--- title: "Psych News Alert: August PN Special Report Explores Treatment of Multi-Substance Use" description: The DSM-5 no longer includes the diagnostic category of polysubstance dependence, but in clinical practice, psychiatrists still commonly e... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/substance-use-disorder_f-Jun-24-2025-10-32-44-4417-PM.jpg --- 7/30/24 12:00 AM # August PN Special Report Explores Treatment of Multi-Substance Use ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html) ![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/substance-use-disorder_f-Jun-24-2025-10-32-43-3506-PM.jpg?width=200&height=126&name=substance-use-disorder_f-Jun-24-2025-10-32-43-3506-PM.jpg) The *DSM-5* no longer includes the diagnostic category of polysubstance dependence, but in clinical practice, psychiatrists still commonly encounter patients who use more than one substance—and can be a challenge to diagnose and treat successfully. To help clinicians who are working with such patients, the August issue of *Psychiatric News* includes a special report on “[The Art of Treating Complex Substance Use Disorders](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.08.8.33).” Authored by a team of specialists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, this report details some of the complex biological interactions that occur when substances are mixed—including adulterants like fentanyl that are often taken inadvertently. The special report also offers tips on identifying which substance might be the “primary” or “gateway” substance that should be prioritized in treatment. The report also discusses some of the pharmacotherapies that may be useful for multiple substances as well as the instances when combination therapy to target one substance use disorder may be beneficial. In addition to the special report, the latest issue of *Psychiatric News*—now available online—features the following: - Continued recaps of the 2024 Annual Meeting - The second in a series of articles from the APA’s [Women Psychiatrists Caucus](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.08.8.35) offering guidance and support to women psychiatrists. - The debut of a [new column](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.08.8.34) exploring the intersection of psychiatry with popular culture and media. Check out these stories [and more](https://psychiatryonline.org/toc/pn/59/08)! --- ### Add Your Voice to *Psychiatric News*! *Psychiatric News* Editor in Chief Adrian Preda, M.D., wants to increase the presence of members in the newspaper. Submissions are invited for both personal experience/opinion pieces such as Viewpoints or Residents’ Forums as well as articles related to clinical topics. Letters to the Editor are also invited. Article descriptions and submission guidelines are posted [here](https://app-stag.literatumonline.com/pn/psychnews_letters). For additional information, contact [editor@psych.org](mailto:editor@psych.org) [Psychiatric News](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-news), [substance use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/substance-use-disorder), [Annual Meeting](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/annual-meeting), [fentanyl](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/fentanyl), [gateway drug](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/gateway-drug), [women psychiatrists](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/women-psychiatrists), [polysubstance use](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/polysubstance-use) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/patient_therapist_iStock-1470735614-Jun-24-2025-05-15-06-0942-PM.jpg?height=200&name=patient_therapist_iStock-1470735614-Jun-24-2025-05-15-06-0942-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/11/low-resource-patients-with-oud-engaged.html) [opioid use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-use-disorder), [heroin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/heroin), [substance use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/substance-use-disorder), [fentanyl](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/fentanyl), [collaborative care model](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/collaborative-care-model), [medications for opioid use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medications-for-opioid-use-disorder), [CoCM](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cocm), [prescription painkillers](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/prescription-painkillers) ## [Low-Resource Patients With OUD Engaged With Collaborative Care Intervention](https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/11/low-resource-patients-with-oud-engaged.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 11/26/24 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/11/low-resource-patients-with-oud-engaged.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sud_montage_iStock-164882720.jpg?height=200&name=sud_montage_iStock-164882720.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/polysubstance-use-common-among-those-with-suds) [SUD](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/sud), [overdose](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/overdose), [substance use disorders](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/substance-use-disorders), [cocaine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cocaine), [alcohol](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/alcohol), [cannabis](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cannabis), [polysubstance use](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/polysubstance-use), [nicotine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/nicotine), [national survey](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/national-survey) ## [Polysubstance Use Common Among Those With SUDs](https://alert.psychnews.org/polysubstance-use-common-among-those-with-suds) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 5/4/26 8:48 PM Among adults with any substance use disorder (SUD), having more than one such disorder is highly... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/polysubstance-use-common-among-those-with-suds) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/prescription_bottles_iStock-480659301-Jun-24-2025-03-36-10-9724-PM.jpg?height=200&name=prescription_bottles_iStock-480659301-Jun-24-2025-03-36-10-9724-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2020/07/deaths-from-illicit-opioids-rise.html) [CDC](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cdc), [Patrice Harris](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/patrice-harris), [opioids](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioids), [opioid use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-use-disorder), [stimulants](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/stimulants), [heroin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/heroin), [cocaine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cocaine), [mental health parity](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mental-health-parity), [AMA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ama), [buprenorphine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/buprenorphine), [fentanyl](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/fentanyl), [medication-assisted treatment](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medication-assisted-treatment), [AMA Opioid Task Force](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ama-opioid-task-force) ## [Deaths From Illicit Opioids Rise Dramatically While Deaths From Prescription Opioids Fall](https://alert.psychnews.org/2020/07/deaths-from-illicit-opioids-rise.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/24/24 11:16 AM Deaths involving illicit opioids, stimulants (such as methamphetamine), heroin, and cocaine rose... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2020/07/deaths-from-illicit-opioids-rise.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T22:35:46.789Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-30T04:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Psych News Alert: August PN Special Report Explores Treatment of Multi-Substance Use", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/substance-use-disorder_f-Jun-24-2025-10-32-44-4417-PM.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/07/august-pn-special-report-explores.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```