The Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast

Grab your tissues for this moving and powerful episode! Flora Sadri-Azarbayejani, DO, MPH, FAAFP, FASAM, joins host, Zach, to talk about her path to and passion for practicing addiction medicine. During the conversation, she shares stories and experiences that have been impactful on her journey and shaped both how she practices medicine – emphasizing the critical component of compassion – and her perspectives on addiction. Dr. Flora Sadri-Azarbayejani attended Boston University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and a dual master's degree in epidemiology and biostatistics, and medical science. She attained a doctorate in medicine from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Sadri-Azarbayejani worked as an epidemiologist in infectious disease at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; completed residency and became a family physician and eventually chief medical officer at The Community Health Center of Franklin County (Massachusetts); and, after becoming board certified in addiction medicine, has worked in the addiction medicine space since 2014 in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has opened programs in both arenas.   Dr. Sadri-Azarbayejani serves as the medical director for substance use services at Lowell Community Health Center and medical director for an inpatient addiction treatment center. She is active in various medical societies, including the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). She has been involved with the development of CARF guidelines for outpatient addiction treatment programs and hopes to make an impact on passing legislation of supervised consumption sites in the near future. LINKS: Massachusetts Medical Society American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) CARF International   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Alta DeRoo, MD, MBA, FACOG, DFASAM, joins host, Zach, to talk about her experience in the US Navy (USN) and her path to practicing OBGYN and addiction medicine. She discusses the intersection of general medicine or primary specialty practice and addiction and shares her perspectives on stigma related to addiction. Dr. DeRoo explains the potential challenges of transitioning from active duty to veteran status and how these can sometimes lead to substance use, addiction, or mental health issues. Finally, she shares what inspired (and continues to inspire) her sense of service and offers advice to the next generation of addiction medicine specialists. Dr. DeRoo's father was active-duty Navy when she was born on Midway Island in the South Pacific. A sense of service was branded in her character, and after earning a BA in psychology from Connecticut College, she joined the Navy and served for 24 years. She was selected for combat Naval Aviation and was among the first cohort of women to fly in combat. Dr. DeRoo was the first female in her community of the E2C Hawkeye, a carrier airborne early warning plane. (They have a short cameo in Top Gun, but you would not see Mav flying her plane.) After 8 years of aviation and over 40 combat missions, Dr. DeRoo was awarded a scholarship to attend medical school. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Medicine, she completed residency in OBGYN. She completed several missions, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and 5 deployments on the USNS Mercy performing surgeries in Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and she was the mission commander of a Papua, New Guinea mission. Dr. DeRoo became very aware of the alcohol and drugs that sailors and soldiers used on deployment (for various reasons). Her father was also one of these sailors who eventually developed alcohol use disorder. From his stories and the stories of her shipmates and battle buddies, she became very interested in the science of addiction. Her Commanding Officer at the time allowed her to moonlight at a nearby methadone clinic, which was the beginning of her career in addiction medicine. Dr. DeRoo later became board certified in addiction medicine and practiced both OBGYN and addiction medicine. She retired from the USN to Culpeper, VA, where she started the county's first ever OBOT with their Community Services Board, started treating pregnant women with SUD, and incorporated this into a clinic in her town. Through aggressive naloxone distribution and OUD treatment, they were able to decrease their opioid overdose rate between 2016-2018. It was during this time Dr. DeRoo also became interested in the Virginia Chapter of ASAM. She served as secretary for two years, then president elect in 2020. The only thing that drew her away from serving as president in 2020 was a job opportunity that, to her, was a calling. She was asked to be the medical director of the Betty Ford Center and all California sites. She made dramatic changes there and was promoted to chief medical officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and their 16 sites across the US. During this time, she also earned an MBA from the University of Virginia and became a Distinguished Fellow of ASAM.   Virginia Society of Addiction Medicine (VASAM) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Distinguished Fellows of ASAM (DFASAM) If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Lipi Roy, MD, MPH, FASAM, shares what piqued her interest in the field of addiction medicine and how she expanded her work into media outreach and appearances. Dr. Roy talks about creating her YouTube channel, Health, Humor, and Harmony, how she started her company, SITA MED, and what it takes to prepare for a media appearance. She describes her experience as chief of addiction medicine at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York and discusses why she feels so compelled to speak about the issues of stigma and loneliness and how they intersect. Finally, Dr. Roy offers advice for the next generation of addiction medicine providers. Dr. Roy is a physician, international speaker, media personality, entrepreneur, and host of the YouTube series, Health, Humor and Harmony. In July 2023, she founded SITA MED, a health speaking company addressing stress-related conditions such as addiction and anxiety, and has trained doctors, judges, journalists, executives, and beyond. Dr. Roy served on the frontlines of the pandemic as the medical director of COVID Isolation and Quarantine Sites for Housing Works in New York City. She also treated patients with opioid use disorder at a harm reduction clinic in the Bronx while working at multiple COVID vaccination sites. As an MSNBC and NBC medical contributor, Dr. Roy made over 350 live television appearances discussing COVID-19. Dr. Roy's work spans academia, clinical medicine, homeless health, social and criminal justice, public speaking, media and entertainment. As the former chief of addiction medicine for Rikers Island, Dr. Roy oversaw substance use treatment and recovery services at the nation's 2nd-largest jail complex. Dr. Roy also sees patients at Greenwich House Center for Healing and serves as clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health. Previously, Dr. Roy served as a primary care doctor to Boston's homeless population among whom the leading cause of death was drug overdose. She also served as an attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and as faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Roy completed her medical and master's in public health degrees at Tulane University, followed by residency training in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Roy's mission is to educate and empower the public to make healthy decisions. As a Forbes contributor who has interviewed medical experts such as Dr. Peter Hotez and celebrities such as Mary J. Blige and Ice-T, Dr. Roy is one of the world's trusted experts in health communication. She has appeared on multiple media outlets including CNN, The Tamron Hall Show, CBS New York and PIX11, and has been featured in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Cooking Light, Oprah.com, and many others.   Health, Humor, and Harmony SITA MED Articles as Forbes contributor On social media at Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Petros Levounis, MD, MA, DFASAM, talks with our host, Zach, about why he chose to practice addiction medicine, including an impactful experience at the Betty Ford Center (now Hazelden Betty Ford) as a medical student. He shares his thoughts regarding stigma and his extensive writing about addiction. Dr. Levounis speaks about how his fields of study and interest (including sociology, medicine, mental health, and addiction) intersect and the ways treatment can be both unique to the individual and similar. He shares what motivates him to treat addiction every day and where he sees the field moving in the future. Dr. Levounis offers advice for those who may have a loved one with addiction and to the next generation of addiction providers. Dr. Levounis serves as professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and associate dean at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is also the chief of service at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, director of the Northern New Jersey Medication Assisted Treatment Center of Excellence, and immediate past president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Dr. Levounis came to Rutgers from Columbia University where he served as director of the Addiction Institute of New York from 2002 to 2013. Dr. Levounis is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University where he studied chemistry and biophysics before receiving his medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Medical College of Pennsylvania. During medical school, he researched the effects of social class on patient-physician relationships in Oxford, England, and received an MA degree in sociology from Stanford. In 1994, he moved to New York City to train in psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University. He graduated from Columbia earning the National Institute of Mental Health Outstanding Resident Award and went on to complete his fellowship in addiction psychiatry at New York University. Dr. Levounis has written numerous articles, monographs, and book chapters; has lectured extensively on addiction topics throughout the United States and abroad; and has been interviewed by CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, The Martha Stewart Radio Show, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among others. Dr. Levounis has served on the boards of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Board of Addiction Medicine, and from 2005 to 2009 chaired the national Committee on Addiction Treatment of the APA. Dr. Levounis is a Betty Ford Scholar, a recipient of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists' Distinguished Service Award and the ASAM Educator of the Year Award, and a distinguished fellow of the APA and ASAM. In 2017, he was elected as an honorary member of the World Psychiatric Association. He is the 2024 recipient of The John P. McGovern Award on Addiction and Society, from ASAM. Dr. Levounis has published fourteen books including the self-help paperback Sober Siblings: How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister—and Not Lose Yourself; the textbook of Substance Dependence and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders; Motivational Interviewing for Clinical Practice; The Behavioral Addictions; Becoming Mindful; LGBTQ Mental Health: The Spectrum of Gender and Sexuality; Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder, now in its second edition; and Technological Addictions. Dr. Levounis is currently working on the first textbook of Nature Therapy, which is going to be available in the fall of 2024. His books have been translated into French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Dr. Levounis is married to actor Lukas Hassel and lives in New York City.   Links: American Psychiatric Association (APA) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Marianne Fingerhood, DNP, ANP-BC, joins us to share her journey into the field of addiction medicine and discuss the importance of providing medication treatment for addiction within a primary care setting. She talks about the essential role nurse practitioners (NPs) play in treating addiction, how crucial it is for NPs to have proper support, and the benefits of a professional community. Marianne touches on the dynamics of having a husband, Dr. Michael Fingerhood, who also treats addiction. She describes the unique ways nurses can combat stigma related to addiction and shares about the Words Matter Pledge initiative within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Marianne also emphasizes the significance of resilience as a provider and offers words of wisdom to future NPs and addiction medicine practitioners. Dr. Marianne Fingerhood has been a nurse since 1985, a nursing educator since 1990, and a nurse practitioner in primary care since 1999. In all settings, she has brought a passion for sharing knowledge, whether with patients, students, or colleagues. In her clinician role, she is the champion for expanding access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) in the primary care setting. As the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program director at Johns Hopkins University, she created a curriculum related to compassionate treatment of chronic pain, safe opioid prescribing, and recognition and treatment of SUD. She directs the Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transitions (SNAPT) Fellowship for nurse practitioners entering practice post-graduation. Her fellows work in community-based practices and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) where they care for patients with opioid use disorder.   Links Johns Hopkins School of Nursing DNP: Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transitions (SNAPT) Fellowship Johns Hopkins Medicine - The Words Matter Pledge Dr. Michael Fingerhood podcast episode   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD, shares her personal journey from growing up as a child of parents who struggled with addiction to becoming a clinical psychologist and author. She discusses her documentary, Utter Nonsense, her books, Mainlining Philly and Aftershock, and her podcast, Mind Over Mayhem. Dr. Utter offers insights on addiction, harm reduction, and her experiences in Philadelphia; addresses stigma around addiction; and offers advice for the next generation of mental health professionals and those who may have a loved one with addiction. Dr. Utter is a licensed psychologist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is PSYPACT certified, allowing her to conduct telepsychology across state boundaries. Dr. Utter specializes in working with individuals who struggle with co-occurring mental health concerns like substance use disorders in conjunction with severe depression and anxiety. She also works in medical affairs as a clinical scientist in the substance use disorder space. In 2020, Dr. Utter released her first book, Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope, and Resisting Drug Addiction, which resulted from her desire to share her story and instill hope in others. The book is based on her life experiences and challenges as a result of her parents' struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and other mental health concerns like major depressive disorder, severe anxiety, and trauma. Her documentary, cleverly titled Utter Nonsense, was released on Apple TV and Prime Video in August of 2023. It is an informative, touching, and personal look into the world of drug addiction. It focuses on individuals in the Kensington section of Philadelphia and follows her story and that of a few others to educate viewers about how addiction impacts everyone in its orbit. Released in September of 2023, her second book, Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today, focuses on the aftershock phenomenon, a repertoire of delayed mental health symptoms like irritability, emotional fatigue, and depression, all rooted in seemingly everyday events like parenting, changing careers, divorce, the death of a loved one, etc., that produce real but often unrecognized stress and trauma. Dr. Utter currently lives in a Philadelphia suburb with her husband and two children. When she is not practicing psychology or writing, she can be found on the soccer field or basketball court cheering for her kiddos.   