According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a primary, chronic disease that, without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, is progressive and can result in disability or death. If you believe your patient may have a substance use disorder, it is important that the patient is assessed for the severity and specificity of the disorder and, if necessary, referred to the appropriate type of behavioral health provider.  

Below are steps you can take to assist your patients on their path to recovery, including Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT):

• Screening – Use standardized screening tools to identify patients engaging in risky substance use.
• Brief Intervention – Engage your patient in a short conversation to increase insight and awareness about their substance use and motivation for behavioral change.
• Referrals to Treatment – There are resources available to assist you with linking your patients to specialty behavioral healthcare. When contacting Jurisdictional Coordinators or certified service providers, you may want to inquire about a full assessment for your patient to ensure they are placed in the appropriate level and type of care. See links following SBIRT information for how to access these providers.

For more information on the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment program click here.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Learn more about the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which supports healthcare providers and their patients in the safe and effective use of prescription drugs, and watch a new training video.

Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed guidelines to help providers determine when and how to prescribe opioids for chronic pain, and also how to use nonopioid and nonpharmacologic options that are effective with less risk.

Additionally, the Maryland Board of Physicians offers a Pain Treatment Toolkit.

For Medicaid Providers
If you are a Medicaid provider, check out the Maryland Medicaid Opioid Drug Utilization Review Workgroup, which includes information and resources on how to reduce opioid misuse, dependence, overdose, and death.

Education for Providers

• A Primer on the Opioid Morbidity and Mortality Crisis: What Every Prescriber Should Know Safe Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain
• Maryland’s Opioid Crisis and How the Maryland Insurance Administration Can Help