A Holistic & Practical Approach for Addressing Opioid Substance Use Disorder-Dolan

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Michael Dolan explains how physicians can better communicate with patients and families about substance use disorders. He emphasizes that doctors are in a unique position of trust and authority and can use that role to motivate change. A major theme is reducing stigma: using respectful, person-first language such as “person with a substance use disorder” instead of labels like “addict” or “junkie.” He notes that stigmatizing language can damage trust, discourage treatment, and influence both clinical decisions and public perception.<br /><br />Family involvement is also highlighted as essential. Families often have important information to share, even when privacy laws limit what clinicians can disclose back to them. Dolan discusses how substance use often affects entire family systems, can recur across generations, and may require family education, support, and communication strategies.<br /><br />The lecture introduces motivational interviewing as a practical, evidence-based counseling style that helps patients move through ambivalence and stages of change. Key principles include expressing empathy, avoiding arguments, rolling with resistance, supporting self-efficacy, and developing discrepancy between a patient’s goals and current behavior. He stresses active listening, reflective responses, open-ended questions, affirmations, and summarizing.<br /><br />Dolan concludes with a clear message: recovery is possible, change is gradual, and physicians can make a meaningful difference by communicating with compassion, respect, and collaboration.

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Dr. Dolan_SUD Recording

Keywords

substance use disorders

physician communication

patient family communication

reducing stigma

person-first language

motivational interviewing

family involvement

recovery support

clinical empathy

behavior change