University of Miami Management of Alcohol & Substance Use Disorders 2025

Substance use disorders are common in both general psychiatric, other mental health, and medical practice. Because clinicians often do not have the knowledge about how to treat these disorders, it is common for clinicians to not screen for them. This often leads to poor outcomes for these patients. This course will review key issues that clinicians need to know about the diagnosis and treatment of patients with alcohol and drug use problems. The course will consist of lecture and frequent audience interaction, including discussion of cases. The course will review diagnosis, pharmacologic and behavioral treatment strategies, treatment of patients with co-occurring psychiatric illness, a review of the common drugs of misuse, including prescription drug misuse, recent drug trends (e.g., the opioid overdose epidemic, the legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use), and strategies to help family members of those with substance use disorders.

1. Diagnose substance use disorders.
2. Determine options for abstinence vs. cutting down.
3. Evaluate indications for and use of common substance use disorder medications.
4. Distinguish substance-induced disorders vs. independent psychiatric illness.
5. Refer patients knowledgeably to mutual-help groups such as AA or SMART Recovery.
6. Evaluate key properties of the common drugs of misuse.
7. Develop helpful strategies for family members of those with substance use disorders.
8. Develop helpful strategies for patients who want to cut down but whom you think should abstain.
9. Analyze models of both psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric illness.

1. Diagnose substance use disorders.
2. Determine options for abstinence vs. cutting down.
3. Evaluate indications for and use of common substance use disorder medications.
4. Distinguish substance-induced disorders vs. independent psychiatric illness.
5. Refer patients knowledgeably to mutual-help groups such as AA or SMART Recovery.
6. Evaluate key properties of the common drugs of misuse.
7. Develop helpful strategies for family members of those with substance use disorders.
8. Develop helpful strategies for patients who want to cut down but whom you think should abstain.
9. Analyze models of both psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric illness.