Substance Use

CAI partners with health and social service agencies across the country to strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) programs, including those addressing opioid overdose. We help treatment providers implement evidence-based practices, address co-occurring conditions, and integrate screening and referral into broader care settings. Our work emphasizes collaboration with health departments and providers to ensure coordinated, high-quality care.

With more than 30 years of experience, CAI has supported the field through major public health challenges, from the HIV epidemic to today’s opioid overdose crisis. We have contributed to the adoption of innovative approaches, such as motivational interviewing, and continue to provide training and technical assistance that respond to emerging needs across the country, including work in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Our staff bring deep expertise in substance use treatment and counseling, and CAI is accredited to provide continuing education for Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Use Counselors. Drawing on this experience, we equip providers with the tools and strategies they need to improve outcomes and better serve their communities.

A recent example of our work is CAI’s Project SUCCEED, which aims to support justice-involved individuals with a history of substance-use disorder as they navigate the critical transition back into the community after a period of incarceration. SUCCEED is grounded in the understanding that SUD is a chronic health condition—one that requires ongoing skills, support, and connection to services, not just short-term treatment. The program focuses on the period before and after release from jail or prison, a time when people face heightened risks of relapse and overdose. SUCCEED helps participants build the knowledge and practical skills they need to manage substance use and create a plan for stability and recovery during reentry.