Opiate Addiction: Effective and Promising Treatments

Developed by Content from The Taylor and Francis Collection, Ofer Zur, Ph.D.

Course content available in articles.

If the public reaction to the current opioid epidemic follows the usual course of increases in drug use, a few trends seem likely; calls for harsher penalties for users and an increase in the number of unproven, untested treatments. As psychotherapists begin to identify and treat increasing numbers of clients struggling with opioids, it’s important to know what works with clients and to move beyond the simplistic solution of regular visits to methadone clinics, total abstinence, and little else. The best treatments may turn out to use systemic interventions, including harm reduction approaches and involving physicians and families in an integrated healthcare approach that includes greater input from users.

This beginner level course explores several systemic options and also hears from those who have struggled with opioids and insufficient treatments. Article 1 explores multisystemic therapy for adolescents. The second article summarizes addicts’ views of what’s worked for them and what doesn’t with opiate-substitution therapy. The third article explores moving opiate-substitution treatment from clinics into physicians’ offices and explores how a coordinated effort between physicians, family and psychotherapists can improve recovery rates. The fourth article explores how to increase family involvement in treatment and recovery. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.

REFERENCES:

Borsari, B., & Read, J. P. (2019). Introduction to the special issue: Responding to the opioid crisis: Perspectives, challenges and directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(10), 845–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000443

De Nadai, A. S., Little, T. B., McCabe, S. E., & Schepis, T. S. (2019). Diverse diagnostic profiles associated with prescription opioid use disorder in a nationwide sample: One crisis, multiple needs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(10), 849–858. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31556672/

Magidson, J. F., Jack, H. E., Regenauer, K. S., & Myers, B. (2019). Applying lessons from task sharing in global mental health to the opioid crisis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(10), 962–966. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000434

Educational Objectives

Define a multi-systemic approach to opioid addiction treatment.
Summarize the benefits and drawbacks of opioid substitution therapy.
Describe the elements of physician-family collaboration concerning opioid substitution treatment.
Describe from addict’s perspective what effective treatment should entail.

Syllabus

Multi-systemic therapy substance abuse treatment for adolescents
- Definition of multi-systemic therapy
- Advantages and pitfalls
- Community reinforcement principles
Long-term opiate substitution therapy
- What long-term clients prefer
- What long-term clients don’t like
- Beyond mere monitoring
- Abstinence versus recovery
Buprenorphine treatment in primary care
- Physician characteristics for successful treatment
- Elements of successful physician-patient-family communication
Recovery treatment following overdose: family involvement
- Infantilization of patient
- Manipulation by patient
- Judgementalism of family members
- Important family characteristics for successful collaboration

OA101

March 28, 2018

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