Our Services
Evidence-based support for rural health professionals working with patients with substance use disorders
CORA faculty and staff provide a broad menu of science-based solutions to help you treat patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), other Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), and co-occurring issues. We can help your team adopt and implement new approaches by providing:
- Hands-on support from mobile teams of CORA staff who travel to your rural workplace
- Remote support via web-based, telemedicine, IVR and phone platforms
- Workshops, seminars, webinars & customized curricula with CME credits
- Services are provided at no cost to healthcare providers and other community stakeholders
We offer resources and support for assessing and treating OUD, including:
Pharmacotherapies
We provide protocols and consultation services via in-person, online and telehealth platforms to support the successful delivery of evidence-based pharmacotherapies for treating OUD. This includes support with:
- Buprenorphine and methadone induction, maintenance and taper regimens
- Evaluating opioid agonist and withdrawal effects
- Naltrexone induction and maintenance
- Sustained-release medications (e.g., 1- and 6-month buprenorphine formulations, monthly naltrexone)
Clinical Support Aids
We can help you choose and implement the resources to support your patients’ treatment adherence, outcomes, and retention. We will provide the below resources, hardware and/or software, bring these to your practice, and provide hands-on support with their initial implementation and ongoing use.
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patient OUD severity and/or treatment needs (e.g., Addiction Severity Index, UVM Treatment Needs Questionnaire) via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Computerized portable medication dispensers that securely store patients’ medication for up to 28 days and release each day’s dose at a staff-programmed time. Locks and alarms prevent tampering or access to medication outside the pre-set time.
- Automated clinic systems for conducting random call-backs for medication adherence using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system
- Biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent drug use (e.g., urine toxicology testing, breathalyzer)
Behavioral Therapies
We will help your team identify, customize and implement evidence-based therapies for supporting your patients’ abstinence and clinical engagement, such as:
- Community Reinforcement Approach, a form of behavior therapy aimed at improving family relations, learn a variety of skills to minimize drug use, receive vocational counseling, and develop new recreational activities and social networks
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions tailored to support the patient outcomes you need (e.g., medication adherence, counseling attendance, retention)
Professional Support
We provide consultation, coaching and hands-on support across a wide range of areas and platforms to any professionals seeking information, training & resources in science-based methods.
- In-person/one-on-one consultation and coaching with our Clinician Advisory Board members, who are community providers with deep expertise in treating complex patients with OUD, SUDs and other co-occurring issues
- Support via web-based, telemedicine (e.g., Project Echo) and phone platforms, expert-led seminars and curricula with CME credits available
- Financial incentives for completion of buprenorphine waiver training
- A provider scholarship program to facilitate hands-on training at UVM in science-based practices for addiction
Harm Reduction
We supply resources for reducing the individual and public health consequences associated with OUD.
- Free doses of intranasal naloxone (Narcan) and instructions on its use
Free fentanyl detection strips and training in their use - iPads pre-loaded with self-administered knowledge assessments and educational modules about evidence-supported HIV, Hepatitis C, and overdose-prevention. Can be used by patients while waiting for appointments.
- In-person consultations with pharmacists to update your team’s prescribing and medication safety protocols
Treatment Capacity
We provide consultation, technical assistance, and ongoing support to help providers and policymakers interested in new or expanded models of care.
- Hub-and-spoke OUD treatment model
- Low-barrier and/or interim buprenorphine treatment
- Buprenorphine initiation in emergency department settings
- Mentorship, support and incentives for providers interested in becoming waivered
- Peer support and consultation for providers and staff managing complex patients
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!
We offer resources and support for assessing and treating patients struggling with stimulant use (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription stimulants), including:
Clinical Support Aids
We can help you choose and implement the resources that support your patients’ treatment adherence, outcomes, and retention. We will provide the below resources, hardware and/or software, bring these to your practice, and provide hands-on support with their initial implementation and ongoing use.
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patient severity and/or treatment needs (e.g., Addiction Severity Index) via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Automated clinic systems for conducting daily clinical check-in calls using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system
- Computerized portable medication dispensers that securely store patients’ medication (e.g., prescribed ADHD medication) for up to 28 days and release each day’s dose at a staff-programmed time. Locks and alarms prevent tampering or access to medication outside the pre-set time
- Biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent drug use (e.g., urine toxicology testing)
Behavioral Therapies
We will help your team identify, customize and implement evidence-based therapies for supporting your patients’ abstinence from stimulants and clinical engagement, such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including how to conduct a Functional Analysis of stimulant use
- Community Reinforcement Approach, a form of behavior therapy aimed at improving family relations, learn a variety of skills to minimize drug use, receive vocational counseling, and develop new recreational activities and social networks
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions tailored to support the patient outcomes you need (e.g., medication adherence, counseling attendance, retention)
Professional Support
We provide consultation, coaching and support across a wide range of areas and platforms to any professionals seeking information, training & resources in science-based methods for addressing stimulant misuse.
- In-person/one-on-one consultation and coaching with our Clinician Advisory Board members, who are community providers with deep expertise in treating complex patients with unremitting stimulant use
- Support via web-based, telemedicine (e.g., Project Echo) and phone platforms, expert-led seminars and curricula with CME credits available
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!
