Research Briefs Physicians can have key role in helping to deal with substance abuse. Primary care physicians are well positioned to support patients recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. However, a lack of education about the causes and treatment of substance abuse can prevent helping these patients, says a School of Medicine research team led by Richard Saitz, assistant professor of medicine and public health. The study appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Because primary care physicians interact with their patients over a span of years or decades, they are ideally suited to monitor their patients' progress, says Saitz.
Physicians can also help patients cope with recovery through regularly scheduled visits.
According to Saitz, more than 20 percent of adults in primary care settings have a past or current substance use problem. When knowledgeable about dealing with substance abuse, physicians who convey concern and empathy can build a supportive relationship that may be crucial to recovery. Uncovering why great technologies never were. A computer on every desktop. Not only is that Microsoft's vision statement, it has quickly become a reality in the workplace.