Links: Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD Utter Nonsense Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope, and Resisting Drug Addiction Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today Mind Over Mayhem   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Jason Kirby, DO, MBA, FASAM, shares what led him to the field of addiction medicine and describes a particular turning point in his career path. Dr. Kirby discusses the importance of individualized treatment, the similarities between fitness and recovery communities, and how his interest in human behavior influenced his career journey. He stresses the critical importance of self-care among physicians and other care providers, the benefits of physician health programs, and addressing the four facets of well-being. Dr. Kirby shares his thoughts about the stigma associated with addiction and the critical role education plays in reducing stigma and promoting recovery. He discusses his efforts as president of the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TnSAM) to address stigma and other issues and shares his primary goals in this leadership role. Dr. Kirby highlights some impactful moments during his career and offers advice for the next generation of addiction medicine providers. Dr. Jason Kirby serves as the chief medical officer for Landmark Recovery and Praxis by Landmark Recovery and is currently the president of TnSAM. He is an expert in population health policy, healthcare economics, and human behavior and is dual board-certified in addiction medicine and family medicine. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and his MBA from Point Park University. Dr. Kirby also is a fellow and leader of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), having served or currently serving on its Finance, ASAM Criteria Strategy Steering, Annual Conference Program Planning, and Levels of Care Certification Oversight Committees. Recently, he co-authored the withdrawal management chapter for The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition. He previously served as medical director of addiction and recovery services at St. Peter's Health Partners in Albany, NY, and practiced at St. Peter's Hospital as their chief of behavioral health. Prior to that, Dr. Kirby served as medical director for Gateway Rehabilitation Center and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Medical Management and Policy Division. Originally from West Virginia, Dr. Kirby is also an avid woodworker, competitive CrossFitter, husband, and father to three amazing little boys. Links: Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TnSAM) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition Find your State Physician Health program CrossFit   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not along. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this powerful episode, ASAM's 2024 Training Directors Award recipient Dr. Scott Teitelbaum shares his own journey with addiction and recovery. He discusses the importance of compassionate care, addresses stigma around addiction, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing addiction as an illness while also acknowledging the often hurtful behavior associated with it. Dr. Teitelbaum talks about the critical need for early training on addiction, reflects on his life's journey thus far, and offers advice to the next generation of addiction care team members. Dr. Teitelbaum, MD, FAAP, ABPM-ADM, DFASAM, is the Pottash Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Florida's (UF) College of Medicine, where he serves as vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry, chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine, medical director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, and former fellowship director of UF's American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) – Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Originally trained as a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Teitelbaum later completed fellowships in addiction medicine and child psychiatry at UF. He became medical director of the Florida Recovery Center in 2002, and since then has been involved in the evaluation and/or treatment of more than 5,000 health care providers and other professionals from across the country. Dr. Teitelbaum developed one of the first-ever accredited fellowships in addiction medicine, and his program has trained more addiction medicine fellows than any other program nationwide. In 2016, Dr. Teitelbaum was awarded the Pottash Endowment, allowing for the creation of a research initiative that is focused on addiction medicine and the fight toward recovery. He has been honored on multiple occasions with the Exemplary Teacher Award for his guidance of medical students. In addition to receiving ASAM's 2024 Training Directors Award, Dr. Teitelbaum also received ASAM's Annual Award in 2018.   Links: UF College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 2024 ASAM Award Recipients Nicole Labor Treat Addiction Save Lives podcast episode   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Dr. James Baker, MD, MPH, describes his experience with addiction both as an emergency physician and as a father who lost his son, Macky, to an opioid overdose. Sharing Macky's story throughout, Dr. Baker emphasizes the evolution of his own feelings toward those who suffer from addiction, from anger to gentle compassion, and shares what inspired him to write This Monstrous Obsession: Hard Lessons Learned About Addiction. Dr. Baker describes his experiences helping Macky access treatment and talks about the importance of medical training regarding addiction and the relationship between pain and overdose and death from opioids. Dr. Baker addresses the stigma surrounding addiction and shares his thoughts on the current and future state of the field of addiction medicine. He also offers advice for those who are or may be entering the field. Dr. Baker is president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine (MASAM), physician expert for the Massachusetts Consultation Service for Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP), associate medical director of Merrimack Valley Hospice, and assistant professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.   Links: James Baker This Monstrous Obsession Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine Massachusetts Consultation Service for Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP) This Mass. Doctor hopes his son's addiction story can help others   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In another special episode, we are joined by 2024 ASAM Media Award recipient Teri Sforza. Teri describes her journalistic approach as that of an "accountability reporter." In this conversation, she shares her journey to the field of addiction reporting and her thoughts about the need for potential legislation and oversight related to the addiction treatment industry. Teri discusses her work as a lead reporter on the award-winning series, Rehab Riviera. She also addresses how she has perceived stigma through her reporting, how journalists can help combat stigma, and what motivates her to continue her work. Teri offers advice and words of wisdom for up-and-coming or current journalists who may be interested in reporting on addiction. Teri Sforza, MFA, is one of the lead reporters on the Orange County Register (OCR)/Southern California News Group's ongoing probe of fraud, abuse, and death in the Southern California addiction treatment industry. The Rehab Riviera series coverage won first place for investigative reporting from the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA), first place for projects reporting from Best of the West, and was a finalist for the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation's print award in 2018. Teri birthed the Watchdog column in 2008, aiming to keep a critical (but good-humored) eye on governments and nonprofits, which won first place for public service reporting from the CNPA in 2010. She contributed to the OCR's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of fertility fraud at UC Irvine, covered what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in America‘s history, and is the author of The Strangest Song, the first book to tell the story of a genetic condition called Williams syndrome and the extraordinary musicality of many of the people who have it. She earned her M.F.A. from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, and enjoys making documentaries. She's honored that her work has been recognized by ASAM and hopes for a brighter future for people struggling with addiction. Links: ASAM Awards & Scholarships Rehab Riviera The Orange County Register Southern California News Group American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) The Strangest Song: One Father's Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Stephanie Weiss, MD, PhD, FASAM, joins us for this special episode recorded at ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. Dr. Weiss shares her experiences attending ASAM's conferences over the past few years, including the virtual conference in 2020 when she was a Ruth Fox Scholar. She talks about her extensive educational journey and the surprising path to her current job at NIDA. She also discusses her work regarding kratom, kratom use, and how that use differs in the US versus other countries. Dr. Weiss addresses the challenges of interpreting urine drug testing and the complexities of stigma related to addiction.   Dr. Weiss is the staff clinician serving the Translational Addiction Medicine Branch (TAMB) of the NIDA IRP. After earning a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of South Florida, Dr. Weiss received her medical degree from Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in 2011. She practiced as an emergency physician in Florida before completing fellowships in addiction medicine and medical toxicology, a subspecialty that cares for patients with poisonings, environmental exposures, and overdoses. She also participated in Boston University's Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars Program, which fosters the development of addiction physician scientists. Dr. Weiss assumes responsibility for providing optimal, safe, and ethical care to study participants and clinical support toward the TAMB mission of conducting inpatient and outpatient proof-of-concept human laboratory studies. Her research interests include kratom toxicology, medication misuse, and improving interpretation of urine drug testing. Links: ASAM Annual Conference information Ruth Fox Scholarship Program NIDA – National Institute on Drug Abuse Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars Program American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Alexander Zotos, MD, FASAM, joined our host, Zach, live from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference in early April. In this special episode, Dr. Zotos explains how his mentors and patients influenced his decision to pursue the field of addiction medicine. He talks about how perceptions surrounding addiction have evolved over time and efforts of the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM) to challenge the stigma associated with addiction. Dr. Zotos shares his thoughts on the importance of holistic care, his positive experiences attending ASAM's conferences over the years, and his main takeaways from this year's conference. He offers advice to his younger self and newer addiction medicine professionals, stressing the importance of education and training. Dr. Zotos has been practicing addiction medicine for over 18 years in the Chattanooga, TN, area. Having worked in both public and private settings, he brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the field of addiction medicine. Since his medical residency, Dr. Zotos has been working at a local treatment center and currently serves as the assistant medical director. His special interests include treatment of opioid use disorder with buprenorphine. He has been board certified in addiction medicine since 2010.  Dr. Zotos additionally works in emergency medicine and is board certified in family medicine. He currently serves as the treasurer and past president of TNSAM.    Links: ASAM Annual Conference information Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, we are joined by George Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Dr. Koob talks about his background and career journey, along with major insights made through his research, including regarding alcohol withdrawal. He addresses stigma related to alcohol use (or abstinence from) and offers advice for the next generation of researchers and clinicians in this exciting and dynamic space, with so much potential for expanding knowledge. Dr. Koob shares resources for individuals, family members, physicians, or anyone looking for information related to alcohol use and alcohol use disorder, including Rethinking Drinking and the NIAAA Treatment Navigator. He emphasizes the importance of motivation (e.g., motivational interviewing) rather than confrontation and seeing your doctor, or encouraging your loved one to see their doctor, for a physical as a good first step in addressing any issues related to alcohol use. Dr. Koob finally explains his motivation for continuing his work in this field. In addition to serving as director of NIAAA, Dr. Koob is also a senior investigator at the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse where he directs the Neurobiology of Addiction Laboratory in the Integrative Neurosciences Research Branch. As an authority on alcohol use disorder, drug addiction, and stress, he has contributed to our understanding of the neurocircuitry associated with the acute reinforcing effects of alcohol and drugs and the neuroadaptations of the reward and stress circuits associated with the transition to dependence. He has published over 800 peer reviewed papers; mentored 13 PhD students, 85 post-doctoral fellows, and 11 K99's (Pathway to Independence Award postdoctoral researchers); and authored several books including the Neurobiology of Addiction. He received his PhD in behavioral physiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1972. He did post-doctoral studies at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the University of Cambridge (England). He subsequently held positions at The Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Koob is the recipient of many honors, including membership in the National Academy of Medicine (USA) and award of the Legion of Honor (France). Links: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Society for Neuroscience – Autobiographical Chapter Rethinking Drinking NIAAA Treatment Navigator National Institute on Drug Abuse Neurobiology of Addiction The Healthcare Professional's Core Resource on Alcohol American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

