Integration in education for addiction medicine

Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a serious public health problem that is one of the most common disorders seen in medical practice. Although it is an extremely common disorder, it is poorly diagnosed and treated by physicians. In order to begin to develop an integrated approach to education and addiction, one must define the many roles of the physician working with addicted patients. Training about addictions must begin early in the medical student's career, and continue in a vertically integrated way throughout medical school. The notion of addiction as a disease process must be introduced and integrated into course materials in the preclinical years. Careful attention must be paid to the development of positive views toward working with addicted patients, and students must be indoctrinated early with the idea that physicians have a responsibility to diagnose and manage addicted patients. Students should be given multiple opportunities to learn and use screening interviews for addiction in preclinical interviewing courses, and while on the clerkships. Residency education and continuing medical education in addictions are also important, so that faculty may become good role models for students in this critical area.