Clinical psychologists who lack specific training and experience in treating substance use disorders often don't know how to get involved. Here are some places to start.
- Educate yourself on the basics and stay current as research opens up new avenues for treatment. Treatment for opioid use is evolving all the time.
- Ask all patients about their history of opioid and other substance use, no matter what they look like or why they are seeking treatment. Not sure how to ask? Ask them what substances they enjoy.
- Provide patients with information about safe medication storage and disposal, so that prescription opioids don't wind up in the hands of adolescents or others who might misuse them.
- Reach out to physicians who provide medical management for opioid use disorder to let them know you're available for referrals or willing to provide behavioral treatment as part of a team.
- If you're not comfortable treating opioid use disorder, connect with experts who are so you can refer patients as needed.
- Help clients with opioid use disorder and their family members understand which treatments are evidence-based.
- Learn about how best to support family members of people with substance use disorder.
- Encourage psychology students and trainees to seek out experience in treating substance use disorders.
- Get involved in local or national advocacy efforts. (See Changing opioid policies and practices).
- Take a deep breath—and dive in. "To feel competent working with a new population, you have to get in there and do it," says substance use researcher R. Kathryn McHugh, PhD. "The earlier you can get started, the better."
