Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Neurology and Beyond

Driving the overdose epidemic, a significant proportion of adult and adolescent patients seen in neurology practice and hospital settings has substance use disorder. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available, in particular for opioid addiction. Some elements of treatment can be delivered directly in medical office-based settings, while others are best provided from within specialized addiction treatment facilities. In this article, we review the nature of substance use disorders, and the various treatment approaches that can be utilized to stabilize patients and facilitate their building a strong recovery foundation. Some interventions discussed may be directly provided by a physician identifying the disorder, while others involve collaboration with specialized addiction treatment centers and recovery support entities.