a completed pilot clinical trial providing tobacco treatment to patients with mental illness who smoke during an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Study 2 is an ongoing exploratory project of Implementation Facilitation to increase prescribing of medications for alcohol use disorder in three community psychiatry treatment programs. Lessons learned and next steps for wider-scale implementation will be discussed.