2023 14th Annual NUBE Conference

Patients with Substance Use disorders (SUD) present to Emergency Department and Crisis center with regularity, but many do not find the experience helpful, or do not utilize the visit as an opportunity for starting treatment. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2019 found that only 1.5% of patients with SUD had received any treatment in the last year, and roughly 1/3 of those patients received their treatment in emergency departments . Recently the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the American College of Emergency Physician (ACEP) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have focused on enhancing care and offering evidence-based treatment in the emergency department . The challenging remains, how can we engage patients in crisis, and successfully get them into treatment? I will explore the current evidence-based models around patient engagement and some challenges unique to substance use disorders. I will examine the use of motivational interviewing as a way to but understand the patients needs and get them to the right level of care. I will explore the use of people with lived experience (peer supports, recovery support specialist, recovery coaches) as a way to improve engagement. I will also look at the need for the ED or Crisis center to adequately assess and understand the culture, and socio-economic influences in their SUD patients. I will discuss some useful lessons in community engagement and ways to expand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging into the treatment of patients with Substance Use Disorders.

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will have a better understanding of the challenges of engaging patients with Substance Use Disorders in Emergency Departments and Crisis Centers.
2. Attendees will acquire skills to improve their engagement with patients with Substance Use Disorders.
3. Attendees will be able to understand the need for a comprehensive approach in engagement including the benefits of understanding their communities struggles with stigma, lack of access and lack of community engagement.