Substance Use Disorder Clinical Guidelines

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic brain disease most effectively treated using the chronic condition care model. This model is a practical, supportive, evidence-based approach to interactions between patients and their treatment team. 

Provider education can help improve the care of people with SUD. This page provides resources and training opportunities for health care professionals working with patients who have SUD. 

Patient Education Materials

Visit the MaineHealth Patient Education and Shared Forms Portal to view and order resources or materials for SUD patients and their families.

Provider Education Materials

Note: These modules count towards the State of Maine biannual three-hour opioid education requirement for prescribers of controlled substances.

NEW! What We Do Matters: Addressing Stigma in Health Care Toward People Who Use Substances

This is a MaineHealth-produced, documentary-style video examining manifestations and impact of stigma toward people with substance use disorders when they seek health care. It includes viewpoints of patients and professionals and is aimed at all levels of health care staff. The video is ideally viewed by a group with a brief follow up discussion but can be viewed individually the group setting is not an option. The training is free and provides 1 hour of CME credit. View video.

One-Hour Buprenorphine Mini-Course

Our MaineHealth SUD Steering Committee has recommended that any of our providers who wish to apply for a waiver and start prescribing buprenorphine complete, at a minimum, a one-hour on-line training being offered by ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) and the AMA (American Medical Association). This training is free and provides 1 hour of CME credit. Once you have completed this training, please forward a copy of your CME certificate to Adele Hays (adele.hays@mainehealth.org) so we may keep track of this training.

ASAM eLearning: Buprenorphine Mini-Course: Building on Federal Prescribing Guidance

Demystifying Toxicology Testing Podcast

Are you baffled by the myriad types of toxicology tests available to monitor and track the progress of your patients on controlled substances and/or in our SUD treatment programs? Have you been stumped by how to interpret results once you get them back from the lab? You are not alone! This educational offering is for you – in podcast format. The podcast is free and provides 1 hour of CME credit.

https://rise.articulate.com/share/SX67va9aUY5WRgFJzUmZFvNclpr9AMqF

Addiction Medicine Core Concepts

We are offering three one-hour modules that address core concepts of addiction medicine. Maine Medical Center has designated this educational activity for a maximum total of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The modules also fulfill MOC requirements for certain specialties.

  • Module 1: SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) – Identifying and Intervening with Unhealthy Substance Use
  • Module 2: Improving Communication and Reducing Stigma - Caring for People with Substance Use Disorder
  • Module 3: Reducing Risk - Safer Prescribing for Acute Pain

Access Modules

MaineHealth is pleased to offer two additional provider education modules. These modules also count toward the State of Maine education requirement

Module 1: Naloxone - Reducing Risk and Saving Lives

  • Recognize who is at highest risk of overdose
  • Describe the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose
  • Compare and contrast use of various naloxone formulations
  • Review how to talk to patients about their overdose risk and offer naloxone
  • Detail the tools in Epic that relate to naloxone prescribing

View Module

Module 2: Difficult Conversations with Your Patient

  • Express concerns that they may have an opioid use disorder
  • Discuss tapering their chronic opioid pain regimen
  • Address unexpected urine drug screen results
  • Discuss the safety of MAT and alleviating any fears
  • Address concerns around opioid use during pregnancy, including DHHS reporting

View Module

Buprenorphine Waiver Trainings

If you are interested in joining a team of over 100 dedicated MaineHealth providers who are prescribing the life-saving medication buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), you will need to start by obtaining a waiver to prescribe. While training is no longer required by the federal government, it is highly encouraged. If you are interested in getting more than the one hour of training described above, there are other options for longer training classes:

  • On-line training provided free through the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS), available here: www.pcssnow.org
  • Live trainings given several times throughout the year by SUD experts. Contact Dr. Kristen Silvia (silvik@mmc.org) to find out about upcoming trainings.

Other Resources