META:PHI in Primary Care: Implementing Best Practices for Addictions

1. META:PHI in Primary Care: Implementing Best Practices for Addictions Trauma-Informed Care

2. What is META:PHI? Mentoring, Education, and Clinical Tools for Addiction: Primary Care–Hospital Integration Collaborative project to implement integrated care pathways for addiction throughout Ontario Partnership between hospitals, withdrawal management services, FHTs, CHCs, and community agencies Goals: Improve care for patients with addictions Improve care provider experience Improve population health Reduce service use Provide sustainable care

3. How it works Patients presenting with addiction-related concerns receive evidence-based interventions and are referred to rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinics for treatment RAAM clinics offer substance use disorder treatment on walk-in basis; no formal referral/appointment needed Patients stabilized at RAAM clinic referred back to primary care for long-term addiction treatment (with ongoing support from RAAM clinic as required) Key components: Integration of care at hospital, RAAM clinic, primary care Training, support, and mentorship from addictions specialists Capacity-building

4. Role of PCPs With support from META:PHI team: Follow best practices for prescribing opioids Screen and diagnose patients for substance use disorders Refer patients to treatment at RAAM clinic when necessary Assume long-term addiction care for patients from RAAM clinic (with ongoing support from RAAM clinic doctor)

5. About trauma

6. What is trauma? Trauma occurs when a person is in a frightening situation that overwhelms their ability to cope Results in feelings of fear, horror, and helplessness These can last throughout the person’s life Many patients with a substance use disorder have a history of trauma

7. Roots of trauma Adverse childhood events: Strong correlation between adverse childhood events (ACEs) and development of risk factors for disease, including substance use disorders Risk increases with number of ACEs Multigenerational trauma: Trauma experienced by parents affects children E.g., children of Holocaust survivors, children of survivors of Canadian residential school system Effect on individuals, families, and communities

8. Effect of trauma Trauma can have a profound effect on people’s lives: Loss of stability Abnormal neurodevelopment Mental health problems (e.g., PTSD) Substance use as a coping mechanism

9. Principles of trauma-informed care

10. Principles (1) Acknowledgment Listen, empathize, normalize, validate Trust Be honest about your knowledge, skills, and limitations as a care provider Provide transparency and shared power in decision making Enforce consistent boundaries Collaboration Emphasize patient’s choice and control

11. Principles (2) Compassion Not “What’s wrong with you?” but “What happened to you?” Identify patient’s needs and explore implications for care Strength-based Acknowledge resilience Acknowledge that coping mechanisms (e.g., substance use) are understandable and logical Safety Physical safety: Well-lit office, safe building, comfortable environment Emotional safety: Avoid re-traumatizing patient

12. Asking about trauma

13. Preparing to ask Spend some time developing initial rapport before asking about trauma Be prepared to define trauma: “Sometimes we see or experience things that are very violent, frightening, or overwhelming, and those things can stay with us for many years if we don’t get help dealing with them. There is lots of research to show that experiences like these can have an impact on our physical and mental health.” Explain link between trauma and substance use: “Memories of traumatic experiences can cause a lot of overwhelming emotions, and a lot of people use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with those emotions.”

14. How to ask “Have you ever experienced any difficult life events, either in childhood or as an adult, that you think might be related to some of the things you are struggling with now?” “Is that something you would be able to talk to me about?” “I know it can be really difficult to talk about these things. We know that childhood histories of abuse are much more common than once reported, and that a history of trauma can have an effect on an individual’s physical and mental health. You don’t have to tell me the details, and we will work together to find supports for you.”

15. Responding to disclosure Acknowledge disclosure: “I appreciate you sharing this with me. I know it’s not easy to do.” Acknowledge impact: “That sounds like a really difficult experience. It must have been really hard for you.” Express compassion: “What happened wasn’t your fault.” “Nobody deserves to be treated that way.” “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Normalize reactions: “It makes a lot of sense that you would have difficulty trusting people; you’re trying to protect yourself.” “I can understand how drinking keeps you from having to think about such a frightening memory.”

16. Assessing effect of trauma Who has patient disclosed to? Is patient experiencing ongoing effects (e.g., anxiety, flashbacks)? Is patient using harmful coping strategies (e.g., substance use, self-harm)? Has patient had any therapy in regards to their trauma?

17. Treatment If trauma is unresolved (i.e., still having an effect), refer patient to specialized treatment: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Seeking Safety Dialectal behavioural therapy (DBT) Publicly funded programs often have long waiting lists; offer patient ongoing support while they are awaiting treatment

18. Wrap-up: Key Messages

19. Our responsibility Managing substance use disorders is our responsibility as health care providers Addiction is the same as any other chronic illness: patients need specialist referrals, medication, treatment of co-occurring conditions, and regular follow-up Effective addiction interventions are simple, safe, and satisfying Purpose of META:PHI project is to facilitate adoption of best practices and support clinicians

20. Resources META:PHI website: www.metaphi.ca META:PHI mailing list for clinical questions and discussion (e-mail sarah.clarke@wchospital.ca to join) META:PHI contacts:Medical lead: Dr. Meldon Kahan meldon.kahan@wchospital.ca Manager: Kate Hardykate.hardy@wchospital.ca Knowledge broker: Sarah Clarke sarah.clarke@wchospital.ca