title: Management of adults recovering from alcohol or other drug problems: relapse prevention in primary care.
abstract: Patients recovering from substance use disorders are commonly seen in the primary care setting, and relapse is a serious long-term problem for these patients. Extrapolating from therapeutic strategies effective in specialty addiction treatment settings, this article outlines a practical approach to relapse prevention in the primary care setting. Working within a supportive patient-physician relationship, the primary care physician can help recovering patients decrease their susceptibility to relapse, recognize and manage high-risk situations, and use available self-help, pharmacological, and specialty resources. Drawing on the therapeutic relationship and skills they already possess, primary care physicians can have an important, productive, and satisfying role in the long-term management of patients in recovery from alcohol or other drug problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Ill 60637, USA. pfriedma@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saitz
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy