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Clinical Update

Family Support in Substance Use Disorders

April 1, 2026

Jared Bozeman, MD. Psychiatrist, Montana VA Healthcare System, Bozeman, MT.

Dr. Bozeman has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Addiction affects entire families, yet family members often receive little guidance. This article reviews evidence for behavioral couples therapy, community reinforcement, and peer led groups such as Al Anon and SMART Recovery Family and Friends. Learn how to present these options in ways that validate stress and strengthen engagement.

Autism and Substance Use: Clinical Considerations

January 1, 2026

Joshua Feder, MD

Joshua Feder, MD. Associate clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA; Editor-in-Chief, The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.

Dr. Feder has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Autistic teens may turn to substances to manage anxiety, reduce social discomfort, or fit in with peers. This article reviews risk factors, assessment adaptations, and tailored treatment strategies—including motivational interviewing, family engagement, and medication considerations—to support healthier coping and social connection.

Managing School Refusal

October 1, 2025

Raman Marwaha, MD

Associate professor, residency program director, and vice chair of education, Case Western Reserve University; child psychiatrist, Metro Health System; Cleveland, OH.

Dr. Marwaha has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

School refusal is on the rise post-pandemic. Dr. Raman Marwaha outlines how to distinguish it from truancy, assess underlying anxiety or learning issues, and apply CBT-based graded exposure and family interventions to help students successfully return to school.