Osteopathic Care for Substance Use Disorders: Integrating OMT with MAT and Behavioral Therapies Across the Lifespan – 3 AOA Category 1-A Credits

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

1. Describe the core tenets of osteopathic 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 osteopathic interventions align with integrative treatment models.

3. Analyze case-based scenarios to identify appropriate osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques for various patient populations affected by SUD.

4. Evaluate clinical and policy recommendations from AOA, SAMHSA, ASAM, and other authorities for incorporating OMT and holistic strategies into addiction care.

5. Design patient-centered care plans that integrate OMT, medication treatment, behavioral therapies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and individualized pain management for patients with substance use disorders or sickle cell disease.

Substance use and its consequences continue to challenge health systems, requiring clinicians to adopt comprehensive, multidimensional approaches to care. For Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs), integrating the biological, psychological, social, and structural effects of substance use with osteopathic principles provides an important clinical advantage. Substance use disorders are influenced by biological vulnerability, psychological stressors, pain, trauma, social environment, and systemic inequities, making whole-person assessment and individualized treatment essential.

This course equips DOs with evidence-based knowledge about the effects of substance use across the lifespan and the integration of osteopathic manipulative treatment, medication treatment, behavioral therapies, and interdisciplinary care. It also addresses pain management in special populations, including patients with sickle cell disease, for whom general outpatient opioid thresholds and tapering expectations may be inappropriate. By aligning clinical strategies with osteopathic principles, disease-specific guidance, and non-stigmatizing communication, the course prepares DOs to provide individualized care for substance use disorders, chronic pain, and complex co-occurring conditions.