From Clinic to Capitol: Advocacy Skills for Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists Addressing Adolescent Substance Use...

Despite advances in scientific research, adolescents with substance use disorders continue to experience challenges accessing evidence-based treatment, including stigma, cost, and workforce shortages. As child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs), we use our clinical expertise to address these barriers in direct clinical encounters. Throughout this article, you will gain an understanding of how CAPs can improve access to care for the pediatric population and learn the necessary skills to advocate for policy solutions. Emphasis will be placed on the necessity of advocacy education and mentorship at every stage of professional development to support CAPs in translating clinical expertise to advocacy skills.