Substance Use Disorders Refresh: Nonopioid Substance Use Disorders

The landscape of substance use has changed in recent years. While the opioid crisis has captured national attention (see “Responding to the Opioid Crisis” Editor’s Choice collection, July 2023), other substance use disorders affect a greater and increasing proportion of the population. Current trends include rising methamphetamine use, expanding legalization of cannabis, and increases in benzodiazepine prescribing.

This month’s Editor’s Choice Collection provides an update on nonopioid substance use disorders. Barriers to diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders remain, although coverage for services may be increasing and improving disparities. Research on substance use treatment models in Psychiatric Services has focused on integrating care and specific strategies such as contingency management. Although impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and treatment access are still being measured, the pandemic likely resulted in increased substance misuse and decreased access to care.