Lesson 1Timeline follow-back, standard drinks, cocaine use metrics, polysubstance explorationThis lesson covers timeline follow-back methods, standard drink measures, cocaine use indicators, and mapping multiple substance patterns over time to gauge risks, support diagnosis, and track treatment progress using real-world clinical examples relevant to local contexts.
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 systematic psychiatric history taking in addiction care, covering mood, anxiety, psychosis, and sleep issues, with focus on separating substance-related symptoms, using screening tools, and evaluating daily functioning and risks.
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 tackles assessing social factors affecting health like housing, jobs, legal troubles, insurance, and care access, showing how to fold these into treatment plans, advocacy efforts, and links to community support networks.
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 on gathering detailed substance use histories, from start date, amounts, frequency, methods, binge episodes, withdrawal signs, and past treatments, to spot 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, and over-the-counter or substitute substances, spotlighting interactions, liver and heart risks, pain handling, 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 marginalised patientsThis lesson explores ways to manage scarce supporting information and connect with marginalised patients using motivational talking, harm minimisation, trust-building, and tackling distrust, stigma, and systemic hurdles for ongoing care.
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 out a step-by-step addiction interview process, from main concerns and substance history to medical, mental health, social, and supporting info, stressing structure, adaptability, and time handling in varied clinic setups.
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 trauma, partner violence, suicide, homicide risks, and child harm, focusing on safety plans, required reporting, records, and teamwork with 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 centres on starting interviews, gaining consent, and building rapport with trauma-affected patients through teamwork, non-judgemental talk, clear limits, and cultural respect to build trust and avoid re-traumatising.
Structuring the opening minutes of the visitExplaining purpose, limits of confidentialityObtaining informed consent for sensitive topicsUsing empathic, nonjudgmental languageCultural humility and managing power dynamics
