The Addiction Psychologist

By Samuel Acuff and Noah Emery

What's The Addiction Psychologist about?

Drs. Noah Emery and Samuel Acuff interview researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in the field of addiction psychology with the hopes of enhancing recovery. Official podcast of the Society for Addiction Psychology.

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The Addiction Psychologist episodes:

05.13.2024
Dr. Carlo DiClemente - Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change
People range in their readiness to make changes to different behaviors. Processes occurring naturally in each stage differ across the spectrum of readiness to for behavior change. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Carlo DiClemente about the origins and...
04.09.2024
Dr. Tom Horvath - SMART Recovery
People attempting recovery from addiction are best served when recovery can be achieved through multiple, diverse, pathways that fit their needs and recovery goals. Although the most commonly used recovery support service is Alcoholics Anonymous (or a similar Anonymous affiliated...
03.11.2024
Dr. Cassandra Gipson - Xylazine
In the past few years, a novel adulterant, Xylazine, has emerged in the illicit opioid drug supply. Between 2020 and 2021, there was a more than 1000% increase in xylazine-positive overdose mortalities in the United States from 2020 to 2021....
02.14.2024
Dr. Katie Witkiewitz - Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention
Many with substance use disorders make recovery attempts, whether through abstinence or reduction goals. However, some level of return to previous levels of use are relatively common, and treatments developed over the past four decades have typically included elements focused...
12.21.2023
Dr. Bill Miller - Motivational Interviewing
In general, most people have some degree of ambivalence towards behavior change. Whether reducing television in the evenings, eating less chocolate, or deciding to limit or abstain from alcohol, most people can identify reasons they would prefer to maintain the...
12.13.2023
Dr. Jeff Boissoneault - Chronic Pain and Substance Use
Chronic pain commonly co-occurs with substance use disorder and may get in the way of recovery goals and valued living. Despite this, chronic pain can go untreated and unmanaged in treatment settings, and many people with substance use disorders struggle...
09.11.2023
Dr. Stacey Daughters - Reward Processing and the Intersection between Neuroscience and Psychosocial Treatments
Despite some consequences, substances can provide immediate and certain reward in the different forms, including but not limited to euphoria, pain relief, energy, alleviation of emotional suffering, and social connection. These rewards can compete with non-substance activities that are enjoyable...
08.14.2023
Tessa Nalven - Multiracial Health Disparities in Substance Use
Epidemiological surveys suggest that prevalence of harmful patterns of substance use is greatest among Multiracial populations relative to other racial demographic groups. Yet, most studies either do not report full racial demographics or under-sample people who identify as multiracial. In...
06.21.2023
Dr. Justin Strickland - The Twin Methamphetamine and Opioid Epidemics
In recent years, there has been a dramatic rise in methamphetamine use among people who use opioids. What is driving this effect? How do these drugs interact? Do they serve substitute or complementary functions? Dr. Justin Strickland summarizes the state...
05.22.2023
Dr. Rachel Winograd - Evidence-based Harm Reduction Approaches to Opioid Use Disorder
During the past several decades, the United States has experienced several distinct waves of opioid epidemic, prompting those providing services to think of novel ways to provide services. to those in need. Dr. Rachel Winograd found her passion for community-based...
04.13.2023
Dr. Sam Meisel - Social Factors in Adolescent Substance Use
For many, the onset of substance use occurs in adolescence. A subset of adolescents who use substances develop substance use disorders later in life, and some even develop harmful patterns of drinking while still in the developmental stage of adolescence....
03.13.2023
Dr. Bill Stoops - Cocaine and Cocaine Use Disorder
Dr. Bill Stoops provides an overview of the pharmacology, effects, and prevalence of cocaine, in addition to treatments for cocaine use disorder. Dr. Bill Stoops is an Associate Director for Clinical Science in the Substance Use Priority Research Area, and...
12.20.2022
Dr. Mark Prince - Protective Behavioral Strategies
Alcohol and other drugs are sometimes accompanied by harms from use. However, use only accounts for some of the variance in substance use harms, and their are strategies, and harms can be reduced through other means aside from reductions in...
10.03.2022
Dr. Jen Read - Alcohol-related Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a massive problem on college campuses, and alcohol is involved in some form or another in more than half of cases reported. Dr. Jen Read talks about her work to understand the complex social environment within which...
08.15.2022
Dr. Adrian Bravo - Studying Addiction across Cultures
Cultural influences play a role in defining normative behavior and definitions of harmful substance use; yet, a great deal of our understanding of addiction comes from privileged populations in American and Western society. Dr. Adrian Bravo talks about his line...
07.11.2022
Dr. Ana Abrantes - Exercise and Substance Use Treatment
Regular exercise confers many benefits: It will increase your mood, decrease fatigue, and increase the quality of your sleep, among others. But how can exercise impact substance use? Is exercise an effective adjunct to treatment? If so, how do we...
