INTEGRATION IN EDUCATION FOR ADDICTION MEDICINE

Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a serious public health proble m that is one of the most common disorders seen in medical practice. A lthough it is an extremely common disorder, it is poorly diagnosed and treated by physicians. In order to begin to develop an integrated app roach to education and addiction, one must define the many roles of th e physician working with addicted patients. Training about addictions must begin early in the medical student's career, and continue in a ve rtically integrated way throughout medical school. The notion of addic tion as a disease process must be introduced and integrated into cours e materials in the preclinical years. Careful attention must be paid t o the development of positive views toward working with addicted patie nts, and students must be indoctrinated early with the idea that physi cians have a responsibility to diagnose and manage addicted patients. Students should be given multiple opportunities to learn and use scree ning interviews for addiction in preclinical interviewing courses, and while on the clerkships. Residency education and continuing medical e ducation in addictions are also important, so that faculty may become good role models for students in this critical area.