For this special episode recorded live at ASAM's Annual Conference, Kelly Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP, DFASAM, talks about her journey into the field of addiction medicine and how her early experience dispelled myths she previously heard about people who use drugs. She addresses stigma related to addiction, the prevalence of xylazine in the illicit drug supply*, and the need to recognize and treat appropriately polysubstance drug use and overdoses. Dr. Ramsey also discusses her thoughts about the future of addiction medicine and the importance of harm reduction and meeting patients where they are. She shares what she finds enjoyable about attending ASAM's conference and offers words of wisdom to the new generation of addiction medicine providers. Dr. Ramsey is a board-certified internal medicine and addiction medicine physician who has treated substance use disorder since 2004. She worked as medical director of an academic center-based opioid treatment program (OTP) in the South Bronx before working for nearly a decade for a large FQHC in the Hudson Valley where she created and grew a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) program for opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) to 10 sites and 1500 patients. More recently, Dr. Ramsey worked as the chief of medical services at the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), in a policy, regulatory, and clinical role. Dr. Ramsey currently works as an addiction medicine and harm reduction consultant as well as providing low threshold clinical care and clinical supervision in addiction medicine in three drug user health hubs in New York. She has provided expert advice to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) AIDS Institute and their Office of Drug User Health (ODUH), serving on numerous committees for about 15 years, providing expertise in addiction medicine, harm reduction, HIV care, and HCV care. Dr. Ramsey was the recipient of the New York State Commissioner's Special Recognition Award for contributions to drug user health in NYS in December 2018. She was the Distinguished Contributions to Behavioral Medicine Award Recipient, awarded by the American College of Physicians (ACP) in April 2023. Dr. Ramsey was awarded the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Special Medical Alumni Board Award in October 2023. Dr. Ramsey is the immediate past president of the New York Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (NYSAM) Board of Directors. In addition, she currently serves as Region I Director, representing NYS, on the national American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Board of Directors. Links: ASAM's Annual Conference information Finding Lifesaving Solutions to a Dangerous Trend American Society of Addiction Medicine   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.   *The comments in the discussion alluding to 90% of syringes containing xylazine refer to the findings of the following study: The Emerging of Xylazine as a New Drug of Abuse and its Health Consequences among Drug Users in Puerto Rico - PMC (nih.gov).

Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD, joined us from the ASAM 55th Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, which took place April 4-7, 2024. In this special episode, Dr. Utter talks about her experiences at conference over the years and the relationships she has built over time at this annual event. She also describes some of her favorite memories from conference, what she loves about attending, and why she thinks others should attend, as well (spoiler: Connections! Meet-ups! Yoga! Beautiful location!). She emphasizes the importance of self-care for addiction treatment providers and offers advice for those who may have a loved one struggling with addiction or individuals in active addiction. Dr. Utter is a licensed psychologist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is PSYPACT certified, allowing her to conduct telepsychology across state boundaries. Dr. Utter specializes in working with individuals who struggle with co-occurring mental health concerns like substances use disorders in conjunction with severe depression and anxiety. She also works in medical affairs as a clinical scientist in the substance use disorder space. In 2020, Dr. Utter released her first book, Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope and Resisting Drug Addiction, which resulted from her desire to share her story and instill hope in others. The book is based on her life experiences and challenges as a result of her parents' struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and other mental health concerns like major depressive disorder, severe anxiety, and trauma. Her documentary cleverly titled Utter Nonsense was released on Apple TV and Prime Video in August of 2023. It is an informative, touching, and personal look into the world of drug addiction. It focuses on individuals in the Kensington section of Philadelphia and follows her story and a few others to educate on how addiction impacts everyone in its orbit. Released in September of 2023, her second book Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today focuses on the aftershock phenomenon, a repertoire of delayed mental health symptoms like irritability, emotional fatigue, and depression, all rooted in seemingly everyday events like parenting, changing careers, divorce, the death of a loved one, etc., that produce real but often unrecognized stress and trauma. Dr. Utter currently lives in a Philadelphia suburb with her husband and two children. When she is not practicing psychology or writing, she can be found on the soccer field or basketball court cheering for her kiddos. Links: ASAM Annual Conference Information Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope, and Resisting Drug Addiction Utter Nonsense Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today American Society of Addiction Medicine If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast features Anthony Albanese, MD, DFASAM. ASAM's 2024 Annual Award recipient, Dr. Albanese reflects on personal memories about how he learned about addiction and aspired to be an endoscopist because of video games like Space Invaders and Pacman. Dr. Albanese discusses his approach to medicine, focusing on the mind-body connection. He also talks about the emphasis he places on addiction medicine education and its importance in challenging the stigma, shame, and insecurity around addiction. Dr. Albanese explains his philosophy of "no wrong door" to treatment, how his career has evolved, and what motivates him to continue his work. Finally, Dr. Albanese offers advice to the next generation of addiction medicine specialists. Dr. Albanese is the chief of medicine for the VA Northern California Health Care System. He is also a health sciences clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at the UC Davis School of Medicine, and a vice chair in the Department of Medicine. He attended college and medical school at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1986. Dr. Albanese did his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at The St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York (now Mount Sinai West), and hepatology fellowship at the University of Miami. Under the mentorship of the addiction physicians in New York, he worked in the hospital's methadone clinic and detoxification programs. In Miami Beach, Dr. Albanese worked as the co-director of an addiction treatment program. After moving to Sacramento, California, he continued his work at the VA in gastroenterology, hepatology, and addiction medicine. Since then, he has had various roles at the VA including a position as an affiliations officer with the VA Office of Academic Affiliations. After completing a major national GME expansion project in 2021, Dr. Albanese returned to VA Northern California as chief of medicine. His research interests and publications have regarded the medical aspects associated with opioids and alcohol use, intestinal changes associated with HIV infection, and graduate medical education. He became a certified addiction medicine specialist first by ASAM in 1991, then by ABAM in 2007, and by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in 2019.   Links: VA Northern California Health Care | Veterans Affairs American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) ASAM's Awards & Scholarships American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Dr. Jasleen Salwan stopped by to speak with our host, Zach, at ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. In this special episode, she talks about her journey into the field of addiction medicine and how it marries together her interests in both individual and population health, and mental and physical health. Dr. Salwan expresses how grateful she is for her mentors who have inspired her along the way and to be practicing in the addiction medicine space. She speaks about her experiences at ASAM's conferences over the years, including how gathering together with other addiction medicine professionals feels like a family reunion. She discusses the panel session in which she participated at this year's conference – The Future of Addiction Care: Transformed Systems, Practices, and Lives – and the importance of The ASAM Criteria™ in the treatment of addiction. As a physician practicing primary care and addiction treatment together, she shares her vision of the future of the addiction medicine field and talks about the impacts of stigma and the challenges related to how addiction treatment centers are perceived. Finally, Dr. Salwan offers advice to the next generation of addiction treatment providers. Jasleen Salwan, MD, MPH, FASAM, is a board-certified addiction medicine and internal medicine physician practicing integrated primary care and substance use disorder treatment at Montgomery Family & Internal Medicine Associates in Silver Spring, Maryland. She earned her medical and public health degrees at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and completed residency at the Yale Primary Care program followed by a fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the ASAM Education core faculty and a consultant for the District Addiction Consultation Service (DACS). Dr Salwan is passionate about harm reduction advocacy and has published opinion pieces in the Hartford Courant and the Baltimore Sun. She also enjoys writing about the intersection of substance use and general medicine for a lay audience in her Psychology Today blog, No Quick Fix: Challenges in Addiction Medicine and Primary Care.   Links: ASAM Annual Conference Information The Future of Addiction Care: Transformed Systems, Practices, and Lives The ASAM Criteria, Fourth Edition Montgomery Family & Internal Medicine Associates American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) District Addiction Consultation Services (DACS) No Quick Fix: Challenges in addiction medicine and primary care   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Ian Latham, MD, sat down with our host, Zach, at ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. In this special episode, he speaks about his journey into the field of addiction medicine and his experience as an addiction medicine fellow at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Latham divulges what he enjoys about attending ASAM's annual conference and his impressions from this year's conference, in particular. He talks about the benefits of being a Ruth Fox Scholar and offers advice for other fellows or anyone thinking of entering the field of addiction medicine. Dr. Latham also shares his feelings about the state of the addiction medicine community in Minnesota. Dr. Latham is an addiction medicine fellow at the University of Minnesota; he recently completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Minnesota/North Memorial Residency Program. He completed his undergraduate education in molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and his medical education at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he participated in research in narrative medicine, trauma-informed addiction care, and mobile services for buprenorphine treatment. Dr. Latham has a particular interest in working with patients who identify within the LGBTQ+ community, the management of behavioral addictions, and the treatment and prevention of viral disease among people living with addiction.   Links: ASAM's Annual Conference Information Ruth Fox Scholarship Program Information American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Dr. Jasmine Douglas joined us live from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. In this episode, she shares a personal connection that brought her into the field of addiction medicine and her excitement about starting an addiction medicine fellowship this summer. Dr. Douglas also shares her thoughts about attending ASAM's Annual Conference and perspectives regarding stigma related to addiction. She discusses why she believes in holistic care when treating individuals with addiction and offers advice to her younger self (ride the wave!) and medical students or other professionals interested in pursuing the field of addiction medicine. Dr. Douglas is a third-year family medicine resident at the University of Texas HSC in Tyler, Texas. She is eagerly anticipating the start of her addiction medicine fellowship this July at UAMS in Little Rock, AK. Dr. Douglas is also a dedicated REACH fellow. This program focuses on increasing diversity in addiction medicine and ensuring culturally competent care for patients with substance use disorders. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Douglas finds fulfillment as the proud guardian of her sweet 2-year-old niece. She enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in imaginative play, and creating special memories with her little one.   Links: ASAM Annual Conference Information REACH American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Dr. Chad Elkin joins us from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference for a very informative conversation! He shares his experiences at ASAM conferences over the years and why he finds attending beneficial. He talks about his path into the field of addiction medicine and founding National Addiction Specialists. Dr. Elkin, soon-to-be president of the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM), discusses advocacy and other efforts happening in the state with regard to addiction and treatment. He describes the connection between dopamine and addiction and shares his extensive knowledge of the history of addiction, including the role of the British East India Company, the first opioid addiction epidemic in 1820, and the black-market trade of opium. He also discusses the current opioid epidemic and the proliferation of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply, including the origin of fentanyl precursors and how today's drug cartels operate. Dr. Chad Elkin is founder and medical director of National Addiction Specialists, a company offering addiction services for clients with substance use disorders such as opioid use disorder. He is board certified in addiction medicine and internal medicine. He serves as chairman of ASAM's Health Technology Committee, is a member of ASAM's Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PMRAC), and State Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee (SALC). At the state level, he serves as legislative chairman and president-elect of TNSAM. He is also on the planning committee for the Mid-South Addiction Conference held at Vanderbilt annually. Dr. Elkin collaborates with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and state legislators to support evidence-based regulatory and legislative changes concerning addiction medicine. He is also the host of the podcast Breaking Down Addiction, which explores various addiction topics. Dr. Elkins describes himself as an eternal optimist and a 7 on the enneagram scale, craving new adventures and experiences. His passion outside of work is competitive tennis, pickleball, snow skiing, working out, and watching Novak Djokovic destroy all tennis records. He enjoys exotic vacations with his wife and kids, helping his daughters get better at tennis, reading books about the history of addiction, and learning French and Spanish on Duolingo. He loves conversations with friends, chooses uplifting success-minded colleagues, is fiercely loyal, and tries to figure out ways to help them win in business and life.   Links: ASAM Annual Conference Information National Addiction Specialists Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM) Breaking Down Addiction American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Dr. Kwadwo Owusu-Boaitey joined us live from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. Dr. Owusu-Boaitey, who is in his first year of residency, shares how he became interested in the field of addiction medicine. He also shares the highlights from his experience at ASAM's conference, generally and as a Ruth Fox Scholar. He discusses the emphasis he places on treating patients holistically and the importance of all members of the care team in treating addiction. He also reflects on the state of stigma around addiction, based on his experience, and offers advice to the next generation of addiction medicine specialists. Dr. Kwadwo Owusu-Boaitey is a resident physician in psychiatry at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. He completed undergraduate studies in Philosophy (B.A.) and Biological Sciences (B.S.) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he was a Meyerhoff Scholar. He subsequently received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his PhD from the MIT Biology Department, where he studied regenerative biology. Dr. Owusu-Boaitey developed a passion for clinical psychiatry and addiction medicine during his latter stages of medical school, and is excited about his career as a budding addiction psychiatrist. His clinical interests are in new drug development (within both addiction and psychiatry broadly), and also the spiritual aspects of holistic addiction care. He serves as a regular volunteer with Miracle Mile Ministries (a faith-based outreach ministry serving people experiencing homelessness and substance addiction in Boston) and is a recipient of a 2024 Ruth Fox Scholarship from the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the 2023 Regional Travel Award from the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. Outside of medicine, Dr. Owusu-Boaitey enjoys competitive soccer/basketball, spoken word, and is the world's biggest fan of The Bible Project. Links: ASAM's Annual Conference Information Ruth Fox Scholarship Program Information American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) Miracle Mile Ministries The Bible Project If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas joins host, Zach, from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference. After sharing his favorite breakfast food, Dr. Baca-Atlas talks about his journey into the field of addiction medicine and his pathway to currently focusing on the intersection of primary care, mental health, and substance use disorder (SUD). He discusses being a former Ruth Fox Scholar and the opportunities that experience provided. Dr. Baca-Atlas also shares his perspectives on the stigma surrounding addiction and the need for improvement with regard to inequity related to substance use and treatment. He discusses the workshop session, Not HOCUS POCUS: Bedside U/S for the Addiction Medicine Specialist, he co-presented at conference about point of care ultrasound (POCUS). Dr. Baca-Atlas, who will become president of the North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine (NCSAM) in July, shares his goals in this new role and why he is looking forward to this opportunity. He also shares his experience in the podcasting field with Hippo Education and the Primary Care RAP podcast. Finally, Dr. Baca-Atlas offers advice for his younger self and the next generation of addiction medicine specialists. Dr. Baca-Atlas is originally from Baltimore, MD. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park and medical school at University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed his family medicine residency at UNC as well as an addiction medicine fellowship at UNC in the Department of Psychiatry. He serves as the medical director for UNC REACH Enhanced Primary Care and associate medical director for the Tobacco Treatment Program. He also serves as a contributor for Primary Care RAP (Reviews and Perspectives), a medical education podcast. Outside of work, Dr. Baca-Atlas enjoys spending time with his partner, eating breakfast for dinner, and traveling. Links: ASAM's 55th Annual Conference Information Ruth Fox Scholarship Not HOCUS POCUS: Bedside U/S for the Addiction Medicine Specialist North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine (NCSAM) Hippo Education Primary Care RAP podcast   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Dr. Cara Poland joins host Zach from ASAM's 55th Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. She shares her journey into the field of addiction medicine and her personal reasons for feeling so passionate about the field. Dr. Poland discusses her thoughts about why alcohol use disorder (AUD) is generally seen as less serious than other substance use disorders (SUD), such as opioid use disorder, and the importance of FDA-approved medications for addiction, kindness, and compassion in treatment. She talks about myriad sources of stigma associated with addiction, her focus on education and training of the next generation of addiction specialists, and reducing stigma within the medical community. Dr. Poland also shares some personal experiences from ASAM's Annual Conference, past and present, and advice for clinicians new to the addiction medicine field. Dr. Cara Poland is a recognized expert in addiction medicine. She is a faculty member at Michigan State University. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University and was trained in internal medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in addiction medicine at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her master's degree in education from Boston University. She has an interest in educating health care providers and providers-in-training to improve care for patients with SUD, particularly during pregnancy and early parenting.   Links: Cara Poland, MD - Addiction Medicine Physician ASAM's Annual Conference Information MI Cares   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

