Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract

Journal of Addiction Medicine  In episode seventeen of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Kathleen Carroll, PhD. She is the Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In her paper, Dr. Carroll discusses the feasibility of implementing computer-based treatments for substance use disorders in primary care settings.

In episode sixteen of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Itai Danovitch, MD, MBA. He is the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In his paper, Dr. Danovitch discusses some of the challenges facing the study of opioid overdose events in the hospital setting.   To learn more, click here.

In episode fifteen of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Tricia Wright, MD, MS, FACOG, DFASAM. She is a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California San Francisco. In her recent commentary, Dr. Wright discusses some of the challenges facing women in opioid treatment programs and the need for the provision of reproductive healthcare to this population. To learn more, click here.  

In episode fourteen of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Babak Tofighi. He is an assistant professor in the departments of medicine and population health at the NYU School of Medicine. In his recent article, Dr. Tofighi discusses the use of technology-based interventions to optimize the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and related comorbidities. To read more, click here.      

In episode thirteen of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Gray. She is a family medicine physician and an addiction specialist in the departments of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC). She is also Associate Program Director for the MGH Addiction Medicine Fellowship and Clinical Director of the HOPE Clinic at MGH. In her recent article, Dr. Gray discusses a case of a woman who was able to continue opioid agonist treatment during the postpartum period while she remained incarcerated, in a system that generally did not allow for opioid agonist treatment during incarceration except during pregnancy. To learn more, click here. 

In episode twelve of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Hendrée Jones, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina and the Director of UNC Horizons Program. In her recent article, Dr. Jones and her colleagues discuss the treatment of women in opioid use treatment programs in North Carolina and their utilization of reproductive and sexual health services.  To read the article, click here.  

In episode eleven of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Honora Englander, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and the Director and Principal Investigator of the Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT). In her recent article, Dr. Englander and her colleagues discuss using hospitalization as a "reachable moment" for highly vulnerable patients who are not engaged in treatment elsewhere and utilizing the IMPACT team in this process.    To read more, click here.

In episode ten of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Caleb Banta-Green, principal research scientist at The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington. In his recent study, Dr. Banta-Green and his colleagues surveyed syringe exchange program (SEP) clients to gauge interest in receiving help with cessation or reduction of opiate use. Data from this study produced valuable conclusions about subgroups that are more likely to take advantage of available interventions.   Read more here. 

  In episode nine of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. John McCarthy, an associate professor of psychiatry and volunteer clinical faculty at the University of California Davis. In his recent study, Dr. McCarthy and his colleagues examined the significance of serum methadone/metabolite ratios (or MMRs). In particular, they looked at the changes in these ratios for the expecting mother throughout pregnancy and sought to use these ratios to objectively guide methadone dosing. To read the full article, click here. 

In episode eight of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Lisa Marsch. She is a professor at Dartmouth and Director of both the Center for Technology and Behavioral Health and the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. In her recent study, Marsch and her colleagues took a look at relevant randomized controlled trials and observational studies which evaluated the use of buprenorphine in adolescents and young adults. To learn more, click here.

In episode seven of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Barrett Raymond. He is a nurse practitioner and graduate of Brigham Young University. In his recent study, Raymond analyzed e-cigarette liquid samples from popular online manufacturers and distributors in the United States. He compared the expected nicotine content with the measured levels. He also discussed regulatory changes and the potential impact on the industry.   To read the full article, click here. 

In episode six of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Kelly Moore, Ph.D. of Yale University School of Medicine. Her new study takes a look at the implementation of continued methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) upon incarceration. Often, inmates undergo forced withdrawal once they are placed in a correctional setting. Her study sought to measure the difference in behavior both during incarceration and after release for inmates in a methadone maintenance group compared to those in a forced withdrawal group. To read the article, click here.

In episode five of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Leo Beletsky, JD, MPH of Northeastern University. His commentary from the latest issue of the journal addresses common challenges that influence the delivery of substance use treatment in the primary care setting. He details underlying concepts of behavioral economics that may impact the decisions made by healthcare providers. Specifically, he addresses choice architecture as it relates to decisions regarding substance use treatment.   Read more here.

