Dr. Casey Grover explores the complexities of ketamine, examining its medical benefits, potential for addiction, and growing presence in both therapeutic and recreational settings.

• Originally developed as a dissociative anesthetic for surgery that doesn't suppress breathing
• Now recognized for treating treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation
• Can reduce suicidal thoughts as quickly as 90 minutes after administration
• Also effective for severe pain, alcohol withdrawal, and certain emergency situations
• Recreational use has increased dramatically with seizures up 350% between 2017-2022
• Creates a trance-like "K-hole" state that users seek for altered perception and relaxation
• Long-term use can cause "ketamine bladder" – potentially requiring surgical intervention
• No FDA-approved medications exist specifically for treating ketamine addiction
• For-profit ketamine clinics often charge $500-1,250 per treatment without comprehensive care
• Matthew Perry's death highlights the dangers of ketamine misuse, even under medical supervision
• Most patients with addiction histories should approach ketamine therapy with extreme caution

Thank you for tuning in to the Addiction Medicine Made Easy Podcast. Together we can improve how addiction is treated and save lives.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

In this episode, Dr. Casey Grover explores how integrating behavioral health and addiction services into primary care settings can transform healthcare delivery and dramatically improve access to treatment. Dr. Grover speaks to psychologists Patti Robinson and Jeff Reiter about their work creating integrated primary care practices and clinics. 

• Healthcare in the US is siloed, forcing patients to navigate separate systems for physical health, mental health, and addiction
• Mental health specialization creates artificial barriers when generalist counselors could help many addiction patients
• Integrated care places behavioral health providers in primary care settings with same-day, brief (15-30 min) appointments
• Primary care doctors welcome the support while mental health providers need retraining to adapt to the flexible model
• Physical clinic design matters—providers should be within 15-20 feet of each other for true integration
• "Pathways" can be created for specific populations like those with opioid use disorder
• Patients overwhelmingly appreciate the convenience and comprehensive approach of integrated care

Visit speaktoyourdoctor.com for resources to share with your medical provider about implementing integrated behavioral health services.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Discover how stimulating specific points on the ear can dramatically reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms through an FDA-approved device called the ST Genesis. Shelley Halligan, President of Speranza Therapeutics, explains the science behind percutaneous nerve field stimulation and its remarkable effects on patients struggling with addiction.

• The device works by targeting cranial nerves in the ear to activate the parasympathetic nervous system
• Small electrical pulses delivered continuously for five days can significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms
• Clinical applications include shortening the waiting period before starting Suboxone treatment
• The technology may help prevent precipitated withdrawal, a major barrier to recovery
• Patient case studies show dramatic symptom reduction within minutes of application
• Preliminary evidence suggests effectiveness for alcohol and other substance withdrawals
• Research is underway to develop a 10-day version specifically for fentanyl withdrawal
• The device empowers patients by giving them more control over their treatment timeline
• Implementation in emergency settings could transform overdose follow-up care
• Healthcare providers can receive free training to incorporate this technology into practice

Visit speranzatherapeutics.com to learn more about the ST Genesis device and provider training opportunities.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Urine drug testing provides critical insights for addiction treatment, helping clinicians understand what substances patients are actually using and how the drug supply is rapidly changing. Matthew Rutledge, founder of MD Labs, shares his expertise on testing methodologies, detection capabilities, and emerging trends in substance use.

• Different drug test types include basic immunoassay cups (similar to pregnancy tests), which detect drug shapes but can have false positives/negatives
• Liquid and Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry provides highly accurate substance identification down to nanogram levels
• Developing tests for novel substances takes 2-4 months, requiring standards and validation across hundreds of specimens
• Poppy seed muffins can genuinely cause positive opiate tests depending on seed source and patient body mass
• Unexpected test results require clinical judgment—some exposures may occur through contamination, intimate contact, or environmental exposure
• Integration of pain and addiction medicine allows better co-management of patients with both conditions
• Emerging threats include nitazine opioids, exotic benzodiazepines, and tianeptine ("gas station heroin")
• Test adulteration methods (vinegar, bleach, dilution) can be detected through validity testing for oxidants, creatinine levels, and specific gravity

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Today we speak with Dr. Samantha Harte about her experience living as a high-functioning person with addiction and how perfection masks internal struggles. She shares her journey from overdosing on cocaine as she was accepted into her doctoral program to becoming an author and recovery coach helping others find authentic healing.

• High-functioning addiction often hides behind external success and achievements
• Control and perfectionism become secondary addictions that receive cultural reinforcement
• Traditional recovery approaches can face resistance from high-achievers who struggle to admit powerlessness
• Dr. Harte discusses writing her book "Breaking the Circuit" after losing her sister to overdose
• Trauma-informed recovery approaches help address the underlying childhood experiences driving perfectionism
• Self-compassion and making amends to yourself are crucial parts of healing for perfectionists
• Both Dr. Harte and Dr. Grover share personal experiences of maintaining outward success while struggling internally
• Physical healing and spiritual healing are interconnected in authentic recovery

If something Dr. Harte shared resonates with you, please reach out. Dr. Samantha Harte, responds to her own DMs. Connect with her, book a free discovery call, and don't ignore the call if something pierces you – she's here to wake you up and light your soul on fire.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Dr. Casey Grover explores the history, neuroscience, and treatment approaches for methamphetamine use disorder, highlighting how methamphetamine releases more dopamine than any other known substance.