Dr. Nzinga Harrison joins the podcast and shares her journey into medicine – and psychiatry and addiction medicine, in particular – including how being raised by activist parents impacted her career path. She also emphasizes that mental health issues and substance use disorders are chronic conditions and the importance of separating the person from the symptoms of their condition or illness. Dr. Harrison shares the inspiration behind her recently-released book, Un-Addiction: 6 Mind-Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life, and what the writing process was like for her. She discusses the inheritability of addiction and how other factors (e.g., psychological, environmental) play into addiction as well. Dr. Harrison talks about the concept of pre-addiction vs. addiction and the spectrum of the illness. She emphasizes the importance of the whole care team and comprehensive care in addiction treatment. Dr. Harrison also discusses stigma and stigmatizing language surrounding addiction and the importance and implications of states and organizations making changes to the language they use. She shares key takeaways from her own experiences hosting podcasts, including her latest, Un-Addiction. Finally, Dr. Harrison shares advice she would offer her younger self and the next generation of addiction medicine providers. Dr. Nzinga Harrison is passionate and outspoken about the need to expand the addiction medicine workforce. She is the co-founder and chief medical officer for Eleanor Health, an innovative mental health and addiction treatment company, and has more than 20 years of experience practicing medicine. She is a double-board certified physician with specialties in general adult psychiatry and addiction medicine. Dr. Harrison completed undergraduate training at Howard University in Washington DC, medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and residency training at Emory University in Atlanta. She has spent her career as a physician treating individuals from marginalized communities with substance use and other mental health conditions. As a physician executive, she has served as senior vice president and chief medical officer, roles committed to creating and improving systems-based delivery of psychiatric and substance use disorder care. She is a vocal advocate for stigma reduction and is passionate about the necessity for whole-person care as individuals and communities seek to recover from and prevent substance use disorders. You can read more about these issues in her new book, Un- Addiction: 6 Mind-Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life. She also appears in the award-winning documentary Tipping the Pain Scale, which addresses the crisis of addiction in America. Dr. Harrison holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the Morehouse School of Medicine and is vice-chair for the Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee for ASAM. She has been married to her husband Joel for 20 years and has two sons, ages 17 and 18.   LINKS: Un-Addiction: 6 Mind-Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life Un-Addiction podcast (also available on other platforms) Eleanor Health Tipping the Pain Scale Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In another special episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast, we are joined by Jonathan Stoltman and Ashton Marra, co-founders of Reporting on Addiction, a collaboration of the Opioid Policy Institute and 100 Days in Appalachia, along with addiction science experts, professional journalists, and journalism educators, with the goal of improving reporting on the topic of addiction. Jonathan and Ashton share how they became focused on promoting responsible reporting around addiction, from their backgrounds in journalism and education (Ashton) and addiction science and research (Jonathan), and the genesis of the Reporting on Addiction project, in response to then-current media coverage of the topic. They talk about the importance of helping both journalists (including journalism educators and students) and addiction experts so they can communicate more effectively and understand how to spread awareness about addiction, dismantle the stigma around it, and make information accessible to media consumers. Ashton and Jonathan discuss why they find it exciting to work with young journalists and journalism students, the importance of local news outlets, and more specifically, the vital role of college and university newsrooms. They also share tips for journalists about how to bring attention to their stories, how Reporting on Addiction helps addiction experts, and why it is essential that experts communicate with members of the media and student journalists. Jonathan and Ashton speak out their individual organizations – the Opioid Policy Institute and 100 Days in Appalachia – and other areas in which they are helping journalists with their reporting. They address the concept of stigma around addiction in reporting, helping journalists change their perspective, and how they can see addiction reporting evolving in a positive way. Finally, Ashton and Jonathan share advice and key takeaways for journalists and experts, both. Jonathan JK Stoltman, PhD is co-director of Reporting on Addiction; a project working to increase the accuracy and empathy of reporting on drug use and addiction. He is also director of the Opioid Policy Institute; a think tank that uses multi-pronged approaches to better understand gaps in treatment and recovery services. Ashton Marra is the co-founder and co-director of Reporting on Addiction, a collaborative project working to train professional and student journalists in solutions-focused journalism methods that help break cycles of stigma often perpetuated through media coverage of our communities. Ashton is also a teaching assistant professor in the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, where she teaches broadcast, writing, investigative and community-engagement courses, and is the executive editor of 100 Days in Appalachia, a national Edward R. Murrow award-winning publication. There, she oversees the work of a team of editors, contributors and reporters across Appalachia to create content by Appalachians for Appalachians. Links Reporting on Addiction 100 Days in Appalachia Opioid Policy Institute The State of Local News Project | Local News Initiative (northwestern.edu)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.   The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

