This live session provides a focused, case-based review of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, emphasizing practical approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment across clinical settings.
What This Includes
• Terminology and epidemiology of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders • The relationship between psychiatric conditions and substance use • Diagnostic challenges, including distinguishing primary psychiatric disorders from substance-induced conditions • Evaluation of psychiatric symptoms during periods of active substance use, withdrawal, and abstinence • Evidence-based treatment approaches, including pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions • Practical strategies for improving outcomes in patients with co-occurring disorders
What to Expect
• Live, faculty-led instruction delivered in an interactive online format • Case-based discussion highlighting real-world diagnostic and treatment challenges • Structured content aligned with the ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum and ABPM content areas • Emphasis on high-yield concepts for board review and clinical application • Practical guidance for managing co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders in addiction medicine practice
Sheila Specker, MD
Dr. Specker is an addiction psychiatrist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She previously served as Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, where she trained physicians in the care of substance use and co‑occurring psychiatric disorders.
She completed her medical degree at the University of Minnesota, along with residencies in family practice and psychiatry, and fellowship training in addiction medicine. Dr. Specker is board certified in both family medicine and psychiatry, with additional certification in addiction psychiatry.
Dr. Specker to be joined by University of Minnesota addiction medicine fellowship program fellows.
To support a meaningful learning experience and recognize your participation: