Behavioral Health Conditions
Substance Use
For those who are addicted to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, it’s nearly impossible to recover without outside assistance. Substance use can significantly impact successful outcomes as you treat medical disorders as well.
If you believe your patient has a problem with substance use, we strongly urge you to coordinate medical care with behavioral health treatment. The tools below can help.
CAGE-AID is a commonly used, five-question tool used to screen for drug and alcohol use. If a person answers yes to two or more questions, a complete assessment is advised.
The ASAM National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder 2020: Focused Update
Tip Sheet – Substance Use Disorders (PDF)
Magellan's Opioid Use Resources for Providers
Previously adopted:
- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorders, Second Edition (May 2006)
- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Treating Substance Use Disorders: A Quick Reference Guide (2006), and Guideline Watch (April 2007): Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders, 2nd Edition
- The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (2014)
- The New England Journal of Medicine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders (2016)
- Interagency Guideline on Prescribing Opioids for Pain (2015)
Prescription drug use
- Substance Use Problems in Older Adults
- Opioid Use Disorder
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Misuse of Prescription Drugs
Alcohol use
- Alcohol Problems: Helping Someone Get Treatment
- Making a Plan to Help Someone Get Treatment for an Alcohol Use Problem
- Alcohol Misuse and Dependence
- Alcohol and Drug Problems
Smoking cessation
Addiction recovery
- Teen Substance Use Problems: Choosing a Treatment Program
- Questions About Substance Use Treatment Programs
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Narcotics Anonymous
Conduct your own keyword search in our Healthwise library for more resources to help your patients make better health decisions.
- An appearance of unusual behavior, which is getting worse
- Being argumentative, isolated, irritable and/or irresponsible
- Demonstrating poor judgment, risky or reckless behavior
- Breaking rules
- Withdrawing from activities that involve others
- Decreased interest in activities
- Absenteeism and/or tardiness, particularly on Mondays
- Decreased productivity and ability to focus
- Changes in appearance, or a lack of attention to appearance
Physical symptoms will vary depending upon the substance that is being used. They may include any of the following:
- Tendency to nod off or appear to be extremely drowsy
- Eye pupil constriction, red and/or glassy eyes
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Frequent sniffy or runny nose
- Increased constipation
- Complaints of nausea and/or vomiting