Multimodal SUD Care: Manual Therapy, MAT, Behavioral Health Across the Lifespan

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the core principles of integrative medicine and their application in the assessment and management of substance use disorders (SUDs).

2. Explain the biopsychosocial impacts of substance use across the lifespan and how manual therapy interventions align with integrative treatment models.

3. Analyze case-based scenarios to identify appropriate manual therapy techniques for various patient populations affected by SUD.

4. Evaluate clinical and policy recommendations from major health authorities for incorporating holistic strategies into addiction care.

5. Design patient-centered care plans that integrate manual therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes in diverse SUD settings.

Substance use and its consequences continue to challenge health systems, requiring clinicians to adopt comprehensive, multidimensional approaches to care. For integrative healthcare practitioners, the ability to synthesize biological, psychological, and social effects of substance use with manual therapy principles presents a unique and essential clinical advantage. This approach is critical, as substance use disorders are complex conditions influenced by biological vulnerability, psychological stressors, and social environment, which aligns closely with the foundational principles of integrative medicine.

This course addresses this need by equipping clinicians with evidence-based knowledge on how substances impact development, behavior, and physiology from prenatal stages through old age. By aligning clinical strategies with the integrative tenets of treating the whole person and supporting the body’s capacity for innate healing, this training prepares practitioners to deliver more nuanced, person-centered care for substance use disorders.