Overview - St. Anthony Regional Hospital staff and McFarland Clinic – Carroll staff only

Many patients seen in primary care are affected by substance use, yet it often remains an under-identified factor in their overall health. As frontline providers, primary care clinicians are uniquely positioned to identify risky substance use early, initiate nonjudgmental conversations, and connect patients to appropriate support. This presentation will provide practical strategies for engaging patients in open, respectful dialogue about their substance use using evidence-based tools like SBIRT. Attendees will learn how to normalize these conversations, reduce stigma, and integrate substance use discussions into routine care to improve outcomes and build stronger therapeutic relationships.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the value of screening for substance use and how to utilize evidence-based tools to determine a patient’s level of risk
• Demonstrate how to apply effective communication skills, creating a safe space while discussing substance use
• Describe strategies for effectively referring patients to treatment when appropriate

Speaker: 

Alison Lynch, MD, MS, FAPA

• Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Family & Community Medicine
• Director UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative
• Program Director Addiction Medicine Fellowship
• Founder of UIHC Opioid Addiction Clinic, Department of Psychiatry