ABSTRACT
People with addiction problems are similar to people with hypertension and diabetes in that they need specialized care and diagnosis as the first step. There are addiction specialists who have for trained years in order to effectively help people who are using tobacco, alcohol, and drugs to excess or in a way that is causing themselves harm physically or emotionally. The limited exposure to addiction education as well as the limited number of preceptors and mentors experienced in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) has meant that entire generations of physicians are ill-equipped to diagnose and treat SUD once they begin practicing. However, in the context of the growing opioid crisis and the continued contribution of SUD to adverse health outcomes, every clinician should be aware of the epidemiology, approach to diagnosis, and the basics of SUD treatment. Treatment for SUD has a considerable impact on the individual, but it requires ongoing treatment and management of the underlying illness.