We offer resources and support for evaluating and treating problematic alcohol use, including:
Clinical Support Aids
We can help you choose and implement the resources to support your patients’ treatment adherence, outcomes, and retention. We will provide the below resources, hardware and/or software, bring these to your practice, and provide hands-on support with their initial implementation and ongoing use.
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patient alcohol use severity and/or treatment needs (e.g., Addiction Severity Index, Michigan Alcohol Screening Test) via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Clinic systems for conducting daily clinical check-in calls using an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system
- Biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent drug use (e.g., urine toxicology testing, hand-held breathalyzer monitors, transdermal alcohol monitoring hardware)
- Pharmacotherapies for managing alcohol misuse (e.g., acamprosate, naltrexone, disulfiram (i.e., Antabuse))
Behavioral Therapies
We will help your team identify, customize and implement evidence-based therapies for supporting your patients’ abstinence and clinical engagement, such as:
- Community Reinforcement Approach, a form of behavior therapy originally developed for treating problematic alcohol use and aimed at improving family relations, learn a variety of skills to minimize drug use, receive vocational counseling, and develop new recreational activities and social networks
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions tailored to support the patient outcomes you need (e.g., medication adherence, counseling attendance, retention)
- Behavioral Self Control Training and other controlled-drinking protocols
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!
We offer resources and support for evaluating nicotine dependence and promoting tobacco cessation, including:
Pharmacotherapies
We provide protocols and consultation services via in-person, online and telehealth platforms to support the successful delivery of evidence-based smoking pharmacotherapies. This includes support with:
- Nicotine replacement therapy (e.g., gum, patches, sprays, inhalers, lozenges)
- Buproprion
- Varenicline
Clinical Support Aids
We can help you choose and implement the resources to support your patients’ ability to reduce their tobacco use. We will provide the below resources, hardware and/or software, bring these to your practice, and provide hands-on support with their initial implementation and ongoing use.
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patients’ smoking severity (e.g., Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence) via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Protocols and patient education for setting quit dates and implementing smoking cessation programs
- Hardware and training for biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent smoking (e.g., hand-held CO monitors, dipsticks for urine and saliva cotinine testing)
- Conducting remote smoking monitoring via smart phone
- Automated clinic systems for conducting daily clinical check-in calls using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system
- As-needed or ongoing consultation by our CORA center faculty with direct expertise in developing and implementing smoking cessation interventions
Behavioral Therapies
We will help your team identify, customize and implement evidence-based therapies for supporting your patients’ smoking cessation, such as:
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions customized to promote biochemically-verified smoking abstinence
- The 5 A’s model for treating tobacco use and dependence
- Internet- and smartphone-based interventions for smoking cessation
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!
We offer resources and support for assessing and treating problematic cannabis use, including:
Clinical Support Aids
We can help you choose and implement the resources to support your patients’ ability to reduce their cannabis use. We will provide the below resources, hardware and/or software, bring these to your practice, and provide hands-on support with their initial implementation and ongoing use.
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patients’ cannabis use severity via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Protocols and patient education for setting quit dates and implementing cannabis cessation programs
- Hardware and training for biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent cannabis use (e.g., urine toxicology testing, hand-held dipsticks for on-site urine testing)
- Clinic systems for conducting daily clinical check-in calls using an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system
- As-needed or ongoing consultation by our CORA center faculty with direct expertise in developing and implementing cannabis cessation interventions
Behavioral Therapies
We will help your team identify, customize and implement evidence-based therapies for supporting cannabis abstinence, including:
- Computer-assisted behavioral treatment that includes motivational enhancement and cognitive-behavioral therapy components
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions customized to promote biochemically-verified marijuana abstinence
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!
Many patients present with additional complex needs requiring consultation and care coordination. We provide one-time or ongoing support and peer mentoring in the management of a wide range of complex patient needs, including:
- Treating opioid-dependent pregnant women and their infants
- Buprenorphine and methadone treatment protocols for pregnant women with OUD
- Managing withdrawal in opioid-exposed neonates
- Coordinating and delivering comprehensive family-centered services and parenting support
- Accessing evidence-based family planning services
- Smoking cessation among pregnant women
- Biochemical monitoring of patients’ recent drug use (e.g., urine toxicology testing, breathalyzer, carbon monoxide monitoring for smoking cessation)
- Incentive-based behavioral interventions well-demonstrated to promote smoking abstinence among pregnant and parenting women
- Complex patients with co-occurring chronic pain, trauma, psychiatric and/or medical conditions
- Evidence-based assessments for evaluating patients’ problem severity across a variety of areas (e.g., psychosocial, psychiatric, legal, employment, medical) via paper, iPad and/or web-based platforms
- Empirically-supported therapies (e.g., Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, cognitive behavioral therapy)
- As-needed or ongoing clinical consultation by our CORA center faculty with direct expertise in managing complex patients
The above menu is not exhaustive. If you don’t see what you are looking for, reach out to us at CORA@uvm.edu with your specific needs and questions!