Substance Use Disorders Institute — What We Do

How can we change our disconnected systems of care for substance use disorders? The Substance Use Disorders Institute (SUDI) provides custom training for a variety of healthcare professionals, advocates for people with substance use disorders, and conducts groundbreaking research to transform treatment and policy.

Education

Educating healthcare professionals is central to SUDI’s mission to improve care for patients and populations. We offer customized training and CE/CME programs for healthcare professionals, hospital systems, medical and professional associations, and businesses to fill the gap in health education on substance use disorders throughout the field.

SUDI offers educational resources to prepare pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, occupational therapists, nurses/nurse practitioners, social workers, allied health professionals and others. Topics include:

• Screening, Brief Interventions, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• The Opioid Crisis: The U.S. public health response
• Naloxone for overdose prevention
• Medication treatment for opioid use disorders: buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone
• Opiate use disorder treatment policies in justice system settings
• Pain management and addiction
• Substance use disorders: alcohol and other drugs
• Medical cannabis—education including PA DOH-approved certification courses for medical professionals, and  training resources
• What is harm reduction? Reaching the most vulnerable where they are: proven public health interventions that save both lives and money

Advocacy

SUDI works on the frontlines to enact policy on the local, state, and national levels. Our faculty and staff:

• Serve on task forces and policy committees throughout the region
• Meet with policymakers, payers, and health system representative
• Support evidence-based decision-making with policy briefs
• Provide expert comments at legislative hearings
• Craft influential editorials
• Publish commentary and guidances

By participating in and hosting symposia, lectures, and presentations, SUDI creates even more opportunities to advance policy discussions and convene experts from across disciplines.

Research

Historically, substance use policy and treatment have been based on ineffective ideology and opinion ungrounded in data. SUDI’s integrated faculty and staff address gaps in evidence by conducting and publishing preclinical, clinical, health policy, and public health research.

Our students stay active on the latest developments and have plenty of chances to get involved in research during their time at SUDI. Please contact us for more information