In this special episode, we are joined by journalist Aneri Pattani. Ms. Pattani shares how her interest in the field of mental health journalism grew from a personal experience during her college years. She discusses how reporting on mental health and addiction has traditionally fallen under the crime beat and has therefore generally failed to cover the public health aspect of the larger story. She talks about mental health and addiction as systematic issues that should be reported in their larger context, rather than covered as individual events. Ms. Pattani offers her thoughts on how journalists can prepare to report on these health and science topics and shares helpful resources, including the Association of Health Care Journalists and The Open Notebook. She also touches on how reporting on mental health and addiction differs from other types of reporting. Ms. Pattani discusses her writing process, experiences working in this field, and the evolution of mental health and addiction reporting. Finally, she shares advice for both seasoned and new reporters who cover and would like to cover mental health and addiction. Aneri Pattani is a senior correspondent at KFF Health News, a national nonprofit outlet covering US health care and health policy. Ms. Pattani reports on a range of public health topics, with a focus on mental health, suicide, and substance use. Over the past year, she's produced a series of text and audio stories – published with NPR and CNN among other national outlets – about how state and local governments are spending their opioid settlement funds. She was a 2019 recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. She is pursuing her master's in public health as a Bloomberg fellow at Johns Hopkins University.   LINKS: Association of Health Care Journalists The Open Notebook How ERs Fail Patients With Addiction: One Patient's Tragic Death From Uber Rides to Patient Advocates: What It Takes to Increase ER Addiction Treatment Aneri Pattani (squarespace.com) KFF Health News ASAM Media Relations & Resources Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.   The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Dr. Nick Christian sits down with host, Zach, for a second time and talks about his experiences making music and touring with a country music band and how music fits into his life as an addiction medicine provider. He talks about moving to Austin, Texas, for his residency, where he knew he would be surrounded by other musicians. There, he connected with a band called Fertility House and released an album, Dust. Dr. Christian discusses his involvement with Humans of ATX, promoting humanism through patient encounters using art, and his thoughts on that experience through the lens of being a practitioner. He shares about Community First Village, where he previously lived and helped start a music collective, and how meaningful it is to connect with others through music. He believes that “art allows us to transcend the suffering of human experience” and is therapeutic for both the individual and the relationship that is built through creating art together.    Dr. Christian shares his thoughts on the importance of self-care and what that means for him. He talks about Health as a Human Right and his belief that addiction is currently the greatest threat to human health in the US. Reflecting back, Dr. Christian offers advice to his younger self and others upcoming in the medical community. Finally, Dr. Christian talks about R2R Productions, his new podcast venture with co-host Brandon Sands, and their first series, Sonic Buzz, in which they use a particular song to guide each episode's discussion about substance use and addiction. Dr. Nicholaus “Nick” Christian is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine and serves as a Staff Clinician with the Office of the Clinical Director, NIDA IRP. He received his medical degree and Master of Business Administration from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine and completed residency training at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as chief resident. He subsequently completed his addiction medicine fellowship at the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine as well as postdoctoral research training through the Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development program. Nick brings extensive experience providing inpatient and outpatient addiction care and conducting community-based participatory research with people with addiction who have experienced homelessness. His research interests include engaging marginalized populations in scientific research and improving care for people living with addiction.   Links: Sonic Buzz by R2R Productions Dust, album by Fertility House Community First! Village - Mobile Loaves & Fishes (mlf.org) Pure Goodness Music Collective, Vol. 1 Health as a Human Right: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians | Annals of Internal Medicine (acpjournals.org)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.   The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.

Dr. Gabrielle Jones is the recipient of the 2024 ASAM Award for the Promotion of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, and Justice in Addiction Medicine. She joins the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast to discuss her experiences working with young people and how those experiences brought her into the field of addiction medicine. Dr. Jones shares her thoughts on the importance of community and connectedness throughout the treatment and recovery process while recognizing each individual's uniqueness. She talks about the need for cultural responsiveness in addiction treatment, which is the topic of her upcoming book, Culturally Responsive Substance Use Treatment: A Guide for Practitioners, Students, and Organizations. Dr. Jones emphasizes the importance of recognizing each individual's lived experiences and identities and developing an individualized and comprehensive addiction treatment program based on these factors. Dr. Jones shares what she discovered while working in various communities and how identity played a role in substance use in these areas. She also discusses her involvement with The Miles Hall Foundation, raising awareness, and expanding access to mental health treatment to those who need it. Dr. Jones shares her thoughts and experiences with stigma related to addiction and addiction treatment, including the impact of non-stigmatizing language and some ways in which she has personally experienced stigma while treating addiction, in addition to forms of stigma faced by patients. Finally, Dr. Jones offers advice to those who may be considering or beginning a career in addiction medicine.   In addition to being honored by ASAM, Dr. Jones is also being recognized by Oklahoma State University with the College of Education and Human Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award, which is given to those who demonstrate significant promise toward establishing a distinguished career and making impactful contributions to their profession and beyond. Honorees seek opportunities to grow in their talents and purposefully serve others. Their quest for excellence is shown through their accomplishments, service to the community, and leadership potential.   Gabrielle Jones, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and the CEO and founder of Steady Clinical Consultation, Training, and Development Services. She founded Steady to improve substance use treatment for historically marginalized populations at the system level and to provide consultation and coaching to leadership and executives who are committed to championing Belonging, Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (BJED&I) in their workplace and for their workforce. Her expertise is in substance use treatment for youth and adults, and BJED&I initiatives at the system level. She has over a decade of experience working with marginalized communities, specifically, adolescents labeled "at-risk," people involved in the juvenile justice system and their families, and people who have substance use concerns or have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Dr. Jones has worked in direct care hospital settings, community mental health settings, primary school settings, and university settings as a faculty member. She provides trainings to non-profit organizations related to substance use and cultural responsiveness in the context of mental health treatment, and consultation to individuals working with populations listed above. In addition to Dr. Jones's consultations and trainings, she is active in non-profit board leadership, serving as vice chair for The Miles Hall Foundation, an organization committed to creating an alternative to calling the police during a mental health crisis, and previously serving as the Membership Board chair for the American Psychological Association. Dr. Jones received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at California State University, Long Beach. She completed her Master's and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. Her upcoming book, "Culturally Responsive Substance Use Treatment: A Guide for Practitioners, Students, and Organizations" introduces her CRST Framework and is intended to transform the current substance use treatment landscape and promote a standard of care that is truly culturally responsive.   Links: ASAM's Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, and Justice in Addiction Medicine Award Culturally Responsive Substance Use Treatment: A Guide for Practitioners, Students, and Organization The Miles Hall Foundation Steady Clinical Consultation, Training and Development Services Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences American Psychological Association   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.

Dr. Michael Fingerhood is a professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University and chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. In this episode, he shares his early experiences in medical school in the Bronx and how stigma within the medical community influenced his decision to pursue a career in addiction medicine. Dr. Fingerhood continues to combat stigma related to addiction, including through the Words Matter Pledge initiative. Dr. Fingerhood discusses the importance of raising awareness about stigma related to addiction, including through the practice of integrated care rather than siloing care. Dr. Fingerhood also talks about patients' self-assigned stigma, undoing shame and blame, and the importance of coping skills and strategies. He shares that, for him, helping patients in this way within the primary care setting is powerful. Dr. Fingerhood discusses the importance of teaching and training others – including students, residents, and fellows – to treat addiction and how the net of impact is widened through this process. Dr. Fingerhood is very active in his community, treating addiction and addressing associated stigma in various ways, and he shares how and why these activities are so important to him. He recalls the first patient for whom he prescribed buprenorphine – she is still his patient decades later! – and he offers advice for others interested in or joining the field of addiction medicine. Dr. Fingerhood grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and his Brooklyn accent still comes out at times. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University and his Medical Degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. His experiences in the Bronx helped shape his interest in addiction medicine. He completed internal medicine training and a chief resident year at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The mission of Dr. Fingerhood's career has been to promote and improve the provision of medical care to patients with substance use disorder, including the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C, with the development, maintenance, and evaluation of innovative programs related to the care of these individuals. Dr. Fingerhood created the Comprehensive Care Practice in 1994, a Ryan White-funded primary care practice largely devoted to providing care to individuals with substance use disorder. The practice has been innovative in integrating buprenorphine treatment into the primary care setting for over 700 individuals. He has also co-created novel buprenorphine treatment programs at a community center, at a church, and in a mobile van outside the Baltimore detention center. He has received the Health Equity Leadership Award from the Baltimore City Health Department. Dr. Fingerhood is co-author of the ASAM Handbook of Addiction Medicine and currently chairs the ASAM State of the Art Course in Addiction Medicine Program Planning Committee and the ASAM Medical Education Council. He was the chair of the ASAM Annual Conference Program Planning Committee for 6 years. Dr. Fingerhood has co-authored over 70 research papers and has received NIH research funding continuously over the past 30 years. Despite leaving New York, he remains an avid Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers fan, and he enjoys seeing three or four Broadway plays each year.   Links: Division of Addiction Medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Words Matter Pledge ASAM Handbook of Addiction Medicine ASAM State of the Art Course ASAM Annual Conference   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Paul Earley describes how his own experience with addiction and recovery led him to a career in addiction medicine. He shares how addiction affected him and his work, along with the personal consequences of his illness. He also touches on misconceptions about addiction and those with addiction and emphasizes that addiction is a complex and complicated illness. Dr. Earley shares that there are “many roads to peace,” and he believes it is especially helpful to be around others who are also in recovery. He goes on to discuss the importance of developing gratitude and being helpful to others and the transformation in recovery from being self-centered to becoming other-centered. Dr. Earley talks about the need to combat the stigma related to addiction, including the significance of using person-first language, and the efforts ASAM has undertaken toward this end. He emphasizes that addiction is a chronic illness, like diabetes or hypertension, and should be treated as such, and the role genetics plays in one's risk of addiction. By using the metaphor of wood kindling catching fire, Dr. Earley describes the way addiction works and how science shows the complexities of addiction and its effects on the brain. He discusses medications that are available to treat addiction and shares a meaningful story that demonstrates why he treats addiction. Lastly, Dr. Earley offers advice and insights to the next generation of addiction medicine professionals. Dr. Earley has been an addiction medicine physician for over 35 years. He treats all types of addictive disorders and specializes in the assessment and treatment of health care professionals. Dr. Earley speaks and trains on topics of addiction, its treatment, and addiction among health care professionals. In addition, he trains therapists on the neurobiological basis of addiction and psychotherapy. In his travels, he has provided training in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Switzerland. Dr. Earley is the author of three books and numerous articles on addiction and its treatment and has contributed to the ASAM textbook Principles of Addiction Medicine, as the author of the chapter Physician Health Programs and Addiction among Physicians. He is one of the contributing authors of The ASAM Criteria®. Dr. Earley's work was featured in the documentary series on addiction entitled Close to Home by Bill Moyers. Dr. Earley is a past president of ASAM and received ASAM's Annual Award in 2015.   Links: Textbooks (asam.org) ASAM Criteria 4th Edition Annual Award (asam.org) Changing Lives | BillMoyers.com   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.

