Trapped: Understanding Addiction

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Timothy Hall about the intersection of methamphetamine use and HIV in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly 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 Assistant Clinical Professor at the Department of Family Medicine and Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He has trained and studied at Harvard, UCSD, University of Chicago/NORC, Karlova Univerzita (Prague), the New Center for Psychoanalysis (Los Angeles), and UCLA.  He is co-chair of the Human Sexuality & Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG) of the American Anthropological Association. He has conducted long-term ethnographic research in Prague, Czech Republic, with four years of fieldwork since 1999.  This project looks at processes of gay and bisexual men’s sexual identity formation and changes in the social and sexual networks of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the post-socialist era and since EU accession, with attention to HIV risk factors. He has also conducted fieldwork among non-gay-identified MSM in Los Angeles. His research interests include theories of sexual identity and the role of sexual identities and various forms of sexual-identity-based sociality in mediating risk for HIV, depression, and addictive disorders. He has worked as study physician on clinical trials of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (HTPN 073), the mStudy cohort study of HIV risk factors, and several trials of medications for methamphetamine use disorder (bupropion, varenicline, ibudilast, and bupropion/naltrexone). Dr. Hall is a psychiatrist with clinical interests in mood disorders, HIV psychiatry, personality disorders, and addiction.

Learn more about Dr. Hall at ​​https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/timothy-hall

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 a specialty devoted to care of the entire patient struggling with substance use. 

David Goodman-Meza, MD, MAS is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His diverse research interests include the epidemiology of HIV and STIs in high-risk populations, biomedical prevention of HIV in people who use substances, and improving infectious disease-related outcomes in people who inject drugs. He is site principal investigator for HPTN094, a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of mobile clinical units to improve health outcomes in people who inject drugs.

Read more about Dr. Goodman-Meza here:  https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/david-goodman

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 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 she earned both her bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in College Student Personnel. During her time at Ohio University, Kristina helped to establish the Collegiate Recovery Community in order to assist students in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders on that campus.  After graduation, she worked in an inpatient treatment facility where she continued to gain valuable experience in the continuum of care for substance use disorders. Previously, she was employed as the program coordinator for the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and as the Substance Abuse Prevention & Recovery Coordinator for The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kristina is very passionate about the field of collegiate recovery and prior to her current role, she worked closely with ARHE as Conference Manager for the ARHE/ARS/AAPG National Conference, Secretary of the Advisory Council, and Project Lead for two grant projects focused on advancing the field of collegiate recovery. Her vision is that one day, every institution of higher education offers support for students in or seeking recovery so that they feel supported no matter their chosen path of recovery.

As we approach Collegiate Recovery Day, ARHE will be celebrating thirteen years of propagating and supporting the vision of collegiate recovery programs. ARHE offers time-tested, research and experience-based modeling for fostering and supporting those in recovery who seek to excel in higher education.  

Learn more about ARHE at https://collegiaterecovery.org/

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 to strengthen motivation to work towards a goal by accompanying patients in their journey towards change rather than lecturing them.

Dr. Saffier is an expert in this field and has provided over 50 motivational interviewing training sessions throughout the country. You can learn more about MI by visiting the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. 

Learn more about Dr. Saffier at https://bibett.org/staffs/kenneth-saffier-md-fasam/. 

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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Seatbelts for when you speed down a slick highway, cholesterol medication when you have a difficult time controlling your diet — these are tools we use to protect ourselves from our imperfect behaviors. Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies designed to reduce the negative consequences of risk behaviors, centered around accepting people where they are at. 

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Ciccarone talks about the principles and goals of harm reduction as it relates to substance use, what strategies are currently being employed, and how we can leverage the criminal justice and healthcare systems to expand its role.

Dr. Ciccarone is a Professor of Family and Community Medicine at UCSF and principal investigator of the Heroin In Transition Study. His research focuses on contextual issues of treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, the medical consequences of use of various sources and forms of heroin, and the intersection of HIV and substance use. 

Learn more about Dr. Ciccarone at https://profiles.ucsf.edu/daniel.ciccarone#toc-id3

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 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 results of his psilocybin trial. 

Dr. Bhatt is the Chief of Addiction Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Dr. Bhatt’s work focuses on improving access to addiction treatment in communities across New Mexico, novel pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders, and medical education.

Read Dr. Bhatt’s study at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2795625

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 Stanford School of Medicine and an advocate for social justice issues and public policy concerning prison reentry. His research focuses on the intersection of mental health and substance use disorders. He is also involved in several initiatives, like Unlock Higher Education, that promote opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. 

Learn more about Dr. Vest at https://profiles.stanford.edu/noel-vest.

Follow @noelvest on social media.

Here is a link to the "Spiritual Experience" Dr. Vest referenced during the interview.

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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. Hurley is board-certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine, and he has previously served on the board of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality and as the chair of the LGBT Advisory Committee to the American Medical Association’s Board of Trustees.

Learn more about Dr. Hurley at https://www.asam.org/about-us/leadership/board-of-directors/biography-brian-hurley

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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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 about why he first started using substances and how accepting who he was and being authentic was key to his long-term recovery.

Dr. Michael Sprintz is a physician, entrepreneur, author, consultant, public speaker and a national expert on the intersection of chronic pain and addiction. He received training at top tier institutions including Johns Hopkins Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Sprintz founded the Sprintz Center for Pain and Recovery, located in Texas, in 2013 and at the same time started a software company, Cellarian, which automates medical documentation to give providers more quality time for their patients. Dr. Sprintz has consulted for organizations in the pharmacology, biotechnology, and medical device spaces. He is currently on an FDA advisory committee and is also active in local and national medical societies, working to create and support policies that help patients and providers become their own best advocates and re-engage and protect their healthcare relationships.

Learn more about Dr. Sprintz at https://drsprintz.com/

Learn about the Sprintz Center for Pain at https://www.sprintzcenter.com

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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In this episode, Colonel Christopher Perry, M.D. discusses the prevalence of substance use disorders in military personnel, which substances are most commonly misused, and how addiction is managed in those actively serving. He reviews the importance of screening for and treating use disorders, especially given the high rates of suicide in this population.

Dr. Perry is the Chief Medical Officer for Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Washington. He has extensive experience in treating addiction in military personnel and was a member of the VA/DoD Work Group, which established comprehensive guidelines for the management of substance use disorders in military personnel and in veterans.

Learn more about Colonel Perry at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-perry-a1298321/

Access the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines at https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/sud/VADoDSUDCPGProviderSummary.pdf

If you enjoy what you hear, please feel free to contribute at www.trappedunderstandingaddiction.com to support harm reduction efforts.

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