06.06.2022
Dr. Kirsten Smith - Kratom
Have you ever passed a sign on the road advertising for something called "Kratom"? or, perhaps, a friend or family member has mentioned trying it. What is it? An herbal supplement, or pharmacological drug? As addiction scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians,...
04.05.2022
CPA 2022 - Early Career Award Sneak Peak!
ARE YOU READY FOR CPA 2022? The first in-person CPA conference since 2019 is happening this weekend, April 7-9, in Portland, OR. In addition to amazing networking opportunities, there will be incredible sessions and posters presented by experts ranging from early...
03.07.2022
Dr. Mary Beth Miller - Sleep and Substance Use
Sleep is a critical function that can be disrupted by substance use. In fact, the majority of people with an alcohol use disorder report insomnia or sleep disturbance. So, what is good sleep, and why does it seem that substance...
02.07.2022
Dr. Barbara McCrady - Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy
Persistent alcohol use can, at times, interfere with intimate relationships and create conflict. The dynamic of the couple can be a source of tension and may create a loop that can perpetuate alcohol use. However, intimate couples relationships can also...
01.17.2022
Dr. David Eddie - Brain-Body Connections
Alcohol use produces changes in the cardiovascular system affecting heart rate. These systematic differences in heart rate can, in turn, function as a biological signature (i.e., biomarker) of dysfunction among those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In addition to assessing...
12.06.2021
Dr. Matthew Johnson - Psychedelics: History and Therapeutic Value
Most commonly known psychedelics are considered schedule 1 substances by the controlled substances act, meaning they is no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. However, there is emerging evidence that psychedelics may have some therapeutic value....
11.08.2021
Dr. Robert Miranda - Treating Substance Use Disorder in Adolescence
A great deal of our research focuses on adults with substance use disorder. Yet, many who develop severe substance use disorder begin during adolescence. What types of psychosocial treatments are available for adolescents? What about pharmacological treatments? Does combining psychosocial...
10.21.2021
Policy Brief: Dr. Adam Leventhal Discusses the FDA Authorization of the Marketing of Three New E-Cigarette Products
On this new Addiction Psychologist segment, we talk to experts about new policy developments to get a better understanding of the implications for our work, our clients, and our personal lives. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Leventhal...
10.18.2021
Dr. Hollis Karoly - Cannabinoids in Cannabis: CBD and THC
Cannabis is becoming increasingly tolerated, both culturally and legally, across the United States and other parts of the world. Yet, there are at least 100 different psychoactive cannabinoids in any strain of cannabis. What do we know about these cannabinoids?...
09.14.2021
Dr. Eric Garland - Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement
Addiction is characterized in part by habitual drug seeking and use and diminished pleasure from nondrug alternatives. Both may serve as critical points of intervention in the treatment of substance use. Mindfulness, the practice of intentional awareness, may be a...
08.16.2021
Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 3: Dr. Stephen Higgins - Contingency Management
Contingency management is a therapy based in behaviorism in which individuals are 'reinforced' for evidence of positive behavioral change. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Higgins explains contingency management and outlines the support for its efficacy. He also discusses why it...
08.09.2021
NIAAA/NIDA Student/ECR Poster Session - APA convention 2021
Listen to the future voices of addiction research. Ten students/ECRs discuss their excellent work which will also be presented live, along with other excellent research, on August 13, 2021 during the NIAAA/NIDA student/ECR poster session. The poster session is sponsered...
07.05.2021
Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 2: Dr. Kate McHugh - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorder
A great deal of individual's require substance use treatment that is more active than brief motivational interventions, yet are unable or unwilling to attend long-term inpatient treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for is an effective treatment for substance use disorders....
06.07.2021
Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 1: Dr. Jim Murphy - Brief Motivational Interventions
College students drink at higher levels than most other groups; yet, their motivation to reduce drinking is often low because alcohol consumption provides salient social benefits. Despite these benefits, emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period that can impact the...
05.11.2021
Dr. John Kelly - Stigma in Addiction and Courses of Recovery
Addiction is among the most stigmatized of all social/health problems. Language surrounding clinical care in addiction is unlike any other area of medicine in that it often uses terms that are pejorative and lack specificity. In this episode, Dr. John...
04.27.2021
Melissa Schick - Substance Use among Indigenous Populations
Across substances, rates of use are high in indigenous populations across North America. Melissa Schick discusses the historical and ongoing trauma experienced by these populations and why it might be related to higher rates of substance use. Melissa also discusses...
04.05.2021
Dr. Debra Kaysen - PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) often co-occur. A great deal of research has attempted to understand the nature of this relationship. Is PTSD a risk factor for AUD? Is high risk drinking a risk factor for...