In this latest episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast, Dr. Kristin Martin shares her journey into the field of addiction medicine. She discusses how her experience as an ER physician and medical director influenced that journey and her quest for better options for and consistency in care for her patients. Dr. Martin talks about how learning from her patients about their recovery journeys broadened her understanding of addiction, and she shares how the COVID crisis affected how she cared for patients with addiction and approached addiction treatment. She explains her view that addiction affects the whole person and so should be treated holistically via integrated care – addressing primary care, mental health, and addiction needs all together in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. Dr. Martin shares her own experience with stigma as an addiction medicine provider, how that experience has changed over time, and the ways we can transform stigmatizing attitudes toward both providers and patients. Dr. Martin shares a patient's story from several years ago that continues to inspire her today and offers some thoughts for the next generation of addiction medicine providers. Dr. Kristin Martin is an accomplished osteopathic physician with extensive experience in emergency medicine, family medicine, and addiction medicine. She graduated from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and completed her family medicine residency through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She founded River Valley Medical Wellness and serves as a board member for the AFMC (Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care) and the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association. Additionally, Dr. Martin has adjunct faculty appointments at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University. Noted for her dedication to medical education and patient care, Dr. Martin was presented the George Bean, D.O. Memorial Outstanding Physician Award by the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association in August of 2022.   Links: River Valley Medical Wellness Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences | Oklahoma State University (okstate.edu) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences AFMC (Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care) Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association (arosteopathic.org) Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (achehealth.edu) DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (lmunet.edu)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.

In this episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast, Louis Baxter, Sr., MD, DFASAM, discusses what inspired him to pursue a career in addiction medicine and how he came to practice in the field. He also shares some stories of his experiences treating professional athletes and how he came to possess several championship and Super Bowl rings. Dr. Baxter talks about the evolution of his own substance use, how addiction can progress from a "kindling" to a "fire," and his journey to recovery. Stressing the importance of education, Dr. Baxter discusses efforts to increase addiction education in medical school, allied health training programs, and the community. He also talks about his involvement in and the process of starting the addiction medicine fellowship program at Howard University. He believes increased education will help combat the stigma surrounding addiction and address the fear of treating addiction experienced by some health care professionals. Dr. Baxter also feels that sharing about one's own addiction and recovery can serve as an inspiration and example for others who are suffering with addiction. In his new book, I Didn't Know, Dr. Baxter discusses his life, including childhood trauma, addiction, and road to recovery. He hopes his story will serve to help others and reduce stigma associated with addiction. Finally, Dr. Baxter shares his thoughts for the next generation of addiction medicine professionals. Dr. Louis Baxter, Sr., is the founder and director of the Howard University Addiction Medicine Fellowship, the first such program at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU). He holds assistant professor appointments at Rutgers University, Temple University, and Thomas Jefferson University. Dr Baxter is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a consultant to the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the US Olympic Anti-Doping Committee. He contributes time and talent to numerous national public agencies, such as the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) National Advisory Council; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA); the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP); and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He has been recognized by The HistoryMakers (2022); The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (2019); and ASAM, with the 2017 Annual Award and the 2022 Training Director Award. In May 2023, Dr. Baxter accepted an appointment to the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), which aims to create non-arrest pathways to recovery and treatment for those with mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Baxter earned his MD from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Cooper Hospital University Medical Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and a fellowship in addiction medicine at Portsmouth Psychiatric Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Baxter is a former president of ASAM.

Seasons greetings from us here at ASAM! In this episode we've got over an hour of great holiday music plus messages of gratitude and warmth from our ASAM community members who called into our holiday phone line this year. Sit back and enjoy!

In this episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast, Midwestern University medical students Mike Krupp & Matt Moon discuss what led them to study addiction medicine and how they became involved with the organization, Care for Friends, which is based in Chicago and provides support and services to the unhoused population there. Together, Mike & Matt started an addiction medicine club at Midwestern which, with support from the school, provides students with the opportunity to volunteer their services with Care for Friends. They are currently participating by screening patients for substance use disorders and referring to treatment; along with conducting a clothing drive and harm reduction clinics. Mike & Matt share their experience at ASAM's Annual Conference 2023, where they were excited to meet with others interested in the field of addiction medicine and learn about the latest research and best practices in the field. They also share how their experiences working with CFF has influenced their perspectives on addiction and individuals who are dealing with addiction. Matt & Mike stress the importance of establishing relationships with patients and fighting stigma associated with addiction by practicing compassionate care in a judgement-free environment. They also discuss the need for more education and training about addiction, stigma related to certain types of addiction but not others, and separating addiction from the individual. Michael Krupp is a 4th year medical student at Midwestern University currently pursuing a degree in Osteopathic Medicine. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Michael attended Clemson University for undergraduate studies and to play rugby. While there, he received a degree in biology before returning back to the Midwest to complete medical school. While Michael has always been involved in a variety of volunteering activities, his work with Care For Friends has really helped him to gain exposure and experience to a population base that he plans on working closely with during his career in Addiction Psychiatry. He loves working with people and is always doing his best to improve upon pre-existing programs as well as to help found new programs to address issues faced by the undomiciled population of Chicago. Outside of work and volunteering, Michael loves to hang out with his family and friends, travel, go to concerts, and do movie marathons with his girlfriend Katrina. He is excited for this opportunity to give back to the community and is looking forward to what the future holds.   Matthew Moon grew up in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and is currently a fourth-year medical student at Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently pursuing a residency in Psychiatry and has several interests within Psychiatry which includes treating substance use disorders. Along with his colleague, he started a new Addiction Medicine club at Midwestern University and hopes that this will serve as a way for other medical students to learn more about the field of Addiction Medicine/Psychiatry.   Links: Care for Friends Midwestern University Midwestern University Addiction Medicine Club   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information.

In our final podcast during National Addiction Treatment Week 2023, Dr. Christina Delos Reyes shares how she came to be an addiction medicine specialist, starting as a peer support for other students in medical school. She has now come full circle, as she currently serves as a coach helping healers heal themselves. Dr. Delos Reyes talks about the importance of storytelling and what inspired her to start Club Hope, a compassionate community for anyone and everyone affected by addiction. She discusses the importance of bringing the disease of addiction out into the light, to eradicate the stigma, shame, and secrecy of addiction, so it becomes a “casserole illness.” She also touches on the process by which stigma and discrimination perpetuate one another. Dr. Delos Reyes shares about her transition from clinician to coach, the complexities of her work, and the need for medical students to be exposed to individuals in long-term recovery in order to change the story from hopeless to hopeful. Dr. Delos Reyes' message to others is to focus on relationships and shared humanity, and she discusses the role of spirituality in addiction treatment and recovery. Dr. Christina Delos Reyes is an addiction psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience. She shifted from clinical practice in 2022 and spends her time teaching, consulting, and coaching. She will be joining the Ohio Professionals Health Program as associate medical director later this year. She currently splits her time between her hometown of Cleveland and her new town of Las Vegas. Thank you for listening.  In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, ASAM is providing the choice of two engaging on-demand 2023 ASAM Annual Conference sessions for free until Dec. 31, 2023. Use code NATW2023 at checkout when you register for either Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Not Exactly Opioids 2.0, But Close? or Delta What? An Update on Novel Cannabinoids including Delta-8 and 10 THC For more podcast episodes and resources, follow #TreatmentWeek and visit www.treataddictionsavelives.org. Subscribe to The ASAM Weekly, a source of timely, useful news briefings of top stories and current research in the field of addiction medicine. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.   Links: Club Hope: www.clubhopeunlimited.com

