RECADEMY Webinar Examines Integrated Models For Psychiatric & Substance Use Disorder Care

[Gettysburg, PA] – April 30, 2026 – As opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment becomes more complex, health systems and provider organizations are confronting a persistant challenge: substance use disorders (SUD) and psychiatric conditions rarely occur in isolation, yet are often treated separately. Despite decades of research supporting integrated care, many treatment systems remain fragmented—contributing to disengagement, relapse, and poor long-term outcomes.

In response to these system-level challenges, RECADEMY, an OPEN MINDS online learning collaborative, has announced the fifth webinar in its 2026 series focused on advancing evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment across health systems, behavioral health organizations, and payer environments. 

The webinar, “Integrating Psychiatric & Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Models, Evidence & System Transformation Opportunities,” will be held on May 5, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET. The session will feature Louai Bilal, MD, MSc, Medical Director of the Kaiser Fremont Medical Psychiatric Unit, and Charles Whitehill, MD, Chief of Addiction Medicine and Recovery Services (AMRS) for Kaiser Permanente Napa/Solano. The webinar will be moderated by Stuart Buttlaire, PhD, Vice President of Clinical Excellence & Leadership at OPEN MINDS. 

Across care settings, co-occurring psychiatric and SUD are now the norm rather than the exception. Nearly 9 million adults in the U.S. live with both conditions, and among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), more than half have at least one co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis. When these conditions are treated separately outcomes suffer, resulting in repeated treatment episodes, disengagement, and an increased risk of overdose.

“Substance use disorders and mental health conditions rarely occur in isolation,” said Dr. Buttlaire. “For many individuals, particularly those with opioid use disorder, co-occurring psychiatric conditions are central to the treatment picture and must be addressed together to improve outcomes.” 

Despite this reality, many treatment systems continue to operate in silos, with separate providers, workflows, and financing structures for psychiatric and substance use disorder care—creating barriers to engagement, retention, and long-term stability.

Drawing on real-world experience in integrated delivery systems, the webinar will highlight practical strategies for aligning psychiatric and SUD treatment, including approaches to trauma-informed care, coordinated medication management, and multidisciplinary team-based models.

Key Learning Objectives Include: 

• Understanding the prevalence and impact of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders
• Identifying how fragmented systems contribute to disengagement and poor outcomes
• Examining models for simultaneous, integrated treatment of co-occurring conditions
• Designing workforce, clinical, and operational strategies to support integrated care
• Aligning medication management across psychiatric and addiction treatment
• Incorporating trauma-informed care into integrated treatment models
• Addressing policy, financing, and regulatory barriers to integration

This webinar is the fifth in RECADEMY’s 12-part educational series for 2026, focused on system design, clinical models, workforce strategies, payer alignment, and policy considerations in substance use disorder treatment.

Registration is now open with a free RECADEMY membership.

About RECADEMY 

RECADEMY is a research-based, online learning collaborative focused on improving substance use disorder treatment across clinical settings and payer environments. Through webinars, on-demand education, and curated resources, RECADEMY supports healthcare leaders in implementing evidence-based models of care and strengthening systems that improve treatment access, continuity, and outcomes. 

About OPEN MINDS 

OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the high-needs consumer market – mental health, addiction treatment, cognitive disabilities, chronic health conditions, elder services, health-related social needs, and adjacent markets within the health and human service field. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, pharmaceutical, technology, and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at openminds.com.