What makes addiction treatment truly effective? Behavioral scientist Charles Neighbors, MBA, PhD, shares groundbreaking research on the importance of therapeutic relationships, harm reduction, and human connection—love!—in treating substance use disorders. Dr. Neighbors is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Population Health, and Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

💡 Topics Covered

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Charles Neighbors
01:37 The biggest challenges in addiction treatment
02:24 The Importance of Therapeutic Relationships
05:59 Defining “good treatment” and why love matters
08:05 The role of therapeutic alliance in patient outcomes
14:06 Barriers to change in addiction treatment systems (incl. stigma)
22:04 Harm reduction and safe injection sites: What does the science say?
30:36 Future directions in addiction policy and treatment

📚 Related Resources

• Charles J. Neighbors, MBA, PhD (official bio)
• Dr. Neighbors’ Lab - Health Evaluation & Analytics Lab (HEAL)
• Addiction Treatment at NYU Langone
• Understanding Harm Reduction: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• "Motivational Interviewing" by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick
• Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, Alcohol Issues
• New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

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Executive Producer: Jon Earle