03.23.2021
Laura Lesnewich - Biomarkers of AUD
Biomarkers are objective signs or indications of a clinical state which can be measured reliably and accurately. Biomarkers are important because they can reveal mechanisms of behavior and help inform treatments. Laura Lesnewich talks about Biomarkers for Alcohol Use Disorder...
03.15.2021
CPA 2021 Poster Session
Listen to the future voices of addiction research. Seven students/ECRs discuss their excellent work which will also be presented live, during CPA 2021 from March 17-19. All interviewees were winners of the CPA registration award. Primary presenters, poster titles, and...
03.08.2021
Dr. Lorraine Collins - Ecological Momentary Assessment and Cannabis Use
A great deal of the literature delineating the experience of addiction uses cross-sectional survey data or longitudinal data separated by wide gaps of time. Although this research is critical and is useful for answer certain questions, these research designs are...
02.22.2021
Dezarie Moskal - Pain and Substance Use
Alleviation of pain, whether emotional or physical, is among the most common reasons for substance use. Despite this, very little experimental work has been done to delineate a causal effect of pain. Dezarie Moskal talks about her experimental work on...
02.08.2021
Dr. Alan Budney - Cannabis Legalization
In December of 2020, the US House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunities Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) act, which removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who...
01.25.2021
Kyle Walters - Self-regulation and Substance Use
Self control is thought to be closely associated with the ability to abstain or regulate substance use and is just one aspect of self-regulation, or the ability to organize behavior toward a goal. Many have suggested that self-regulation is damaged...
01.11.2021
Dr. Matt Field - Compulsive and Choice Models of Addiction
There are two competing paradigms attempting to explain the phenomena of addiction: Addiction as compulsion and addiction as choice. The compulsion model describes addiction as a brain disease in which alcohol and drug use cause neuroadaptations, resulting in uncontrolled drug...
12.28.2020
Tori Votaw - Identifying Addiction Phenotypes to Inform Precision Medicine
Research and theory have led to the development of empirically-supported options for SUD treatment, both psychosocial and pharmacological. However, these treatments only have moderate efficacy/effectiveness, and some aspects of treatments may be more implicated for some than others. Tori Votaw...
12.07.2020
Dr. Adam Leventhal - E-cigarettes and Vaping
E-cigarettes have increased in prevalence over the past decade and provided a powerful alternative to tobacco products like cigarettes. E-cigarettes have the potential to be addictive in part because qualities that are typically inherent to a substance (e.g., flavor, "harshness")...
11.30.2020
Cassie Boness - Diagnostic Issues in Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use is a burden on the healthcare system and is among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States. There are eleven possible Alcohol use Disorder (AUD) symptoms and only two are required, resulting in a wide...
11.09.2020
Dr. Ayana Jordan - Racism and Substance Use in America
Racial disparities in prevalence rates of harmful substance use can largely be attributed to social determinants of health, which are perpetuated by racist policies that have been implemented over the past century. The clearest example can be found in the...
11.02.2020
Keanan Joyner - Increasing Representation for BIPOC Scholars
The academy systematically excludes members of certain groups, leading to underrepresentation of those who identify as of Black, indigenous, and people of color. Keanan Joyner discusses the leaky pipeline and provides specific actionable steps that can help increase representation in your...
10.26.2020
Keanan Joyner - Alternative Rewards and Multiple Methods
Some research demonstrates that rats will self-administer dangerously high levels of drugs under certain schedules of reinforcement. However, much of this research has been done under conditions of depravity, in which the rat does not have any access to alternatives....
10.12.2020
Dr. Katie Witkiewitz - Non-abstinent Recovery
Most definitions of recovery from addiction require abstinence from the problem substance. Dr. Katie Witkiewitz discusses the limitations of abstinence-based models of recovery and describe why non-abstinent models may have a positive public health impact. Namely, Katie's research suggests that...
09.07.2020
Dr. Noel Vest - Fair Chances and Collegiate Recovery Programs
Systematic barriers can prevent educational and occupational attainment for those with substantive substance use or incarceration histories. For example, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 prevents those with a felony from receiving a Pell grant, effectively...
08.14.2020
Drs. Seema Clifasefi & Susan Collins - Harm Reduction
Abstinence models have historically dominated definitions of recovery. However, research suggests that there is not necessarily a 1:1 ratio of substance use to problems, highlighting the importance of targeting harm rather than consumption. In recent decades, harm reduction models of...
08.07.2020
NIAAA/NIDA Student/ECR Poster Session - APA convention 2020
Listen to the future voices of addiction research. Ten students/ECRs discuss their excellent work which will also be presented live, along with 23 others, on August 7, 2020 during the NIAAA/NIDA student/ECR poster session. Content ranges from psychometric analyses of...

