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]