Even as a child, Dr. Nicole Labor knew she wanted to be a doctor. During this Treat Addiction Save Lives podcast, Dr. Labor talks about her path to becoming an addiction medicine physician, including her own experience with substance use as a medical student. She shares about working at the birthplace of AA and how she was influenced by that history. Dr. Labor discusses what inspired her to write the book, The Addictoholic Deconstructed: An irreverently quick and dirty education by a doctor who says f*ck a lot, and how she feels addiction requires individualized care and should be treated as any other chronic medical disease. Dr. Labor encourages other medical providers and professionals to become educated about the addiction disease process, to build relationships with addiction medicine specialists, and to recognize that patients with substance use disorder (SUD) deserve the high expectations we hold for all other patients. Dr. Labor also shares how she knows her work is impactful. Dr. Nicole Labor graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's in biobehavioral health and attended the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine where she earned her DO. Residency in family medicine took place in Buffalo, NY (SUNY), followed by a fellowship in addiction medicine at Marworth, through Geisinger. Dr. Labor started her addiction career by working with Summa in Akron, OH, at the Ignatia Hall detox unit, essentially following in the footsteps of Dr. Bob Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. While in Akron, the birthplace of AA, Dr. Labor cultivated relationships with community treatment centers all over northeast Ohio. Dr. Labor is known for her work within the community to reduce the stigma of addiction and provide evidence-based care to patients with SUD. She also serves on the ASAM Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large. Dr. Labor is married and lives with her husband and daughter on a small hobby farm in Seville, OH. She works as medical director of several SUD/behavioral health facilities and has written a best-selling book about addiction as well as co-written a companion workbook. She is in abstinence-based recovery since 2005. Thank you for listening.  In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, ASAM is providing the choice of two engaging on-demand 2023 ASAM Annual Conference sessions for free until Dec. 31, 2023. Use code NATW2023 at checkout when you register for either Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Not Exactly Opioids 2.0, But Close? or Delta What? An Update on Novel Cannabinoids including Delta-8 and 10 THC For more podcast episodes and resources, follow #TreatmentWeek and visit www.treataddictionsavelives.org. Subscribe to The ASAM Weekly, a source of timely, useful news briefings of top stories and current research in the field of addiction medicine. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.   Links: The Addictoholic Deconstructed: An irreverently quick and dirty education by a doctor who says f*ck a lot: Labor, Dr. Nicole T, Kolankowski, Kevin, Jarvis MD, Margaret: 9780578580524: Amazon.com: Books

In episode 3 of the Treat Addiction Save Lives podcast, Dr. Patrick C. Beeman shares about his journey to practicing addiction medicine as an OB/GYN physician and the challenges and uniqueness of treating addiction in the field of women's health. Dr. Beeman discusses the importance of education, communication, and networking as he challenges the stigma associated with addiction and believes that each individual can make a difference in the fight against addiction. Dr. Beeman shares why he started the Ars Longa Media company, which includes the Inside the Boards podcast, and the importance of the media in influencing culture and conversation. His latest initiative is the Addiction Recovery project; a new podcast will feature musicians sharing their own recovery and treatment journeys, along with an album of cover songs related to addiction and recovery. Dr. Beeman also talks about creativity and addiction; the importance of treating patients with dignity and respect; and how seemingly little, day-to-day efforts can add up to measurable improvements. Dr. Beeman is a Catholic, husband, father, physician, proud Ohioan, quondam philosopher, and media producer. Board certified in Ob/Gyn and addiction medicine, he is the medical director of the innovative natural women's health practice Veranova Health, as well as Medmark Treatment Centers–Amherst, an opioid treatment program. He's the founder of the USMLE prep platform, InsideTheBoards, and the health media and creativity company, Ars Longa Media. If you're interested in working together on creative health media and medical education projects, check out ALM's “Addiction // Recovery” page. And you can find links to Dr. Beeman's various activities, including a guide to preparing for the addiction medicine board exam, on his Linktree page. He resides in and serves his hometown community of Lorain, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. Thank you for listening.  In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, ASAM is providing the choice of two engaging on-demand 2023 ASAM Annual Conference sessions for free until Dec. 31, 2023. Use code NATW2023 at checkout when you register for either Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Not Exactly Opioids 2.0, But Close? or Delta What? An Update on Novel Cannabinoids including Delta-8 and 10 THC For more podcast episodes and resources, follow #TreatmentWeek and visit www.treataddictionsavelives.org. Subscribe to The ASAM Weekly, a source of timely, useful news briefings of top stories and current research in the field of addiction medicine. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.   Links: Ars Longa Media - Home InsideTheBoards - Home Ars Longa Media - Addiction//Recovery Veranova Health | Family Medicine ObGyn Middleburg Heights, OH Opioid Treatment in Amherst, Ohio | MedMark @DrBeeman(drbeeman) - Latest Music, Videos, Twitter Links (linktr.ee) Home | MI CARES (micaresed.org) Online Guide to Certification (asam.org)

In this episode, Dr. Nick Christian shares his journey from musician to physician and how he has taken addiction care to the street to meet patients where they are. Dr. Christian talks about the importance of viewing each patient as “a human being above all else” and how he hopes to see a revolution in addiction treatment. Dr. Christian shares some meaningful and transformational moments in his journey treating patients with addiction; he also discusses the importance of ending addiction-related stigma and the power of relationships when treating addiction. Nicholaus “Nick” Christian is an internal medicine clinician-educator and current postdoctoral research fellow through the Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development program and provider for veterans experiencing homelessness at the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) clinic. He completed his addiction medicine fellowship in the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine following completion of internal medicine residency training at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin where he helped start the “B-Team,” a national model for expanding access to buprenorphine for hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. Throughout residency he lived as a “missional” resident at Community First! Village, a master-planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for people transitioning out of chronic homelessness where he has helped spearhead a community-based participatory research project to elevate the voice of his neighbors who use substances or are in recovery. His current clinical and research interests include improving care for people who use substances that are on the continuum of experiencing homelessness to being stably housed. He plans on joining the NIDA Intramural Research Program in Baltimore as a staff clinician in the fall of 2023. Thank you for listening.  In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, ASAM is providing the choice of two engaging on-demand 2023 ASAM Annual Conference sessions for free until Dec. 31, 2023. Use code NATW2023 at checkout when you register for either Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Not Exactly Opioids 2.0, But Close? or Delta What? An Update on Novel Cannabinoids including Delta-8 and 10 THC For more podcast episodes and resources, follow #TreatmentWeek and visit www.treataddictionsavelives.org. Subscribe to The ASAM Weekly, a source of timely, useful news briefings of top stories and current research in the field of addiction medicine. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.   Links: Dr. Nicholaus Christian: Finding the Path (asam.org) Support Hospital Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (SHOUT) - Be Well Texas NLC Cares | Allianceforliving Community First! Village - Mobile Loaves & Fishes (mlf.org) Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) Fact Sheet (va.gov) 8-BTeamOutcomes_Moriates-et-al.pdf (bewelltexas.org)

Welcome to National Addiction Treatment Week 2023! In Episode 1 of the Treat Addiction Save Lives podcast, Drs. Anika Alvanzo and Margaret Jarvis discuss the shortage of addiction medicine specialists and the complexities of addiction medicine care. Drs. Alvanzo and Jarvis share how they were drawn to the field of addiction medicine and how practicing in this subspecialty has impacted their career in positive and rewarding ways. They discuss how they define success in the treatment of addiction; barriers to treatment, including stigma; and the role of primary care physicians in treating patients who use substances. Dr. Jarvis and Alanzo also discuss factors related to the shortage of addiction medicine specialists and challenges with access to medications for addiction treatment. Dr. Anika Alvanzo is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, holds a master's degree in biostatistics from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine. Dr. Alvanzo is a Principal at Health Management Associates (HMA). She is a Distinguished Fellow of ASAM, a past president of the Maryland-DC Society of Addiction Medicine, and currently serves as chair of the ASAM Annual Conference Program Planning Committee and secretary for the ASAM Board of Directors. Dr. Margaret A. E. Jarvis finished her medical school, psychiatry residency, and addiction medicine fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. She is board certified in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and general psychiatry. An ASAM Distinguished Fellow, she has served on the ASAM Board of Directors and currently is the co-chair of the Quality Improvement Council. She has also worked on the Addiction Medicine Examination in its various forms since 2000. Dr. Jarvis is the chief of the Addiction Medicine Division at Geisinger. She was previously the medical director at Geisinger Marworth, in Waverly, PA. Thanks for listening. In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, ASAM is providing the choice of two engaging on-demand 2023 ASAM Annual Conference sessions for free until Dec. 31, 2023. Use code NATW2023 at checkout when you register for either Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Not Exactly Opioids 2.0, But Close? or Delta What? An Update on Novel Cannabinoids including Delta-8 and 10 THC. For more podcast episodes and resources, follow #TreatmentWeek and visit www.treataddictionsavelives.org. Subscribe to The ASAM Weekly, a source of timely, useful news briefings of top stories and current research in the field of addiction medicine. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.   Links: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Falls Short of the Need | NEJM Catalyst, Co-authored by Drs. Anika Alvanzo & Margaret Jarvis ASAM's eLearning Center ASAM Clinical Guidelines Tools and resources for addiction medicine physicians Resources to empower the addiction medicine workforce