This session is part of NAHEWD's national webinar series Bridging HIV and SUD: Innovations in the Field. The series will highlight various innovative models and approaches to treating substance use disorder (SUD) in people at risk for and living with HIV.

This presentation explores substance use among older adults living with HIV, emphasizing the unique risk factors they face and the impact of stigma on care. It introduces practical tools such as validated screeners, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction strategies to foster compassionate, person-centered care. Through a case study and evidence-based approaches, participants learn how to build trust, reduce substance-related harms, and support long-term wellness in this vulnerable population.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand rates of substance use among older adults living with HIV (OALWH).

2. Utilize screeners and motivational interviewing to understand a patient’s risk factors.

  3. Integrate harm reduction and non-stigmatizing language into patient interactions.