In episode three of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Bagley of Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. Her recent commentary addresses the approach clinicians take in treating adolescents with opioid use disorder and perceptions about the use of medication management. She also discusses the recent policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics concerning the use of pharmacotherapy with buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, and naltrexone in this population. Read more here.

In episode two of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Stefan Kertesz of the University of Alabama Birmingham and the Birmingham VA Medical Center. In his recent piece from the Journal, Dr. Kertesz discusses the challenge of treating patients who obtain benzodiazepines from another provider in addition to known prescribed opiates. He addresses this issue in the context of the results from a recent study by McClure, et al. in the same issue of the Journal which analyzes patterns of urine drug test results from a national laboratory. Read more here. ASAM developed the Appropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine document to provide guidance about the effective use of drug testing in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and promotion of recovery for patients with, or at risk for, addiction. Click here.

In this episode of Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract, we are joined by Dr. Daniel Alford of Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. His new study takes a closer look at the continuation of opiate agonist treatment in the perioperative setting among women undergoing cesarean section. Dr. Alford talks about the study, its limitations and applicability, and how the findings compare to current trends in practice. He also discusses his career in studying and treating patients with these issues.

Dr. Pouya Azar stops by the show to talk about his recent article Transition to Extended-release Buprenorphine Injectable Within Seven Days for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Scoping Narrative. He discusses the potential benefits of transitioning patients with opioid use disorder from traditional to extended-release or long-acting buprenorphine within 7 days or 24 hours, respectively, of treatment, as well as challenges and future questions that arose from his narrative review. Pouya Azar, MD, FRCPC, DABAM, is a clinician-scientist in addiction psychiatry and pain medicine based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He serves as co-medical manager of the Complex Pain and Addiction Service (CPAS) at Vancouver Coastal Health, a consult service providing management of pain, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders across Vancouver General Hospital, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Hospital, and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. He is also an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, research scientist co-lead of the Substance Use Disorder Clinical Research Unit at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and a physician at the Vancouver General Hospital Transitional Pain Clinic. Dr. Azar’s clinical and translational research focuses on developing novel opioid agonist treatment initiation and withdrawal management protocols, medical devices, digital health apps, and prevention programs to improve patient outcomes. - Article Link: Transition to Extended-release Buprenorphine Injectable Within Seven Days for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Scoping Narrative

Host Dr. Shawn McNeil is joined by Dr. Robert Sherrick to discuss his new article Relationship Between Methadone Induction Dosing and Retention in Treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs featured in the July/August issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.   Robert Sherrick, MD, DFASAM, is chief science officer for Community Medical Services, a company that serves patients through over 70 Opioid Treatment Programs in 12 states. He also has experience working at an inpatient addiction treatment facility, Pathways Treatment Center, treating all forms of substance use disorders and dual diagnosis patients.   Dr. Sherrick has been providing medication treatment for opioid use disorder since 2003, initially in an office setting using buprenorphine and subsequently with methadone in Opioid Treatment Programs. He established a state-wide buprenorphine treatment program for VA Montana with extensive use of telemedicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is past president of the Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). - Article: Relationship Between Methadone Induction Dosing and Retention in Treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs

Dr. Emily Pasman stops by the show to talk about her recent article Nonabstinence Among US Adults in Recovery From an Alcohol or Other Drug Problem. She discusses the findings from her study as well as the potential limitations of using a solely abstinence-focused treatment and recovery model for addiction care. Emily Pasman is a licensed social worker and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking, and Health. Her research aims to improve health equity for people who use drugs by expanding harm reduction interventions; supporting affected family members; and addressing disparities in service access, uptake, and outcomes. Grounded in her practice background in peer-delivered services, she uses participatory methods to engage people with lived and living experience in all aspects of the research process. - Article Link: Nonabstinence Among US Adults in Recovery From an Alcohol or Other Drug Problem

Dr. Jarratt Pytell stops by the show to discuss his recent article featured in the Journal of Addiction Medicine titled Post Void Residuals: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, Patient Outcomes, and How Not to Get Fooled by Urine Toxicology Results - Article Link: Void Residuals: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, Patient Outcomes, and How Not to Get Fooled by Urine Toxicology Results