NIC/BJA Co-Sponsored -Fundamentals of Substance Use, Addiction, and Withdrawal Management: Understanding the Legal and Clinical Obligations of Addressing Substance Withdrawal in Jails

Sunday, May 21, 2023

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Location: 213

Moderator(s)

Stephen Amos, MA

Chief Jails Division, National Institute of Corrections
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, District of Columbia

Additional Presenter(s)

Shannon Robinson, MD

Principal
Health Management Associates, California
Carrie Hill, Esq.

Executive Director
Massachusetts Sheriffs Association
Boston, Massachusetts

This session will provide foundational knowledge of substance use disorders (SUD) and addiction, including recognizing signs of intoxication and assessing individuals for risk of withdrawal. Topics will include the neurobiology of substance use disorders, screening for SUD and withdrawal risk, the disease model of addiction, and an overview of evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders. Participants will gain an understanding of the importance of identifying and addressing withdrawal from a legal and clinical perspective. An overview of a jail’s legal obligation to develop protocols for the identification and management of withdrawal will be provided.

Learning Objectives:

Understand a jails legal obligation to identify, address, and treat substance withdrawal in individuals who are detained.
Summarize basic neurobiological pathways involved with the development of substance use disorders, differences in treatment of specific substances, and polysubstance use.
Explain the definition of addiction in accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Understand substance use disorders as a chronic disease process.
Explain the risk of death from untreated substance withdrawal and importance of continuation of medications for addiction treatment in preventing fatal overdose post-release.