ORN Fall 2026 - Beyond Screening: Implementing a Response to Substance Use Coercion in Clinical Practice-2026-10-28

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar examines substance use coercion as a form of intimate partner violence (IPV): a pattern of control that may involve physical or sexual violence, intimidation, isolation, financial abuse, or other tactics, and does not require physical assault.<br /><br />Partners may pressure or force someone to use substances, interfere with treatment or recovery, control or divert medications, trigger withdrawal, or threaten to expose substance use to authorities, employers, or child welfare agencies. These tactics can increase substance use, undermine recovery, and heighten risks of relapse, overdose, and barriers to care. IPV and substance use coercion are common among people receiving substance use treatment.<br /><br />Clinicians are encouraged to notice potential warning signs, such as a partner dominating appointments, missed visits, lost prescriptions, unexpected drug-screen results, or changes in substance use. They should ask about coercion privately, routinely, and without judgment; affirm that abuse is not the patient’s fault; assess immediate safety; and work with patients on individualized treatment and communication plans. Considerations include telehealth privacy, electronic-record access, documentation, flexible appointment policies, and medication options that reduce opportunities for a partner to interfere.<br /><br />The presenters also describe a clinic-based toolkit developed to integrate this work into practice. It includes staff training, workflow and rooming guidance, screening prompts, documentation tools, patient materials, and connections to community partners. The central message is that addressing substance use coercion requires a coordinated, trauma-informed approach involving the whole clinical team—not screening alone.

Keywords

substance use coercion

intimate partner violence

IPV

coercive control

treatment interference

recovery sabotage

trauma-informed care

patient safety

screening prompts

clinic toolkit