Identifying and Intervening with Patients with Substance Use Disorders

Hospital patients may often have substance use issues that are crucial, yet challenging to identify and address for a number of reasons. This presentation will explain how to identify hospital patients with substance use disorders and conduct brief interventions to effectively guide them towards treatment. Participants will learn to:

1. Identify a substance use disorder during a brief intervention
2. Assess readiness for change
3. Motivate patients to pursue next steps

Nicholas Lessa is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Partner of Inter-Care, Ltd., an outpatient substance abuse treatment agency in midtown Manhattan. He is a licensed clinical social worker; a master’s level psychologist; and a credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor. He provides numerous lectures around New York City on topics pertaining to the treatment of substance use disorders. Mr. Lessa is an Associate Adjunct Professor at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University and is also in private practice. He is the lead author of two books, entitled Concise Guides to Mental Health: Substance Use Disorders and, most recently, Living with Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.