Why SUDS Outpatient Involves This Service
Integrated primary-care mental health can support early identification, brief intervention, engagement, and specialty referral for substance-related concerns.
Common Involvement Triggers
Subthreshold or newly identified symptoms, brief-treatment needs, primary-care medication questions, or uncertainty about specialty escalation.
Shared-Care Responsibilities
Define primary-care, integrated-clinician, SUDS, pharmacy, and specialty mental-health responsibilities and expected handback.
Handoff Essentials
State the focused problem, brief assessment, current medications, substance-related risk, prior intervention, and requested specialty action.
Continuity and Return Plan
Close the loop after specialty assessment and specify which team resumes routine monitoring and medication follow-up.
Operational Boundary
Confirm current eligibility, capacity, consult names, schedules, contacts, and transfer procedures in approved VA systems.