Despite affecting more Americans than diabetes, substance use is often left out of routine medical care. In this episode, NYU Langone Health’s Jennifer McNeely, MD—a clinician investigator, primary care and addiction medicine physician—explains why that must change. From the surprising history behind addiction’s exclusion from mainstream medicine to the innovative screening tools shaping the future of care, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in addiction care and healthcare policy.

Jennifer McNeely, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and co-director of the Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use.

🔍 Topics Covered:

00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Why addiction hasn’t been part of traditional medical care
05:00 – What medications can primary care providers actually prescribe?
07:00 – Why lifting legal barriers isn’t enough
08:00 – Making substance use screening part of routine care
11:50 – The power of self-report screening tools
13:30 – What primary care physicians can actually do after screening
16:10 – Real-world clinical impact of identifying substance use
18:00 – Overcoming stigma and “we don’t do that here” culture
22:17 – Can AI help with screening and care prioritization?

📚 Related Resources:

Jennifer McNeely, MD
Addiction Treatment at NYU Langone
NIDA’s Resources for Clinicians
Substance Use Screening Tools (NIDA)

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Executive Producer: Jon Earle