Lesson 1Timeline follow-back, standard drinks, cocaine use metrics, polysubstance explorationThis lesson covers timeline follow-back methods, standard drink measures, cocaine usage indicators, and mapping multiple substance patterns over time to gauge risks, aid diagnosis, and track treatment progress using real-world examples relevant to Botswana practice.
Timeline follow-back interview techniqueDefining and calculating standard drink unitsCocaine quantity, purity, and route metricsDocumenting polysubstance patterns over timeUsing metrics to monitor treatment responseLesson 2Psychiatric history and symptom review techniques for mood, anxiety, psychosisThis lesson teaches thorough psychiatric history taking in addiction settings, focusing on mood, anxiety, psychosis, and sleep issues, with stress on separating substance-related symptoms, using quick screening tools, and evaluating daily functioning and dangers.
Eliciting past and current psychiatric diagnosesScreening for mood and anxiety in substance usersRecognizing psychosis and substance-induced statesAssessing sleep, cognition, and functional impactUsing brief validated psychiatric screenersLesson 3Social determinants: housing, employment, legal issues, insurance and accessThis lesson examines social factors affecting health like housing, jobs, legal troubles, insurance, and care access, showing how to weave these into treatment plans, support advocacy, and connect patients to local Botswana resources.
Housing stability and living environmentEmployment, income, and financial stressorsLegal involvement and criminal justice issuesInsurance coverage and care access barriersLinking patients to social and legal resourcesLesson 4Detailed substance use history: quantity, frequency, pattern, routes, binge/withdrawal signsThis lesson guides gathering detailed substance histories covering start, amounts, frequency, methods, bingeing, withdrawal, past treatments, spotting tolerance, loss of control, and DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders.
Chronology of first use and progressionAssessing quantity, frequency, and routesIdentifying binge and high-risk use patternsScreening for tolerance and withdrawal signsLinking history to DSM-5 SUD criteriaLesson 5Medication, medical comorbidity, and over-the-counter/substance replacement historyThis lesson reviews collecting histories on medications, co-existing medical conditions, over-the-counter drugs or substitutes, noting interactions, liver and heart risks, pain care, and impacts on medication-based treatment plans.
Current and past prescribed medicationsMedical comorbidities relevant to addictionOver-the-counter and herbal substance useNicotine, cannabis, and self-directed replacementDrug–drug interactions and safety concernsLesson 6Working with limited collateral and building engagement with marginalized patientsThis lesson shares ways to manage scarce background info and connect with sidelined patients using motivational talk, harm reduction, trust-building, and tackling distrust, shame, and systemic hurdles for ongoing care in Botswana.
Assessing reliability of self-report dataUsing motivational interviewing micro-skillsHarm reduction framing in early encountersBuilding trust amid stigma and mistrustPlanning follow-up with unstable contactLesson 7Step-by-step addiction-focused interview flow (presenting complaint to collateral history)This lesson maps a step-by-step addiction interview from main concern and substance history through medical, mental, social, and background details, stressing order, adaptability, and time use in varied Botswana clinics.
Clarifying presenting complaint and goalsSequencing substance, medical, and psych historyIntegrating social, legal, and functional domainsStrategic use of collateral and recordsTime management in brief clinical encountersLesson 8Trauma, intimate partner violence, and safety screening (suicide, homicide, child protection)This lesson details trauma-aware screening for past hurts, partner violence, suicide, harm to others, child safety, with focus on safety plans, required reports, records, and links to protection and crisis services.
Principles of trauma-informed questioningScreening for intimate partner and family violenceSuicide and homicide risk assessment stepsIdentifying and reporting child abuse or neglectSafety planning and crisis resource linkageLesson 9Structured opening, consent, and establishing rapport in trauma-exposed populationsThis lesson covers starting interviews, gaining consent, and building trust with trauma-affected folks through teamwork, non-judging talk, firm limits, and cultural respect to build confidence and avoid re-harm.
Structuring the opening minutes of the visitExplaining purpose, limits of confidentialityObtaining informed consent for sensitive topicsUsing empathic, nonjudgmental languageCultural humility and managing power dynamics
