DUI MAT Best Practice Category

Posters and Handouts – Educational Materials

• Post OUD, Poly SUD, Pain Management and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) informational posters in common client and staff areas.
• Have handouts on OUD, Poly SUD, Pain Management, MAT and other OUD materials in common client areas.
• Educate counselors on having informational handouts available for clients.
• Provide handouts to all clients during intake and at education sessions.
• Utilize all DUI MAT provided posters and handouts including the MAT client handout, Marijuana SUD, Poly SUD, and pain management.
• Direct mail informational handouts/postcards to people who are on leave of absence or otherwise not attending program.
• If possible, print handouts in color on heavy paper as people tend to hold onto a higher quality piece.
• Utilize technology to distribute the information such as posting handouts on a website, adding a link to handouts in an email signature or emailing the handouts to a client directly (with the proper release).

Intake Procedures

• Educate clients on the assessment process and purpose including why assessments are provided and how that can benefit them.
• Implement a prescreen for OUD/Poly SUD for every new client.
• Inform clients that additional treatment resources are available in their community and the DUI program can help them identify appropriate services.

Group Sessions

• Incorporate group topics for OUD/Poly SUD and MAT to inform and encourage clients to explore their substance use history and potential risk factors.
• Encourage Journaling. Whether clients write their own reflective notes or complete written exercises that allow for exploration and self-disclosure, clients are more thoughtful and insightful when they have an opportunity to take time to reflect and write their thoughts and feelings with supportive counselor facilitation.
• Train counselors to review journaling/exercises to identify areas to revisit in face to face sessions. Immediate action should be taken if a client notes a mandated reporting or at-risk SUD issue.
• Include a short five-minute overview and Q&A about OUD, Poly SUD, and MAT by a knowledgeable staff member in a group session. Have the staff member leave a card with a phone number so that clients can follow up directly. Staff members in a group session also benefit from the presenter as a role model.

Education Courses

• Incorporate OUD/Poly SUD and MAT information into the educational curriculum.
• Incorporate the community and treatment referrals available and provide referral handout.
• Include in the education curriculum information on OUD/Poly SUD treatment referrals.
• Revisit the DAST during an education session. Instruct them to put their phone number on the DAST if they want a follow up from a staff member.

Face to Face Sessions

• Review journaling/exercises and address any triggers or other areas of need.
• Revisit assessments and review entire substance use history.
• Review and follow-up on last referral provided.
• Provide new referral as needed and develop a plan on how the client will access the referral.
• Provide additional information or handouts that may benefit the client.

Staff Training

• Provide each counselor with a copy of the MAT Toolkits including Medication-Assisted Toolkit for DUI Programs, Medication-Assisted Toolkit for Counselors, MAT for Opioid Addiction, Helping Participants Access MAT, Challenging MAT Myths, Narcan Instructions
• Provide training for all counselors on the MAT Toolkits.
• Provide training for all counselors on the science, stigma, and treatment of OUD and Poly SUD.
• Holding weekly, bi-weekly or monthly all-staff meetings has been proven to increase the quality of treatment provided to clients. Include OUD, Poly SUD, and MAT as a staff meeting topic/training. The programs learned that consistent staff meetings resulted in higher levels of engagement, brainstorming, and new approaches.
• Develop and use a quiz to support staff training. The quiz will cover MAT, treatment options, the MAT toolkits, and other information.
• During clinical supervision meetings and employee reviews, discuss the counselor’s skills in assessing, referring, monitoring, and documentation.