What's The Addiction Psychologist about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Addiction Psychologist episodes:

Dr. Carlo DiClemente - Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change

Dr. Tom Horvath - SMART Recovery

Dr. Cassandra Gipson - Xylazine

Dr. Katie Witkiewitz - Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention

Dr. Bill Miller - Motivational Interviewing

Dr. Jeff Boissoneault - Chronic Pain and Substance Use

Dr. Stacey Daughters - Reward Processing and the Intersection between Neuroscience and Psychosocial Treatments

Tessa Nalven - Multiracial Health Disparities in Substance Use

Dr. Justin Strickland - The Twin Methamphetamine and Opioid Epidemics

Dr. Rachel Winograd - Evidence-based Harm Reduction Approaches to Opioid Use Disorder

Dr. Sam Meisel - Social Factors in Adolescent Substance Use

Dr. Bill Stoops - Cocaine and Cocaine Use Disorder

Dr. Mark Prince - Protective Behavioral Strategies

Dr. Jen Read - Alcohol-related Sexual Assault

Dr. Adrian Bravo - Studying Addiction across Cultures

Dr. Ana Abrantes - Exercise and Substance Use Treatment

Dr. Kirsten Smith - Kratom

CPA 2022 - Early Career Award Sneak Peak!

Dr. Mary Beth Miller - Sleep and Substance Use

Dr. Barbara McCrady - Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy

Dr. David Eddie - Brain-Body Connections

Dr. Matthew Johnson - Psychedelics: History and Therapeutic Value

Dr. Robert Miranda - Treating Substance Use Disorder in Adolescence

Policy Brief: Dr. Adam Leventhal Discusses the FDA Authorization of the Marketing of Three New E-Cigarette Products

Dr. Hollis Karoly - Cannabinoids in Cannabis: CBD and THC

Dr. Eric Garland - Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement

Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 3: Dr. Stephen Higgins - Contingency Management

NIAAA/NIDA Student/ECR Poster Session - APA convention 2021

Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 2: Dr. Kate McHugh - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorder

Intervention/Treatment for Substance Use Disorder, Part 1: Dr. Jim Murphy - Brief Motivational Interventions

Dr. John Kelly - Stigma in Addiction and Courses of Recovery

Melissa Schick - Substance Use among Indigenous Populations

Dr. Debra Kaysen - PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder

Laura Lesnewich - Biomarkers of AUD

CPA 2021 Poster Session

Dr. Lorraine Collins - Ecological Momentary Assessment and Cannabis Use

Dezarie Moskal - Pain and Substance Use

Dr. Alan Budney - Cannabis Legalization

Kyle Walters - Self-regulation and Substance Use

Dr. Matt Field - Compulsive and Choice Models of Addiction

Tori Votaw - Identifying Addiction Phenotypes to Inform Precision Medicine

Dr. Adam Leventhal - E-cigarettes and Vaping

Cassie Boness - Diagnostic Issues in Alcohol Use Disorder

Dr. Ayana Jordan - Racism and Substance Use in America

Keanan Joyner - Increasing Representation for BIPOC Scholars

Keanan Joyner - Alternative Rewards and Multiple Methods

Dr. Katie Witkiewitz - Non-abstinent Recovery

Dr. Noel Vest - Fair Chances and Collegiate Recovery Programs

Drs. Seema Clifasefi & Susan Collins - Harm Reduction

NIAAA/NIDA Student/ECR Poster Session - APA convention 2020

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