• Methamphetamine was widely used during World War II by German, Japanese, and Allied forces to enhance performance
• Modern meth production shifted from ephedra to P2P method, creating cheaper, more potent meth with worse psychiatric effects
• Meth causes dopamine release up to 1,400 ng/dL of dopamine compared to cocaine (400), sex (200), and food (150), severely damaging reward centers
• Many methamphetamine users have undiagnosed ADHD and are inadvertently self-medicating
• Effective medications include bupropion, topiramate, atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, and mirtazapine
• Contingency management (reward-based incentives) shows significant efficacy for methamphetamine addiction treatment
• Combination therapies using bupropion with naltrexone show promise for reducing meth use
• Treating underlying mental health conditions and providing housing/social support remains essential for recovery

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of treating opioid and alcohol use disorders with medication-assisted approaches. We review how to understand addiction as self-regulation with substances and how healthcare providers can leverage familiar medications alongside specialized treatments to help patients recover.

We also discuss

• Addiction fundamentally involves helping patients shift from self-regulating with substances to self-regulating without them
• Distinguishing opioid dependence (physical brain chemistry changes) from opioid use disorder (psychological addiction)
• Buprenorphine as a partial agonist that blocks other opioids, reduces cravings, and decreases overdose risk by 70%
• Three FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder: disulfiram , naltrexone, and acamprosate
• Off-label medications like gabapentin and topiramate can enhance alcohol use disorder treatment
• Understanding the fentanyl crisis and emergence of counterfeit pills containing dangerous synthetic opioids
• Addressing stigma through person-first language and recognizing addiction as a disorder of executive functioning

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

This episode is an interview with Matt Butler, a singer-songwriter who has performed in jails and prisons across America for a decade. He shares how music creates transformative spaces for healing in correctional environments.

• Matt's musical journey began after writing songs for a documentary about recovery high schools
• Music penetrates emotional defenses faster than conventional approaches, allowing inmates to be vulnerable
• Songs like "Good Friday" and "Time to Be a Man" directly speak to experiences of addiction and incarceration
• Hypervigilance in prison environments makes trauma processing nearly impossible
• Music temporarily changes the atmosphere, allowing emotional expression typically suppressed for survival
• Trauma and addiction form a vicious cycle that's particularly difficult to break while incarcerated
• Reentry challenges include practical barriers like employment, housing, and basic skills deficits
• Many successful recovery stories involve people transforming their past struggles into purpose by helping others
• Creating spaces where people feel safe and accepted is essential for healing from addiction and trauma

Please check out Matt's album Reckless Son, the one-man show he performs in correctional facilities across the country.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Dr. Casey Grover breaks down psychiatric medications and their role in addiction treatment, explaining how different medications work, when they're most appropriate, and which ones to avoid. He provides a practical overview based on his extensive experience treating patients with substance use disorders.

• Psychiatric medications get developed through research on brain receptors and undergo rigorous testing before FDA approval
• Medications often have "off-label" uses that weren't originally intended but provide benefits in certain situations
• Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs serve as the foundation for treating depression in people with addiction
• Using non-addictive options like hydroxyzine, clonidine, and buspirone is crucial when treating anxiety in recovery
• Trazodone and mirtazapine are preferred for sleep issues over benzodiazepines and "Z-drugs" that can create dependence
• ADHD treatment requires careful consideration when patients have stimulant use disorder histories
• Benzodiazepines should be avoided when possible as they paradoxically worsen anxiety over time
• Medication selection should consider urgency of conditions, past medication responses, and potential side effects
• Some psychiatric conditions may improve with therapy allowing medication reduction, while others require long-term treatment

Thank you for taking the time to learn about addiction. It's a fight we cannot win without awareness and action. There's still so much we can do to improve how addiction is treated. Together we can make it happen. Remember, treating addiction saves lives.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]

Kyle Santoro, a 19-year-old filmmaker, created the documentary "Fentanyl High" to explore teenage psychology behind substance abuse after witnessing overdoses at his high school. His film takes a peer-to-peer approach to addiction education, removing stigma and creating spaces for vulnerable conversations about why teens turn to substances.

Kyle and Dr Grover discuss his experiences making the film and what he has learned through making it:

• Kyle began the project after a classmate overdosed in a school bathroom and administrators never acknowledged the incident
• Traditional school responses to substance use often involve punishment and shame rather than compassion and understanding
• Several teens who participated in making the documentary achieved sobriety through the therapeutic process of sharing their stories
• Film screenings serve as community events with resources, panel discussions, and free naloxone distribution
• Schools often resist hosting screenings due to fear of being labeled as having a drug problem
• The documentary has been screened across multiple states creating a "domino effect" of awareness in communities
• Kyle raised $75,000 to produce the film through community sponsors and organizations
• Prevention efforts need more youth representation to create effective messaging that resonates with teens
• The film emphasizes the importance of parents maintaining open communication with their teenagers

If you want to learn more about Kyle's film, visit fentanylhigh.com.

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]