Physicians can be part of the solution. Treating patients with respect and compassion gives them opportunities to be successful.

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Language.

Use person-first, medically appropriate language.

Words shape how we view people – and how we treat them. Research has shown that when clinicians label a patient as an “abuser,” they are more likely to believe the patient needs to be punished rather than receive treatment (Kelly, Dow and Westerhoff, 2010). 

Place the posters around staff areas to remind employees how they can help reduce barriers to treatment and recovery for substance use disorders.

• Be the Light poster (PDF)
• Words Matter poster (PDF)

Background	Stigmatizing Terms	Medically Accurate or Preferred Terms
Person-first language signals that SUD is an illness. Preferred words signal that a person with an SUD or AUD has a problem/illness rather than is the problem. Preferred terms avoid elicit negative associations, punitive attitudes and individual blame.	User Addict Substance abuser Substance user Junkie	Person with a substance abuse disorder (SUD)
	Alcoholic Drunk	Person with alcohol use disorder (AUD)
The stigmatizing terms may decrease a person's sense of hope and self-efficacy for change.	Dirty Failed a drug test	Tested Positive (on a screen)
The stigmatizing term "abuse" has a high association with negative judgments and punishment.	Abuse	Use (for illicit drugs) Misuse (for prescription medications used other than prescribed)

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Intervene. 

Use a validated screening tool, which takes seconds for a patient to complete, to assess the severity of use (Screen). Then, conduct a brief intervention to increase patients’ insight regarding substance use (Brief Intervention). 

	Patients are given a two-item Brief Screen (one item for alcohol, one item for drugs). Alcohol: Patients who answer 1 or more should receive a full alcohol screen. Drugs: Patients who answer 1 or more should receive a full drug screen.
	Patients are given a full screen for alcohol and/or drugs Alcohol: The AUDIT is a 10-item full screen that assesses severity of alcohol use. Drugs: The DAST is a 10-item full screen that assesses severity of drug use. Each screener provides directions for scoring and indicates the action the health care provider needs to take based on the patient's score.
	Patients with risky alcohol or drug use are provided a brief intervention that employs principles of motivational interviewing. Patients experiencing a substance abuse disorder and ready to accept treatment are given referrals to specialized care or are prescribed medications for substance use disorder as part of the patient's normal primary care.

In this video, Chad Harmon (CEO of the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas) discusses screening and early inventions for substance use disorder:

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Guide.

Guide or refer patients to treatment.

• Substance Abuse Center of Kansas (SACK)
  
  • SACK is a non-profit organization specializing in the prevention, treatment and case management of individuals affected by substance abuse.
  • https://sackansas.org/

Find the help your patients need with this list of substance use disorder facilities in the Wichita area.

• Substance Use Disorder resources (English)
• Substance Use Disorder resources (Spanish)
• Substance Use Disorder resources (Vietnamese)

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Help.

Offer to help, without conveying judgment. When a person feels accepted for who they are, regardless of how unhealthy their current behavior is, it allows them the freedom to consider change, rather than needing to defend against it.

• Motivational Interviewing (black and white PDF)
• Motivational Interviewing (color PDF)

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Treat.

Provide medication assisted treatment and connect patients with substance use disorder counselors.

• Dr. Daniel Warren can provide health care providers consultations on medication assisted treatment. Call 316-302-5107.

Consider using the guides below for a step-by-step guide to starting your patients on medication assisted treatment:

• Buprenorphine Quick Start Guide
• Naltrexone Quick Start Guide

Watch Dr. Tim Scanlan discuss what you can expect as a physician when you provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) for patients with substance use disorders:

Dr. Tim Scanlan explains what patients can expect when they begin medication assisted treatment (MAT). Consider sharing this resource with patients:

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Additional Resources

• Practitioners are required to complete a one-time, eight-hour training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders for their DEA registration. Use this list to find training that will meet the DEA requirement.

• The Providers Clinical Support System-Medications for Opioid Use Disorders (PCSS-MOUD) provides multidisciplinary training, guidance, mentorship and implementation support at no cost to health care and behavioral health professionals to increase knowledge, skills and confidence in providing evidence-based practices in the prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction of OUD.

• Kansas Fights Addiction
  • In 2021, the Kansas Legislature passed the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, authorizing the state to use money recovered by the Attorney General’s Office through the settlements to tackle substance use disorders (SUD) and help ensure prevention and treatment services are provided throughout the state. For more information, go to https://sunflowerfoundation.org/kansas-fights-addiction/.

• SBIRT Oregon is a free resource with training and guides to implement SBIRT: https://www.sbirtoregon.org/