In this episode, I speak with Dr. Timothy Hall about the intersection of methamphetamine use and HIV in the LGBTQ+ community, specifically in men who have sex with men. Dr. Hall explains how methamphetamine use can influence HIV transmission as well as health outcomes for those who are HIV positive and how new HIV medications that can be taken every few months instead of daily may improve medication adherence for those struggling with a methamphetamine addiction. He also discusses the potential consequences of the changing landscape of the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Hall is a Health Sciences Assist ..read more

In this episode, I talk with Dr. David Goodman-Meza about the infectious disease complications associated with intravenous drug use. We discuss some of the most common infections seen in people who inject drugs (PWID), including Hepatitis C, HIV, skin and soft tissue infections, infective endocarditis, vertebral osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and meningitis. Dr. Goodman-Meza goes on to explain the challenges PWID face in trying to get treatment for these infections and how he became interested in this field. Finally, he reviews strategies we can use to improve care for PWID, including having ..read more

In this episode, I speak with Kristina Canfield, M.ED. about collegiate recovery programs. Kristina is the Executive Director for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), the sole organization exclusively representing collegiate recovery programs and communities. Kristina explains how collegiate recovery programs came about, their benefits for students in recovery, and how ARHE can provide the education, resources, and community connection to those looking to establish a collegiate recovery program in their school.  Kristina attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where sh ..read more

Welcome back. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kenneth Saffier, family physician and addiction medicine specialist. Dr. Saffier serves as the Medical Director for Bi-Bett, a substance use disorder treatment center serving Alameda, Solano, and Contra Costa counties in California. He is also the past president of the Medical Education and Research Foundation for the Treatment of Addiction. Dr. Saffier will explain the principles and practice of motivational interviewing as it relates to substance use disorders. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative method of communication designed t ..read more

In this episode, author David Poses breaks down the addict stereotype by talking about his struggle with depression and how his search for a cure was accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame. Although heroin relieved his symptoms, the stigma associated with his addiction only hindered his journey to recovery. As a writer, speaker, expert and activist, David Poses is focused on evidence-based addiction treatment, drug policy, and harm reduction. His writing has been published by Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and NY Daily News (among others), and he's appeared on various TV and radio sho ..read more

Welcome back. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kenneth Saffier, family physician and addiction medicine specialist. Dr. Saffier serves as the Medical Director for Bi-Bett, a substance use disorder treatment center serving Alameda, Solano, and Contra Costa counties in California. He is also the past president of the Medical Education and Research Foundation for the Treatment of Addiction. Dr. Saffier will explain the principles and practice of motivational interviewing as it relates to substance use disorders. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative method of communication designed t ..read more

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Snehal Bhatt about the use of psychedelics in the treatment of substance use disorders. Dr. Bhatt was one of the principal investigators for an exciting new study demonstrating the ability of psilocybin to reduce heavy drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder.  He reviews the history of psychedelic use in medicine, discusses their future therapeutic potential, and goes over the details of his psilocybin trial.  Dr. Snehal Bhatt is the Chief of Addiction Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of New Mexico ..read more

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay, and thank you for coming back. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Noel Vest about his journey through addiction, incarceration, and, ultimately, recovery. Dr. Vest discusses the early influences on his drug use, his first experiences with drugs and alcohol, and how his addiction landed him in prison. He goes on to describe his path to recovery through education in prison and beyond and explains how finding one’s passion and committing oneself to a cause can lead to a lifetime of fulfillment. Dr. Noel Vest is an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the ..read more

In this episode, I discuss addiction in the LGBTQIA+ community with Dr. Brian Hurley, Medical Director of the Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and President-Elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Board of Directors. Dr. Hurley reviews the data we have on the prevalence of use disorders in sexual and gender minorities, what risk factors might predispose individuals to the development of an addiction, and why engaging with patients in a respectful and inclusive manner is essential to successful treatment. Dr. H ..read more

Medical professionals bear an enormous responsibility taking care of patients and are often held to a higher standard than other members of society. However, they are human and are therefore also susceptible to the development of addiction, especially given the stresses they are placed under. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Michael Sprintz about substance use disorders in healthcare professionals. Dr. Sprintz is triple board-certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and addiction medicine and has struggled with addiction himself, giving him a unique understanding of this topic. He talks ab ..read more