Addressing Unhealthy Substance Use in Primary Care

Abstract

Unhealthy substance use is common in primary care populations and is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Two key strategies to address unhealthy substance use in primary care are the process of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), and integration of treatment for substance use disorders into primary care. Implementation of SBIRT requires buy-in from practice leaders, careful planning, and staff and primary care provider training. Primary care-based treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders can be effective; more data are needed to better understand the benefits of these models and identify means of treating other substance use disorders in primary care.

Keywords: Behavioral health integration; Collaborative care; Medication-assisted treatment; Screening and brief intervention.